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Academic Majors

 


Finance

As a finance major, you will learn the fundamental concepts and tools to make informed and responsible financial decisions using data and creativity. Finance students know how to estimate economic value and evaluate the riskiness of a project or a financial asset, to advise firms about paying for projects, and to appraise a firm’s performance on the stock market. We successfully place our graduates in business, industry and non-profit organizations. 

Finance PDF

Background Information

AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits the undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Business at North Dakota State University. The College of Business is one of only two accredited schools of business in North Dakota. 

AACSB International is one of higher education’s most prestigious and rigorous accrediting bodies, stressing academic excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement. Less than 10 percent of business programs worldwide have this accreditation. 

The Program

Business students take core courses that cover all of the functional areas of a business, from marketing to management and accounting. Finance courses build on this foundation to help students understand the way that businesses operate in a global economy. Courses cover corporate finance, international finance, investments, portfolio management and more. The finance program is approved as a CFA Institute University Affiliation Program which positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. Your assignments might be project-driven or include group presentations so that you can practice what you learn in class. In addition to a thorough knowledge of finance, you’ll learn teamwork, effective written and oral communication skills, and leadership. 

Hands-On Experience

Business students can join the Bison Fund (Student Managed Investment Fund) to get a chance to manage a real-money investment fund worth more than $1.2 million using state-of-the-art Bloomberg terminals in the Commodities Trading Lab. The Bison Fund brings financial theory and investment practice together while providing students access to the same data used by Wall Street analysts. 

Admission to the Professional Program

Students enter the College of Business as a pre-major student. Admission into the professional program requires the completion of the following pre-College requirements with a grade of ‘C’ or higher: ENGL 120, MATH 144, ECON 201 or 202, SOC 110 or PSYC 111, and COMM 110 and an institutional cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. Once enrolled in the Business Professional Program, students are assessed a differential tuition rate. This differential tuition helps cover additional expenses associated with the professional program(s). 

The Faculty

In order to provide a rigorous and timely educational experience, we have recruited and attracted faculty who are highly qualified to teach finance. Dedicated to student learning, our faculty have often been recognized for their teaching excellence by students and colleagues. The faculty employ a wide variety of instructional techniques and are considered especially strong in approaches to the study of organizations and management decision making. They remain current in their sub-fields of finance by actively engaging in research and constantly assisting firms in identifying and solving business problems. 

The Practicum

Finance majors are encouraged to complete a three-credit practicum. The practicum is designed to enable students to relate finance concepts learned in the classroom to actual business situations and to give them a competitive edge in job placement. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a finance major have opportunities in business, industry, government service, and the non-profit sector, both regionally and globally. Job opportunities for finance majors are found in corporate finance and the financial services industries, such as banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking and financial planning. 

The College

The College of Business also offers majors in accounting, business administration, management, marketing, management information systems, and global business (second major only), as well as Master of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy degrees. 

High School Preparation

It is recommended that high school students interested in studying finance at the university level take mathematics courses at least through pre-calculus. High school electives in the social sciences, English and communication also would be of benefit. Please speak with a professional advisor for more information. 

Finance Plan of Study

Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study. 

Freshman
Fall Credits Spring Credits
ENGL 110 College Composition I 4 COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
MIS 116 Business Use of Computers 3 ENGL 120 College Composition II 3
Gen Ed Humanities & Fine Arts 3 MATH 144 Mathematics for Business 4
Gen Ed Wellness 2

PSYC 111 or SOC 110 or Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology

3
Non-major Elective 3 Gen Ed Cultural Diversity 3
15 16
Sophomore
Fall Credits Spring Credits
ACCT 200 Elements of Accounting I 3 ACCT 201 Elements of Accounting II 3
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 3 ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
PHIL 216 Business Ethics 3 STAT 331 Regression Analysis 2
STAT 330 Introductory Statistics 3 Non-major Elective 3
Gen Ed Science & Technology 3 Gen Ed Science & Technology (w/lab) 4
15 15
Junior
Fall Credits Spring Credits
ENGL 320 Business and Professional Writing 3 BUSN 430 Legal and Social Environment of Business 3
FIN 320 Principles of Finance 3 FIN 410 Investment Analysis and Management 3
MGMT 320 Foundations of Management 3 FIN 430 Management of Financial Institutions 3
MIS 320 Management Information Systems 3 300-400 Level CoB Elective 6
MRKT 320 Foundations of Marketing 3
15 15
Senior
Fall Credits Spring Credits
FIN 460 Corporate Finance 3 BUSN 489 Strategic Management 3
300-400 Level Finance Elective 3 300-400 Level Finance Electives 3
300-400 Level CoB Elective 3 300-400 Level Approved Electives1 3
300-400 Level Approved Elective1 3
Non-major Elective 2
14 15
Total Credits: 120

      1      

Approved electives include College of Business courses or those with the following prefixes: AGEC, CSCI, ECON MATH, and STAT. Must earn a letter grade.


View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies

Barry Hall
Room 200


Barry Hall is located in downtown Fargo at 811 2nd Ave. N. (Campus Map)

Contact Information

 

College of Business 
NDSU Dept 2400 
PO Box 6050 
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
DEPT PHONE: (701) 231-5845
DEPT WEBSITE: https://www.ndsu.edu/business/programs/undergraduate/majors/

 

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept #5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Tel: (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/

 

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Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Phone: +1 (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Campus address: Ceres Hall 114
Physical/delivery address: 1301 Administration Ave., Fargo, ND 58102
Mailing address: NDSU Dept. 5230 / PO Box 6050 / Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Page manager: NDSU Webmaster

Last Updated: Sunday, November 01, 2020 10:58:15 PM
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