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. 

Summary of Requirements
General and Basic Course Requirements 48
Business Core42
Major Requirements 21
Business Electives9
Total Hours120

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

Required Courses
FIN 310Investments3
FIN 320Managerial Finance3
Major Electives
15 additional hours at the 300 or 400 level in the Department of Finance. FIN 250 may also be applied toward to 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 Hours21

Business Electives

Courses
9 hours at the 200, 300, or 400 level chosen from courses in the College of Business Administration 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 as one of their Business Electives.9
Total Hours9

Concentrations

Concentration in Financial Planning

Students completing the Concentration in Financial Planning must include the following courses as their Major Electives.

Required Courses
FIN 250Personal Finance3
FIN 411Retirement and Estate Planning3
FIN 414Financial Plan Development3
FIN 473Risk Management and Insurance3
ACTG 444Federal Income Tax for Financial Planning a3
Select 3 hours from:3
FIN 412
Portfolio Management
FIN 419
Behavioral Finance
FIN 422
Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds
FIN 424
Financial Communication
FIN 430
Introduction to Money and Banking
Total Hours18
a

ACTG 444 will count toward the Business Elective Requirement.

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.

Courses
12 hours from the following:
FIN 340International Financial Markets3
FIN 416Options and Futures Markets3
FIN 421Advanced Corporate Finance3
FIN 422Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds3
FIN 423Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making3
FIN 430Introduction to Money and Banking3
FIN 442International Corporate Financial Management3
3 hours from the following:
FIN 419Behavioral Finance3
FIN 424Financial Communication3
FIN 425Energy Finance3

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.

Courses
12 hours from the following:
FIN 412Portfolio Management3
FIN 415Fixed Income Securities3
FIN 416Options and Futures Markets3
FIN 422Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds3
FIN 449Applied Equity Investment Management3
FIN 480Securities Markets and High-Frequency Trading3
3 hours from the following:
FIN 250Personal Finance3
FIN 419Behavioral Finance3
FIN 423Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Decision Making3
FIN 424Financial Communication3
FIN 425Energy Finance3
FIN 494Special 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. 

Courses
12 hours from the following:
FIN 250Personal Finance3
FIN 412Portfolio Management3
FIN 419Behavioral Finance3
FIN 422Alternative Investments: Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds3
FIN 424Financial Communication3
FIN 449Applied Equity Investment Management3
FIN 494Special Topics in Finance (when the topic is Advanced Financial Planning)3
3 hours from the following:
FIN 416Options and Futures Markets3
FIN 430Introduction to Money and Banking3
a

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.