Finance (BS)

This program is offered by the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology/Business Department. It is available at the St. Louis main campus and at select international campuses. Please see the Locations Offering Undergraduate Programs section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The field of finance blends economics, accounting and other business disciplines with the goal of making financially sound business decisions. Financial tools and methodologies are of crucial importance for both small and large businesses. Important areas of finance include raising capital, making investments and understanding financial markets. 

In addition to completing the core business curriculum requirements, students taking a major in finance will study the areas of finance and accounting: managerial accounting, financial statement analysis, corporate finance, investments and financial markets and institutions. After completion of the finance core, students have choices to tailor their program according to their interests and career outlook. Students desiring to take advanced certification, such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CFP (Certified Financial Planner), are encouraged to get advice on choosing course options to support their plans. All finance majors will complete the business school's common core capstone course.

The BS in finance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Learning Outcomes

• Students can apply time value of money techniques to security valuation.
• Students can evaluate the financial strength of a corporation and analyze capital budgeting decisions.
• Students can understand the risk-return relationship and can estimate appropriate rates of return.
• Students can describe the intermediation services provided by financial institutions.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 45 hours BS in business administration core curriculum
• 24 finance major required credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for the finance BS
• Electives

Global Citizenship Program for Finance BS

Requirements are modified to allow MATH 1430 to satisfy both a requirement of the major and also the GCP 'Quantitative Literacy' requirement.

Required Finance Courses

45 hours BS in Business Administration core curriculum

24 finance major required credit hours

• ACCT 2025 Managerial Accounting (3 hours)
• FINC 3600 Financial Management (3 hours)
• FINC 3800 Financial Institutions (3 hours)
• FINC 4210 Investments (3 hours) 
• FINC 4220 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• Any FINC 4000-level course (3 hours)
• Any two (2) 3000- or 4000-level courses with the prefix ECON, ACCT, FINC and/or BUSN 4950 Internship (6 hours)

No more than 3 hours of internship credit (BUSN 4950) may be used to satisfy degree requirements. Internship credit must be in the area of finance.