Undergraduate Major & Minor - Finance

Finance is about understanding economic value. Specifically how the decisions made by firms determine the economic value of firms or investment opportunities.

Since all firms must invest capital (cash) to operate and grow, all firms simultaneously compete with each other and all other investment opportunities, for capital in Capital Markets. Finance professionals estimate and evaluate economic value and risk focusing on estimating future cash flow and using information from Capital Markets.

Finance professionals include economists, operating managers, financial analysts, data scientists, researchers, investors, and financial advisors.

  • Finance professionals are quantitative & analytical utilizing mathematical tools and building models to inform decision making.
  • Finance professionals are curious, researching and understanding firms and markets.
  • Finance professionals are strong communicators, helping colleagues understand the financial implications of their business decisions and investment opportunities 
  • Finance professionals are comfortable with ambiguity, recognizing and quantifying the economic impact of risk and uncertainty.

Major Curriculum

View the full Finance Major catalog:

First-year students entering Fall 2022:

Finance Major Program Requirements & Course Descriptions

Students entering prior to Fall 2022 and transfer students entering prior to Fall 2023:

Prior to Fall 2022 Finance Major Program Requirements & Course Descriptions

 

Minor Curriculum

View the full Finance Minor catalog:

Finance Minor Program Requirements & Course Descriptions

Four-year Plan

Finance Major Sample Plan

The APAS is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan.

Italic: course pre-requisites and co-requisites (designated by &)

Bold: Liberal Ed requirement

Print Plan

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

  • Econ 1165 Business Economics (Soc Sci) (4cr)
  • BA 2551 Business Statistics in R (Math) (4cr)
  • BA 1011 Leading Self & Teams (2cr)
  • BA 1021 Design Your Life (1cr)
  • Writ 1301 First Year Writing (4cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • Acct 2051 Financial Reporting (4cr)
  • BA 2051 Solving Business Scenarios in Excel (2cr)
  • BA 2062 Powerful Problem Solving (2cr)
  • Design Your Career (1cr)
  • BA 2005 Corporate Responsibility & Ethics (Civ) (3cr) 
  • Liberal Ed (3-4cr)

15-16 credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Maroon Block I-Core

  • Mktg 3001 Principles of Marketing (3cr)
  • IDSc 3001 Information Systems & Digital Transformation (3cr)
  • BA 3001 Race, Power, & Justice in Business (RPJ) (3cr)
  • Acct 3001 Strategic Management Accounting (3cr)
  • BA 3051 Data-Driven Business Decisions (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

Gold Block I-Core

  • Fina 3001 Finance Fundamentals (Acct 2051 & BA 2551) (3cr)
  • Mgmt 3004 Strategic Management (3cr)
  • SCO 3001 Sustainable Supply Chain Management (3cr)
  • HRIR 3021 Human Capital Management (3cr)
  • BA 3062 Impact Lab Project (BA 2062) (2cr)

14 credits

Declare a major: 
z.umn.edu/CarlsonDeclare

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • BA 3551 Business Analytics (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)
  • Acct 5101 Intermediate Accounting (B- or better in Acct 2051 or passing the Acct5101 pretest) (4cr)
  • Fina 4121 Financial Markets & Interest Rates (Fina 3001) (2cr)
  • Fina 4321 Portfolio Management (Fina 3001) (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3-4cr)

14-15 credits

Spring Semester

  • BA 3033W Business Communication (3cr)
  • Fina 4221 Corporate Finance (Fina 3001) (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (4cr)
  • Elective (4cr)

16 credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester

  • Fina 4422 Financial Modeling (Fina 4221 & Acct 5101) (2cr)
  • Fina 4522 Options & Derivatives (Fina 4121, 4321 or concurrent) (2cr)
  • Fina elective (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (3cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • Fina elective (4cr)
  • Fina elective (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (3cr)
  • Elective (3cr)

15 credits

Total Credits Needed for Degree: 120

Note: Students must complete an international experience as part of the program requirements. Short-term programs or semester-length programs may be used to meet this requirement. Explore your options: z.umn.edu/CarlsonIE

Major notes:

  • Students are not required to take a capstone although it is highly recommended.
  • Students may NOT earn a double major in Finance and Finance & Risk Management Insurance. Students may earn a Finance major and a Risk Management & Insurance minor.

Minor notes:

A career in a finance-based field requires a good understanding of economic theory and the stock market. Financial analysts will frequently work with complex computer programs to project financial data into the future and analyze trends. Making substantial investment decisions is a key characteristic of a financial-related position and career. Most people in a finance career will eventually specialize in a distinct area, such as investment analysis, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, or real estate. Others will lean towards careers that involve advising clients on financial matters.

Sample careers for Finance majors:

  • Audit Associate 
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial consultant
  • Commercial banker
  • Corporate finance
  • Financial planners
  • Investment Banking Analyst

Companies/Orgs that hire Finance students: 

  • 3M
  • Deloitte
  • Ernst & Young
  • KPMG
  • RSM
  • Wells Fargo

FIND MORE FINANCE KEY CAREER INFO

FIND MORE INVESTMENTS & CAPITAL MARKETS KEY CAREER INFO

Contact Undergraduate Program