BS in Finance
2429 University Hall (UH)
(312) 996-2980
http://www.uic.edu/cba/cba-depts/finance/
Administration: Head, Robert S. Chirinko
Administrative Assistant, Debbie R. Reed
Undergraduate Programs, 1118 UH
The Department of Finance is a major unit within the College of Business Administration, justified by the strong student demand for majoring and concentrating in finance. The department aspires to be a leader in the areas of the financial services industry that are centered in Chicago. This will be accomplished by research-oriented faculty emphasizing the most innovative and fastest developing areas of finance, including risk management, insurance, derivatives, real estate, banking, and global financial markets.
The department’s teaching mission will be accomplished by pursuing the following objectives:
- Provide strong professional training for careers in finance.
- Be the primary source of undergraduate students to the financial services industry in the Chicago area.
- Expand the department’s MBA course offerings in recognition of being the preeminent concentration in that curriculum.
- Introduce curriculum specializations, primarily at the undergraduate level, designed for specific areas of the financial services industry such as global finance, derivatives, risk management, insurance, real estate, government finance, banking, and portfolio strategy.
- Use contemporary information technology in the learning process.
- Draw upon other departments for interdisciplinary teaching areas, including accounting, information technology, and actuarial science.
The finance curriculum explores the principles of financial analysis and control of individual business firms. It applies these principles to financial management, the valuation and selection of securities, and the influence of the monetary and banking system on economic activity.
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.
Finance majors should pass Finance 300 with a grade of C or better by the spring semester of their sophomore year in order to complete the department courses required for the major and to take advantage of the available career path groups listed below.
| BS in Finance Degree Requirements | Hours |
| General Course Requirements | 60 |
| Business Core | 33 |
| Major Requirements | 18 |
| Business Electives | 9 |
| Total Hours—BS in Finance | 120 |
General Course Requirements
See General Course Requirements in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.
Business Core
See Business Core in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.
Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 310—Investments | 3 |
| FIN 320—Managerial Finance | 3 |
| Twelve additional hours of 300- or 400-level courses in the Department of Finance. See lists below for career path suggestions. | 12 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 18 |
Business Electives
| Courses | Hours |
| Nine hours at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level chosen from courses in the College of Business Administration with a maximum of three hours at the 200-level. See lists below for career path suggestions. | 9 |
| Total Hours—Business Electives | 9 |
Course Suggestions for Finance Careers
Students may select courses based upon their interests and career goals. The finance electives shown below are grouped into logical career-path alternatives. Students may, however, elect any combination of business courses to fulfill the elective requirement.
Corporate Financial Analysis
This area is designed to introduce the student to the work of the financial officer of a company, who must be knowledgeable about financial statements, financial characteristics, and financial strategies of different types of firms.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 444—Small Business Finance | 3 |
| FIN 495—Competitive Strategy Business Core Requirement | 4 |
| ACTG 315—Intermediate Financial Accounting I (Business Elective) |
3 |
| ACTG 316—Intermediate Financial Accounting II (Business Elective) |
3 |
Investment Management
This area is an introduction to the theory and practice of managing investments. The professional investment manager must be aware of the vast range of investments that are now available in the modern economy, as well as the methods used to hedge risks.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 412—Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 431—Theory and Structure of Financial Markets | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance: Theory and Structure of Contract Exchanges |
3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance: Investment Banking |
3 |
Banking and Financial Markets
This area traditionally was “money and banking,” but now banking and financial markets are far more elaborate and complex. The student is introduced to the structure and functions of the modern financial system. This area is a must for those interested in banking and related fields.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 430—Introduction to Money and Banking | 3 |
| FIN 431—Theory and Structure of Financial Markets | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance: Investment Banking | 3 |
| ECON 339—Monetary Theory (Business Elective) | 3 |
Global Finance
This area is an introduction to the firm’s financial management in a global context. The central course is Finance 442, which covers the international monetary system, financial markets, management of foreign investments, and exchange risks.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 442—International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance: Theory and Structure of Contract Exchanges | 3 |
| ACTG 484—International Accounting (Business Elective) | 3 |
| ECON 333—International Economics (Business Elective) | 3 |
Real Estate
Real estate represents a significant portion of the assets held both by firms and by households. The area in real estate introduces the student to legal, economic, and financial aspects of real estate in the context of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Courses |
Hours |
| FIN 371—Introduction to Urban Real Estate | 3 |
| FIN 472—Real Estate Finance | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance: Municipal Finance | 3 |
| ECON 332—Urban Economics (Business Elective) | 3 |
| ECON 475—Real Estate Markets and Valuation (Business Elective) |
3 |
Risk Management and Insurance
This area is intended to prepare students for careers in the insurance industry or in areas of the financial industry that involve financial risk management.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 465—Property and Liability Insurance | 3 |
| FIN 466—Life and Health Insurance | 3 |
| FIN 473—Introduction to Risk Management | 3 |
See Sample Business Major Curriculum in the College of Business Administration section.
See Academic Honors in the College of Business Administration section.