University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Finance B.S. in Business Administration

The finance curriculum is designed to equip students with a comprehensive foundation in financial management, financial markets and investments. Students will gain competence in making effective decisions, performing complex analyses, providing expert financial advice and utilizing current technology tools and data sources.

Basic Requirements for Finance Major

All students must complete a faculty-approved plan of study during the first semester of their junior year. The plan of study is available from a finance faculty advisor and must be completed and signed by the faculty advisor. Failure to implement and adhere to a program of study may delay graduation. Some courses have grade requirements in the prerequisite course (see the catalog course descriptions). Many of these courses may be taught once a year, so students should see their advisor for the schedule each academic year.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog. 


Summary

College of Business Requirements51-53
Primary Lower Core Courses
Math Requirement
Statistics Requirement
Secondary Lower Core Courses
Upper Major Core Courses
Capstone and Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Finance Major Requirements12
Finance Major Electives12
Total Hours75-77

Degree Specific Credits: 75-77

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Notes:

  • At least 54 credits must be earned in Business classes (ECNS, COB internship and COB faculty let study abroad courses may be counted in Business classes). A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for these courses.
  • At least 27 credits in business, the capstone course, AND all required 400-level finance courses must be taken at UM.
  • All business credits transferred in after matriculating to UM must be pre-approved by the department chair in your major.

College of Business Requirements

Primary Lower Core Courses

Note: Unless a higher requirement is specified, all primary lower core courses must be completed with a C- or better and a 2.0 GPA in the seven (7) listed courses prior to admission into an upper-division Business Major. A minimum grade of C or better is required for ACTG 201 and ACTG 202 as a prerequisite for ACTG 305.

Complete all of the following courses:
ACTG 201Principles of Financial Accounting3
ACTG 202Principles of Managerial Accounting3
BGEN 105SIntroduction to Business3
BGEN 222Business Models and Operations3
BMIS 270MIS Foundations for Business3
ECNS 201SPrinciples of Microeconomics3
Total Hours18

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Math Requirement

Note: The College of Business requires that credit be earned for one of the math courses below with a C- or better before enrolling in ACTG 202. A student's result on any math placement exam does not waive this math requirement.

Complete one of the following courses:3-4
Probability and Linear Mathematics
College Algebra
Precalculus
Applied Calculus
Total Hours3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Statistics Requirement

Note: This is a primary lower core course. The College of Business requires that credit be earned for STAT 216 (preferred) or one of the other statistics courses below with a C- or better prior to being admitted into an upper-division College of Business major.

Complete one of the following courses:3-4
Forest Biometrics
Psychological Statistics
Social Statistics
Introduction to Statistics (preferred)
Total Hours3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Secondary Lower Core Courses

Note: All courses must be completed with a C- or better to satisfy prerequisites for certain major, upper major core, or capstone courses. Students are advised to complete these courses prior to being admitted to an upper-division Business Major. Prerequisites are strictly enforced.

Complete all of the following courses:
BGEN 220EBusiness Ethics and Social Responsibility (Students must complete this course with a C- or better prior to taking the capstone, though earlier completion is strongly encouraged.) Ethical & Human Values Requirement3
COMX 111AIntroduction to Public Speaking (Students must complete this course with a C- or better prior to taking the capstone, though earlier completion is strongly encouraged.) Expressive Arts Requirement3
ECNS 202SPrinciples of Macroeconomics Social Science Requirement3
Total Hours9

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper Major Core Courses

Note: All upper major core courses must be completed before the capstone can be taken. A student must be listed as a major or minor in business to take these courses. Major or minor in Business is defined as junior standing with all primary lower core courses completed, a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and formal admission to the major or minor.

Complete all of the following courses:
BFIN 322Business Finance3
BGEN 341People, Process and Technology I3
BGEN 342People, Process and Technology II3
BGEN 361Principles of Business Law3
BMKT 325Principles of Marketing3
Total Hours15

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Capstone and Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Notes: 

  • Students must complete all primary and secondary lower core and upper core courses and their prerequisites and have an approved graduation application to register for their capstones.
  • Students must pass the required comprehensive exam as well as all requisite coursework to earn a passing grade in BGEN 499.
  • BGEN 499 must be taken at UM.
  • This course also satisfies the UM and College of Business upper-division writing requirement. 
Complete the following course:
BGEN 499Strategic Management3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Finance Major Requirements

Note: Finance major courses only offered once per academic year. All required 400-level finance courses must be taken at UM.

Complete all of the following courses:
BFIN 420Investments3
BFIN 424Markets, Institutions & Financial Engineering3
BFIN 435Corporate Finance3
BFIN 450Banking3
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Finance Major Electives

Note:

  • BFIN 205S is encouraged for Finance majors, but does not count as an elective for the Finance Major.
  • These 12 credits are selected in consultation with your faculty advisor. A signed track sheet reflecting these courses is required on file in the College of Business Advising Office.
  • Up to 3 credits of BFIN 498 can count towards the 12-credit elective requirement.
Complete 12 credits from the following courses:12
Corporate Reporting I
Accounting Information Systems I
Cost Management Accounting I
Analysis of Financial Statements
$50,000 Portfolio
Real Estate Investment & Analysis
Multinational Financial Mgmt
Internship
Introduction to Data Analytics
Introduction to Consulting
Intermediate Microeconomics with Calculus
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Money and Banking
Introduction to Econometrics
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-