Finance B.S.

The finance curriculum is designed to equip students with a comprehensive foundation in financial management, financial markets and investments. Students will gain competence in making effective decisions, performing complex analyses, providing expert financial advice and utilizing current technology tools and data sources.

Basic Requirements for Finance Major

All students must complete a faculty-approved plan of study during the first semester of their junior year. The plan of study is available from a finance faculty advisor and must be completed and signed by the faculty advisor. Failure to implement and adhere to a program of study may delay graduation.  Some courses have grade requirements in the prerequisite course (see the catalog course descriptions).  Many of these courses may be taught once a year, so students should see their advisor for the schedule each academic year.  

Bachelor of Science - Finance

School of Business Admin

Catalog Year: 2014-2015

Degree Specific Credits: 77

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: At least 51 credits must be earned in Business classes (ECNS courses may be counted in OR out of Business).
At least 60 credits must be earned outside of SoBA (excluding HHP/ACT activities courses).
At least 26 credits in business AND all required 400-level finance courses must be taken at UM.

SoBA - Lower Core

Rule: All courses are required

Note: All requirements must be completed with a "C" or better for admission into an upper-division Business Major

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ACTG 201 - Principles of Fin Acct
Offered every term. Prereq. or Coreq., grade of C or better in M 115 or M 162, or an appropriate math placement score (4 or higher) . Introduction to financial accounting concepts, including transactions analysis, financial statement analysis, and corporate financial reporting practices.
 3 Credits
Show Description ACTG 202 - Principles of Mang Acct
Offered every term. Prereq., ACTG 201 with a grade of C or better, M 115 or M 162 with a grade of C or better. Continuation of ACTG 201 with a focus on managerial accounting topics.
 3 Credits
Show Description BGEN 235 - Business Law
Offered autumn and spring. This course provides an overview of law as it applies to business transactions. Topics include the nature and source of law; courts and procedure; contracts, sales, and employment; commercial paper; bailment's; property; business organizations; insurance; wills and estate planning; consumer and creditor protection; torts; criminal law; and agency law. Credit not allowed for both BGEN 235 and BADM 257.
 3 Credits
Show Description BMIS 270 - MIS Foundations for Business
Offered every term. Introduces the development, use, and management of computer-based information systems.
 3 Credits
Show Description COMX 111A - Intro to Public Speaking
Offered every term. Preparation, presentation, and criticism of speeches. Emphasis on the development of public speaking techniques through constructive criticism. Credit not allowed for both COMM 111A and COM 160A.
 3 Credits
Show Description CSCI 172 - Intro to Computer Modeling
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 090 or higher; or ALEKS Math Placement Test Score >2. Problem solving and data modeling using computer productivity software. Emphasis using spreadsheets and database for data analysis. Credit not allowed for CSCI 172, CRT 172, and CS 172
 3 Credits
Show Description ECNS 201S - Principles of Microeconomics
Offered every term.  The nature of a market economy, economic decisions of the household and firm, competition and monopoly, value and price determination, distribution of income and applied microeconomic topics.
 3 Credits
Show Description ECNS 202S - Principles of Macroeconomics
Offered every term.  Prereq., ECNS 201S.  The determination of the level of national economic activity, inflation, economic instability, the role of money and financial institutions, and selected topics in public economic policy.
 3 Credits
Show Description STAT 216 - Introduction to Statistics
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 115 (preferred), or one of M 121, 135, 151, 162 or 171, or ALEKS placement >= 4. Introduction to major ideas of statistical inference. Emphasis is on statistical reasoning and uses of statistics.
 4 Credits
Show Description WRIT 101 - College Writing I
UM: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of passing score on writing diagnostic examination, referral by WRIT 095 instructor-SAT writing score at or above 440, MUSWA at or above 3.5, SAT/ACT essay score at or above 7, or ACT Combined English/Writing score at or above 18. Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Credit not allowed for both WRIT 101 and COM 101. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit). MC: Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 095 or proof of appropriate SAT/ACT essay, English/Writing, writing section scores, appropriate MUSWA scores, or proof of passing scores on Writing Placement Exam). Expository prose and research paper; emphasis on structure, argument, development of ideas, clarity, style, and diction. Students expected to write without major faults in grammar or usage. Grading A-F, or NC (no credit).
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 31 Total Credits Required

