Finance Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)

The goal of the finance program at OSU is to prepare students for careers in institutional finance, which includes careers in banking, brokerage, insurance and other fields.

Individuals entering a career with a financial institution have many opportunities open to them. Many who go into banking select career paths in either operations or lending. Within the lending area, finance majors can specialize in installment credit lending to consumers of durable goods, mortgage lending to home builders and buyers, or commercial lending to help finance the growth of businesses.

Men and women entering the securities industry find careers as stock and bond brokers, security analysts or portfolio managers. Individuals choosing the area of insurance typically enter company operations through either claims or underwriting positions. Those with sales positions can choose to work either with corporations or individuals as a client base. In addition, many decide to work for the government as finance personnel in charge of revenue and expenditure programs.

Financial managers engage in many activities designed to ensure the efficient use of an individual's or organization's capital resources. The finance field involves the management of funds in our economic system. Because financial managers deal with other people's money, finance is a career choice for individuals who enjoy working with people and who desire challenging assignments.

The BS/BA in finance has been accepted into the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Institute University Recognition Program. This status is granted to institutions whose degree program or programs incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), which provides students with a solid grounding in the CBOK and positions them well for the CFA exams.

Requirements

Finance major requirements are divided into two parts – lower-division and upper-division. The lower-division business core program involves completion of courses within the first and second year (see core curriculum below) that build a solid foundation for the upper-division finance and business curricula. The lower-division business core course work may be completed at OSU or any accredited college or university that offers equivalent courses transferable to OSU.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Summary of Requirements
Lower-Division		66-69
Business Core Courses (44-47)
Finance Course (4)
Math, Economics, Writing and Communications (18) ¹
Upper-Division		70
Business Core Courses (34)
Finance Courses (36)
University General Education Requirements		40
Unrestricted Electives		4-7
Total Hours		180-186

10 credits from lower-division course work satisfy University General Education Requirements.

Finance Program Requirements (180)

Finance Curriculum (36)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Required
ACTG 378	ACCOUNTING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	4
BA 240	FINANCE (C or better required)	4
or BA 360	INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FIN 341	INVESTMENTS	4
FIN 342	ADVANCED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
FIN 445	INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
Finance Electives
Select three of the following:		12
FIN 441	FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FIN 442	FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS
FIN 443	PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
FIN 444	FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
FIN 499	SELECTED TOPICS IN FINANCE
Finance-Specific Electives
Select one of the following:		4
ACTG 317	EXTERNAL REPORTING I
ECON 330	MONEY AND BANKING
ECON 340	INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
Total Hours		36

Business Administration Core Curriculum (78–81)

The business administration core curriculum provides students with a broad overview of business; basic skills in accounting and quantitative methods; an understanding of the legal and social environment of business; a background in management and organizational behavior, marketing, finance, and operations management; an understanding of the entrepreneurial process; and the opportunity to integrate course work and further develop decision-making skills through the analysis of business cases.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Mathematics
Basic mathematics requirements:
MTH 241	*CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE	4
Economics
ECON 201	*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS	4
ECON 202	*INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS	4
Written and Oral Communication
Business students also must take:
COMM 111	*PUBLIC SPEAKING	3
or COMM 114	*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE
or COMM 218	*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
WR 222	*ENGLISH COMPOSITION	3
or WR 323	*ENGLISH COMPOSITION
or WR 327	*TECHNICAL WRITING
University General Requirements ¹		40
Unrestricted Electives		4-7
Total Hours		62-65

MTH 241 *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, ECON 201 *INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS/ECON 202 *INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS, WR 222 *ENGLISH COMPOSITION, WR 323 *ENGLISH COMPOSITION or WR 327 *TECHNICAL WRITING, and COMM 111 *PUBLIC SPEAKING, COMM 114 *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or COMM 218 *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION meet the university's baccalaureate core requirements for mathematics, social processes and institutions, writing II, and speech, respectively. All students must meet the other baccalaureate core requirements and the other requirements for baccalaureate degrees. (See Earning a Degree at OSU.)

Finance Major (Major code 182)

