Business Administration Major: Finance Option (B.S.)
The Option in Finance provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to make informed financial decisions for themselves and their organizations. Business students interested in numbers, quantitative analysis, problem solving, utilizing creativity, and practical applications will appreciate this option. Opportunities exist in a variety of fields, including commercial and investment banking, insurance, corporate finance, money management, venture capital, risk management, and real estate.
The job outlook for finance students is strong, and starting and mid-career salaries are typically among the highest of all majors at a university. Many premier jobs in business, such as hedge fund manager, investment banker, and CFO, are in finance.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
A typical plan of study follows, showing the major-required courses. Students take 16-18 credits per semester. Discovery Program requirements (including the Inquiry requirement in the first two years) and elective courses are taken as well. Students are expected to follow this course plan. In the first three semesters, students cannot take more than two major courses in a single semester. The options have additional requirements as noted. For a detailed schedule/plan of study for each option, students should check with the Paul College Undergraduate Programs and Advising Office for specific recommendations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration core requirements | ||
| ADMN courses: | ||
| ADMN 400 | Introduction to Business | 4 |
| ADMN 403 | Computing Essentials for Business | 1 |
| ADMN 410 | Management Information Systems | 4 |
| ADMN 502 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ADMN 503 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| ADMN 510 | Business Statistics | 4 |
| ADMN 570 | Introduction to Financial Management | 4 |
| ADMN 575 | Behavior in Organizations | 4 |
| ADMN 580 | Quantitative Decision Making | 4 |
| ADMN 585 | Marketing | 4 |
| ADMN 775 | Strategic Management: Decision Making 1 | 4 |
| Other subject code courses: | ||
| ECON 401 | Principles of Economics (Macro) | 4 |
| ECON 402 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | 4 |
| MATH 422 | Mathematics for Business Applications | 4 |
| or MATH 424A | Calculus for Social Sciences | |
| PHIL 431 | Business Ethics | 4 |
| PAUL 405 | Freshman Academic Experience I | 1 |
| PAUL 406 | Freshman Academic Experience II | 1 |
| PAUL 660 | BiP-Social Intelligence Topics 2 | 2 |
| PAUL 670 | BiP-Analytical Intelligence Topics 2 | 2 |
| PAUL 680 | BiP-Competitive Intelligence Topics 2 | 2 |
| PAUL 690 | BiP-Professional Intelligence Topics 2 | 2 |
- 1
This is the capstone course in the business administration program, and satisfies the capstone requirement of the Discovery Program. Students may be required to concurrently enroll in ADMN 700 PAUL Assessment of Core Knowledge (zero credits) for AACSB accreditation purposes.
- 2
Students may satisfy PAUL 660, PAUL 670, PAUL 680, PAUL 690 requirements through other courses/experiences with approved intelligence attributes assigned.
Depending of the choice of option and the specific requirements thereof, students may be able to take PAUL or non-PAUL electives in their junior or senior year.
Option in Finance
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FIN 701 | Financial Policy | 4 |
| FIN 702 | Investments Analysis | 4 |
| Three additional Electives | 12 | |
| Must select at least one course from the Core and Exploration elective categories below. | ||
| Core Electives | ||
| Select at least one course from the following: | ||
| Real Estate Finance | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| Derivatives Securities and Markets | ||
| Financial Institutions | ||
| Financial Modeling and Analytics | ||
| Equity Analysis and Firm Valuation | ||
| Fixed Income Analysis and Valuation | ||
| Exploration Electives | ||
| Select at least one course from the following: | ||
| Auditing 2 | ||
| Corporate Project Experience 2 | ||
| Big Data in Finance | ||
| Investment Banking | ||
| Financial Scandals, Upheavals, and Crises | ||
| Topics in Finance II | ||
| Independent Studies in Finance 1 | ||
Additional course by petition approved by Finance Option Coordinator | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
Independent study must be approved by option coordinator; four credits; paper required.
- 2
Requires pre-requisites outside of finance option.
Sample Degree Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ADMN 400 or ADMN 410 | Introduction to Business or Management Information Systems | 4 |
| ECON 401 or ECON 402 | Principles of Economics (Macro) or Principles of Economics (Micro) | 4 |
| MATH 422 or MATH 424A | Mathematics for Business Applications or Calculus for Social Sciences | 4 |
| PHIL 431 | Business Ethics | 4 |
| ADMN 403 | Computing Essentials for Business | 1 |
| PAUL 405 | Freshman Academic Experience I | 1 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ADMN 410 or ADMN 400 | Management Information Systems or Introduction to Business | 4 |
| ECON 402 or ECON 401 | Principles of Economics (Micro) or Principles of Economics (Macro) | 4 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| PAUL 406 | Freshman Academic Experience II | 1 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ADMN 502 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ADMN 510 | Business Statistics | 4 |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ADMN 503 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| ADMN 570 | Introduction to Financial Management | 4 |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| PAUL 660 or PAUL 690 | BiP-Social Intelligence Topics or BiP-Professional Intelligence Topics | 2 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ADMN 580 | Quantitative Decision Making | 4 |
| ADMN 575 or ADMN 585 | Behavior in Organizations or Marketing | 4 |
| FIN 701 or FIN 702 | Financial Policy or Investments Analysis | 4 |
| Discovery | 4 | |
| BiP Business in Practice (PAUL 660, 670, 680 or 690) | 2 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| FIN 702 or FIN 701 | Investments Analysis or Financial Policy | 4 |
| ADMN 585 or ADMN 575 | Marketing or Behavior in Organizations | 4 |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| BiP Business in Practice (PAUL 660, 670, 680 or 690) | 2 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Finance option course | 4 | |
| Finance option course | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| BiP Business in Practice (PAUL 660, 670, 680 or 690) | 2 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ADMN 775 & ADMN 700 | Strategic Management: Decision Making and PAUL Assessment of Core Knowledge | 4 |
| Finance option course | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 139 | |
- 1
Students can explore a second option, second major, minor, or general electives.
- Students will demonstrate proficiency in the core content areas of business.
- Students will think critically to address business situations.
- Students will demonstrate communication skills to interact effectively in business situations.
- Students will identify and understand the ethical dimensions and implications of business decisions.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze a business situation by applying a multiple stakeholder lens.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of business practices as they relate to local, national and global competitiveness.