SoBA Math Requirement

Rule: Students choose one or the other to fulfill their math requirement

Note: The Finance Department encourages that a student take M 162 to complete his or her math requirement to better prepare the student for a major in Finance. However, M 115 will be accepted for students who choose note to take M 162.
A student must take either M 115 or M 162, despite what he or she earns on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. SoBA requires that credit be earned for one of the above math courses.
All SoBA lower-core requirements must be completed with a C or better for a student to be permitted into an upper-division SoBA major.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description M 115 - Probability and Linear Math
Offered every term. Prereq., M 090 with a grade of B- or better, or M 095, or ALEKS placement >= 3. Systems of linear equations and matrix algebra. Introduction to probability with emphasis on models and probabilistic reasoning. Examples of applications of the material in many fields.
 3 Credits
Show Description M 162 - Applied Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 5 or one of M 121, 122 or 151. Introductory course surveying the principal ideas of differential and integral calculus with emphasis on applications and computer software. Mathematical modeling in discrete and continuous settings. Intended primarily for students who do not plan to take higher calculus.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required

SoBA - Upper Core

Rule: All courses are required

Note: BFIN 322 must be completed with a C or higher as a prerequisite to the finance major requirements.
All upper-core courses must be completed before the capstones can be taken.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BFIN 322 - Business Finance
Offered every term. Prereq., junior standing in Business. The methodology and practice of business financial decisions.
 3 Credits
Show Description BGEN 320E - Bus Ethics & Soc Responsiblty
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business. Business organizations and their relationship to the external environment and various stakeholders. Focuses on responsibilities to society and their impact on decision making, with particular emphasis on business ethics and values.
 3 Credits
Show Description BMGT 322 - Operations Management
Offered every term. Prereq., junior standing in Business. A survey of the processes that organizations, public or private, use to produce goods and services. Includes management science topics.
 3 Credits
Show Description BMGT 340 - Mgmt & Organization Behavior
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business. An intensive examination of the fundamentals of management and organization supported by the application of behavioral science principles to the management of people in organizations.
 3 Credits
Show Description BMKT 325 - Principles of Marketing
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business. The marketing environment, product, price, distribution, and promotion strategies including government regulation and marketing ethics.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 15 Total Credits Required

Finance Major - Requirements

Rule: All courses are required

Note: Finance major courses only offered once per academic year.
All required 400-level finance courses must be taken at UM.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BFIN 420 - Investments
Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322 or consent of instr. Principles, practices and methodology in investment analysis and portfolio management.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 424 - Markets, Instns & Fin Enginrng
Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322 and successful completion of BFIN 429 or BFIN 439, or consent of instr. Topics covered include operations and analysis of the national and international money and capital markets as they affect financial institutions and usage of derivatives to hedge risks.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 429 - Fin Mgmt I:Thry/Analysis
Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322 or consent of instr. Understanding the practice of business investment and working capital decisions. Computer models and cases used to demonstrate the management process.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 439 - Fin Mgmt II: Analysis/Problems
Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322 or consent of instr. Topics include business valuation techniques, capital structure, raising capital, mergers and acquisitions, working capital management, and multinational financial management. Course uses computer models and cases to emphasize analysis and decision making.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 450 - Banking
Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322, or consent of instr. The financial management of banking institutions including financial analysis, interest rate risk management, liquidity management, investment and loan portfolio management.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 15 Total Credits Required

Finance Major - Electives

Rule: Take 9 credits from the list below.

Note: BFIN 205 is encouraged for Finance majors, but does not count as an elective for the Finance Major.

