BS in Finance
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Finance degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Business Administration section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
In order to complete the department courses required for the major and to take advantage of the available career path groups listed below, the following requirements must be met by the second semester of the sophomore year: average grade B or better in FIN 300 taken at UIC; or a grade of C or better in FIN 300 taken at UIC and a passing grade in the Finance Placement Exam (FPE). Information on FPE is available on the Department of Finance website.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| General and Basic Course Requirements | 48 | |
| Business Core | 42 | |
| Major Requirements | 21 | |
| Business Electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
General and Basic Course Requirements
See General and Basic Course Requirements in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.
Business Core
See Business Course Requirements in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FIN 310 | Investments | 3 |
| FIN 320 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| 15 additional hours at the 300 or 400 level in the Department of Finance. FIN 250 may also be applied toward the degree's major electives. Students may choose to focus their 15 elective hours within a concentration. Students may also choose to complete the degree without a concentration. In this case, students may fulfill their 15-hour elective requirement by choosing any combination of finance electives from within the Department of Finance. See lists below for career path suggestions. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Business Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| 9 hours at the 200, 300, or 400 level chosen from courses in the College of Business Administration (excluding BA 220 and BA 320) or courses offered in the Economics department with a maximum of 6 hours at the 200 level. Students may use their business electives to complete a second concentration within their major, if applicable, or a minor with the college. Students should work with their advisor in choosing appropriate business electives. Students pursuing the concentration in Financial Planning must take ACTG 444 or ACTG 445 as one of their Business Electives. | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Concentrations
Students pursing a Bachelor of Science in Finance may choose specialize in one (or more) of the following concentrations:
Corporate Finance
This concentration prepares students to work as financial officers of a company or financial institution. The concentration allows students to understand and analyze the financial statements, financial characteristics, and financial strategies of different types of firms.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Students completing the Concentration in Corporate Finance must include five of the courses listed below as their Major Electives. At least three of the five courses must be in Tier A. | 15 | |
| Tier A Courses: | ||
| Advanced Corporate Finance | ||
| Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | ||
or FIN 445 | Financing Entrepreneurship | |
| Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making | ||
| International Corporate Financial Management | ||
| Tier B Courses: | ||
| Fixed Income Securities | ||
| Options and Futures Markets | ||
| Financial Communication | ||
| Energy Finance | ||
| Introduction to Money and Banking | ||
Any related courses offered by the Department of Finance with the approval of the department head, in consultation with the department's Advisory Committee | ||
| Students need a grade of B or higher in FIN 320 as a condition of completing the concentration in Corporate Finance. | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in Financial Planning
Students completing the Concentration in Financial Planning must include the following courses as their Major Electives.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FIN 250 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| FIN 411 | Retirement and Estate Planning | 3 |
| FIN 414 | Financial Plan Development | 3 |
| FIN 473 | Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| ACTG 444 | Federal Income Tax for Financial Planning a | 3 |
| or ACTG 445 | Federal Income Tax I | |
| Select 3 hours from: | 3 | |
| Portfolio Management | ||
| Fixed Income Securities | ||
| Behavioral Finance | ||
| Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | ||
| Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making | ||
| Financial Communication | ||
| Introduction to Money and Banking | ||
| Applied Equity Investment Management | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Investments and Capital Markets
This concentration introduces students to the theory and practice of managing investments. The professional investment manager must be aware of the vast range of investments available in the modern economy, the factors that determine returns and risks, and methods used to hedge risks.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Students completing the Concentration in Investments and Capital Markets must include five of the courses listed below as their Major Electives. At least two of the five courses must be in Tier A. | 15 | |
| Tier A Courses: | ||
| Portfolio Management | ||
| Fixed Income Securities | ||
| Options and Futures Markets | ||
| Tier B Courses: | ||
| International Financial Markets | ||
| Behavioral Finance | ||
| Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | ||
| Management in the Financial Services Industry | ||
| Applied Equity Investment Management | ||
| Advanced Investment Management | ||
| Real Estate Finance | ||
| Securities Markets and High-Frequency Trading | ||
Any related courses offered by the Department of Finance with the approval of the department head, in consultation with the department’s Advisory Committee | ||
| Students need a grade of B or higher in FIN 310 as a condition of completing the concentration in Investments and Capital Markets. | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Course Suggestions for Finance Careers
Students should select courses based upon their interests and career goals. The finance courses listed below suggest which courses are most appropriate for alternative career paths.
Corporate Finance and Risk Management
This area provides an introduction to the work of the financial officer of a company focusing on financial statements, financial characteristics, and financial strategies of different types of firms.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| 12 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 340 | International Financial Markets | 3 |
| FIN 416 | Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 421 | Advanced Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN 422 | Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | 3 |
| FIN 423 | Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making | 3 |
| FIN 430 | Introduction to Money and Banking | 3 |
| FIN 442 | International Corporate Financial Management | 3 |
| 3 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 419 | Behavioral Finance | 3 |
| FIN 424 | Financial Communication | 3 |
| FIN 425 | Energy Finance | 3 |
Investment Management
This area provides an introduction to the theory and practice of managing investments. The professional investment manager must be aware of the vast range of investments available in the modern economy, the factors that determine returns and risks, and methods used to hedge risks.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| 12 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 412 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN 415 | Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416 | Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 422 | Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | 3 |
| FIN 449 | Applied Equity Investment Management | 3 |
| FIN 480 | Securities Markets and High-Frequency Trading | 3 |
| 3 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 250 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| FIN 419 | Behavioral Finance | 3 |
| FIN 423 | Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making | 3 |
| FIN 424 | Financial Communication | 3 |
| FIN 425 | Energy Finance | 3 |
| FIN 494 | Special Topics in Finance (when the topic is Cryptocurrencies, Blockchains) | 3 |
Financial Advising
Professionals in this field are responsible for managing the financial assets of their clients.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| 12 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 250 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| FIN 412 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN 419 | Behavioral Finance | 3 |
| FIN 422 | Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds | 3 |
| FIN 424 | Financial Communication | 3 |
| FIN 449 | Applied Equity Investment Management | 3 |
| FIN 494 | Special Topics in Finance (when the topic is Advanced Financial Planning) | 3 |
| 3 hours from the following: | ||
| FIN 416 | Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 430 | Introduction to Money and Banking | 3 |
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FIN 494 topics available can be found on the department website.
Sample Business Major Curriculum
See Sample Business Major Curriculum in the College of Business Administration section. Students should see their academic advisor for an individualized major map in their field of study.