Plan of Study Grid
First Year		Hours
Students entering OSU on the Corvallis campus as their first college experience are required to participate in Innovation Nation, the College of Business Living-Learning Community (LLC). These students, as well as students who transfer in the winter term into the finance major from another college or university, will complete the following three-course sequence during their first year:
BA 160	B-ENGAGED
BA 161	INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION
BA 162	INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY
All other students will complete the following course:
BA 101	BUSINESS NOW	6
All students should also complete:
COMM 111 or COMM 114 or COMM 218	PUBLIC SPEAKING or ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION	3
MTH 241	*CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE	4
Baccalaureate core, unrestricted electives		29-32
	Hours	42-45
Second Year
All students should complete the following courses*:
BA 280	BUSINESS INSIGHTS (Transfer students only)
BA 281	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT	3
BA 282	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
BA 283	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
BA 284	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
*Students who transfer from another college or university into the finance major who have completed all lower-division business core course work should complete the following course:
BA 381	PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
All second-year students should also complete:
BA 211	FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING	4
BA 213	MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING	4
BA 223 or BA 390	PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING or MARKETING	4
BA 230	BUSINESS LAW I	4
BA 240 or BA 360	FINANCE or INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
BA 260	INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP	4
BA 270	BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT	4
BA 275	FOUNDATIONS OF STATISTICAL INFERENCE	4
ECON 201	*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS	4
ECON 202	*INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS	4
	Hours	46
Third Year
Finance-Specific
ACTG 378	ACCOUNTING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	4
FIN 341	INVESTMENTS	4
FIN 342	ADVANCED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
Finance-Specific Electives—Select one of the following courses:
ACTG 317	EXTERNAL REPORTING I	4
ECON 330	MONEY AND BANKING	4
ECON 340	INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS	4
Business Core
BA 311	THIRD-YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
BA 312	THIRD YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
BA 313	THIRD YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
BA 347	INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS	4
BA 352	MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE	4
BA 354	^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY	4
BA 357	OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT	4
BA 375	APPLIED QUANTITATIVE METHODS	4
WR 222 or WR 323 or WR 327	ENGLISH COMPOSITION or ENGLISH COMPOSITION or *TECHNICAL WRITING	3
Baccalaureate core, minor, option or unrestricted electives		3
	Hours	53
Fourth Year
Finance-Specific
FIN 445	INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
Finance Electives—Select three of the following courses
FIN 441	FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS	4
FIN 442	FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS	4
FIN 443	PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT	4
FIN 444	FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT	4
Business Core
BA 411	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
BA 412	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
BA 413	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
BA 466	INTEGRATIVE STRATEGIC EXPERIENCE	4
Baccalaureate core, minor or unrestricted electives		21-23
	Hours	48-50
	Total Hours	189-194

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

Major Code: 182

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Hours
BA 160	B-ENGAGED	3
BC Science		4
WR 121 or COMM 111 or COMM 114 or COMM 218	ENGLISH COMPOSITION (Alpha coded) or PUBLIC SPEAKING or ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION	3
Math through MTH 241		4
	Hours	14
Winter
BA 161	INNOVATION NATION--AWARENESS TO ACTION	3
BC Science		4
WR 121 or COMM 111 or COMM 114 or COMM 218	ENGLISH COMPOSITION (Alpha coded) or PUBLIC SPEAKING or ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION	3
Math through MTH 241		4
	Hours	14
Spring
BA 162	INNOVATION NATION--IDEAS TO REALITY	3
BC Science		4
WR 121	*ENGLISH COMPOSITION (Alpha coded. Or Bacc Core: Fitness, Speech, CD, DPD)	3
Bacc Core: Fitness, Speech, CD, DPD Electives		6
	Hours	16
Second Year
Fall
BA 230	BUSINESS LAW I	4
BA 260	INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP	4
BA 282	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
ECON 201	*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS	4
	Hours	13
Winter
BA 211	FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING	4
BA 223	PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING	4
BA 275	FOUNDATIONS OF STATISTICAL INFERENCE	4
BA 281	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT	3
BA 283	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
	Hours	16
Spring
BA 213	MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING	4
BA 240	FINANCE	4
BA 270	BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT	4
BA 284	PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
ECON 202	*INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS	4
	Hours	17
Third Year
Fall
ACTG 317 or ECON 330 or ECON 340	EXTERNAL REPORTING I or MONEY AND BANKING or INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS	4
BA 311	THIRD-YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
BA 375	APPLIED QUANTITATIVE METHODS	4
Bacc Core-CGI		3
WR 222 or WR 323 or WR 327	ENGLISH COMPOSITION or ENGLISH COMPOSITION or *TECHNICAL WRITING	3
	Hours	15
Winter
BA 312	THIRD YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
BA 352	MANAGING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE	4
BA 354	^MANAGING ETHICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY	4
BA 357	OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT	4
FIN 342	ADVANCED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
	Hours	17
Spring
ACTG 378	ACCOUNTING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	4
BA 313	THIRD YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
BA 347	INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS	4
FIN 341	INVESTMENTS	4
	Hours	13
Fourth Year
Fall
BA 411	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT I	1
Finance Elective		4-8
Bacc Core-STS		3
Electives		4-8
	Hours	12-20
Winter
BA 412	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT II	1
Finance Elective		4-8
Electives		6-10
	Hours	11-19
Spring
BA 413	FOURTH YEAR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT III	1
BA 466	INTEGRATIVE STRATEGIC EXPERIENCE	4
FIN 445	INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	4
Electives		5
	Hours	14
	Total Hours	172-188