Note: These 9 credits are selected in consultation with your faculty advisor. A signed track sheet reflecting these courses is required on file in the SoBA Advising Office.
ACTG 305 and ACT 321 have a co-requisite of ACTG 203.
Up to 3 credits of BFIN 498 can count towards the 9 credit elective requirement.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ACTG 305 - Corporate Reporting I
Offered every term. Prereq. or coreq., junior standing in Business, ACTG 201 and  202 with grades of C or better or consent of instr. Prereq., or Coreq., ACTG 203. Topics include concepts in financial accounting, assets and related income statement accounts.
 3 Credits
Show Description ACTG 321 - Acct Information Systems I
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., Junior standing in Business. Prereq., or coreq., ACTG 203. Provides thorough understanding of  business processes, risks, and internal controls.  Computer applications may be used to demonstrate concepts.
 3 Credits
Show Description ACTG 410 - Cost/Mgmt Acct I
Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing in business or consent of instr. Prereq., or coreq., ACTG 306. The study of cost management for business and other organizations. Emphasis on how information about costs helps managers make better decisions.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 301 - Analysis of Finan Statements
Offered intermittently. Prereq., junior standing in Business. Analysis of balance sheets, income and cash flow statements and statements of owners' equity in terms of structure, strategy and performance of the company being analyzed. Emphasis is on the use rather than preparation of financial statements.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 410 - $50,000 Portfolio
Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing in Business, grade of C or better in BFIN 322, and consent of department chair. Under the guidance of a broker, students manage a diversified investment portfolio for a semester. Students analyze and discuss investment opportunities and implement their decisions.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 415 - Real Estate Invest & Analysis
Offered spring.  Prereq., junior standing in Business and BFIN 322.  Introduction to real estate focusing on investment, market analysis, appraisal, and mortgage finance. Includes developing valuation and decision making skills to make effective business/investment decisions in real estate and understanding the activities, roles, and participants in the business of real estate.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 473 - Multinational Finance and FDI
Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business, BFIN 322, or consent of instr. Students are strongly encouraged to complete BGEN 360 prior to BFIN 473. Topics include financial skills required of corporate executives in international business, exchange rate risk analysis, analysis of global financial systems and assessment of real international investments.
 3 Credits
Show Description BFIN 498 - Internship
Offered every term. Prereq., junior standing in Business and consent of instr. Students are placed with private or governmental organizations to receive on-the-job training. Written reports are required. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.
 1 To 6 Credits
Show Description ECNS 301 - Intermediate Micro with Calc
Offered spring and  autumn.  Prereq., ECNS 201S and M 162 or equiv. Analysis of consumer behavior, production, factor pricing, externalities and public goods.
 3 Credits
Show Description ECNS 302 - Intermediate Macroeconomics
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., ECNS 202S.   Analysis of national income determination, unemployment, and inflation with emphasis on the role of fiscal and monetary policy.
 3 Credits
Show Description ECNS 403 - Introduction to Econometrics
Offered autumn.  Prereq., an introductory statistics course.  Quantitative methods in economics with emphasis on regression analysis.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 9 Total Credits Required

SoBA - Capstone Courses

Rule: All courses are required; BMGT 486 and BGEN 499 are co requisite courses and must be taken together

Note: Students must have an approved graduation application to register for their capstones.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BGEN 499 - Integrated Business Simulation
Prereq., senior standing in Business, all business core. Co-req., BMGT 486. Students will operate a virtual business in a simulation, aiding in the integration of cumulative business knowledge, analytical processing, and ethical awareness.
 1 To 9 Credits
Show Description BMGT 486 - Strategic Venture Management
Offered every term. Prereq., senior standing in Business and completed upper Business core; coreq., BGEN 499. Integration of all functional areas of business including starting and managing a growing business. Topics include recognizing business opportunities, setting strategy for the firm, raising capital, marketing new products, and organizing a management team. Students write a business plan for themselves or for a local entrepreneur or organization.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 4 Total Credits Required

SoBA Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Rule: All courses are required

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BMGT 486 - Strategic Venture Management
Offered every term. Prereq., senior standing in Business and completed upper Business core; coreq., BGEN 499. Integration of all functional areas of business including starting and managing a growing business. Topics include recognizing business opportunities, setting strategy for the firm, raising capital, marketing new products, and organizing a management team. Students write a business plan for themselves or for a local entrepreneur or organization.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 Total Credits Required

SoBA Symbolic Systems Requirement

Rule: All courses are required

Note: All SoBA lower-core requirements must be completed with a C or better for a student to be permitted into an upper-division SoBA major.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description STAT 216 - Introduction to Statistics
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 115 (preferred), or one of M 121, 135, 151, 162 or 171, or ALEKS placement >= 4. Introduction to major ideas of statistical inference. Emphasis is on statistical reasoning and uses of statistics.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 4 Total Credits Required

SoBA Expressive Arts Requirement

Rule: All courses are required

Note: All SoBA lower-core requirements must be completed with a C or better for a student to be permitted into an upper-division SoBA major.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description COMX 111A - Intro to Public Speaking
Offered every term. Preparation, presentation, and criticism of speeches. Emphasis on the development of public speaking techniques through constructive criticism. Credit not allowed for both COMM 111A and COM 160A.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required

SoBA Social Science Requirement

Rule: All courses are required

Note: All SoBA lower-core requirements must be completed with a C or better for a student to be permitted into an upper-division SoBA major.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description ECNS 201S - Principles of Microeconomics
Offered every term.  The nature of a market economy, economic decisions of the household and firm, competition and monopoly, value and price determination, distribution of income and applied microeconomic topics.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C 3 Total Credits Required

SoBA Ethical & Human Values Requirement

Rule: All courses are required

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BGEN 320E - Bus Ethics & Soc Responsiblty
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing in Business. Business organizations and their relationship to the external environment and various stakeholders. Focuses on responsibilities to society and their impact on decision making, with particular emphasis on business ethics and values.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 Total Credits Required