What is Finance?

There is a broad range of intellectual challenges within the field of finance which integrates and applies principles and concepts drawn from accounting, economics, business operations, and quantitative analysis in a global business environment. Finance is an analytical discipline dealing with the acquisition and distribution of funds, financial statement analysis, security analysis, risk assessment, valuation of assets and liabilities, functioning of financial markets, and management of investments, acquisitions, funds, assets, liabilities, risk, businesses, and financial institutions.

The program in finance prepares students for careers as bankers, financial managers, stockbrokers, financial analysts, portfolio managers, financial consultants, investment bankers, and financial planners. Students are also well prepared for graduate study in law and business.

A young man in a suit sits at a desk, holding a newspaper, with a screen displaying market data in the background.

Coles College of Business

Learn more about Finance

Admission Requirements

Students may initially declare an "-Interest" based major in this subject, but must still meet additional requirements to be formally accepted into the degree program.

Before a business major can be admitted to the Coles College Undergraduate Professional Program and enroll in any upper-division business courses (3000-4000 level), she or he must meet the Coles Sophomore GPA Requirement. This involves earning an Adjusted GPA of 3.00 or greater for the following seven courses:

  • ACCT 2101 Principles of Accounting I
  • ACCT 2102 Principles of Accounting II
  • ECON 2106 Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ECON 2300 Business Statistics
  • IS 2200 Information Systems & Communications
  • BLAW 2200 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business

Students should also take BUSA 2150. Successful completion of this course is a requirement for admission to the Coles Undergraduate Professional Program 

General Education Core IMPACTS Curriculum Recommendations for this Major

M: Students should take MATH 1111 or higher.

 

Related Minors and Certificates Available

  • Business Fundamentals Certificate
  • Finance Minor
  • Financial Technologies (FinTech) Minor

Sample Classes

  • Application of the principles and concepts of finance to the acquisition and management of corporate assets and financial resources, the management of the firm’s capital structure, and development of dividend policy.
  • Focuses on the structure and functioning of payment systems, the management of short-term assets and short-term liabilities of the business firm, and the impact of computer and communications technologies on financial management systems.
  • Investigates the implications for financial decision making rules and policies that result from consideration of an international financial perspective.
  • This course focuses on financial statement users, their information needs, and how effective financial statement analysis addresses those needs. Students will be instructed in methods to assess the financial health and performance of a firm to make realistic valuations and sound financial decisions (e.g., as to investing, lending, liquidity, and risk) in light of industry and economic conditions.