Department of Finance
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
Department Mission StatementBS in Finance
2429 University Hall (UH)
(312) 996-2980
http://business.uic.edu/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. Our curriculum prepares students to be active participants in the finance industry considered broadly. Based on our engagement with finance professionals and academic research, we develop innovative educational programs that enhance the skills of students and that apply lessons from the frontiers of academic research to critical business problems. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Market Training Laboratory provides a unique environment in which to gain hands-on experience in trading and to understand the intricacies of financial markets. The Finance Department recognizes the significance of its Chicago location and fosters partnerships with the financial and academic communities to develop the leadership potential of our students.
The department’s teaching mission involves:
- Providing strong professional training for careers in finance.
- Connecting undergraduate students to the financial services industry in the Chicago area.
- Introducing curriculum specializations designed for specific areas of the financial services industry such as global finance, derivatives, risk management, banking, and portfolio and other investment strategies.
- Utilizing contemporary information technology in the learning process.
- Drawing upon other departments for interdisciplinary teaching areas, including accounting, information and decision sciences, and managerial studies.
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 301 and 302 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. (Students who enrolled in the finance major before Fall 2013 may opt to replace FIN 301 and 302 with FIN 300.)
| 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. Students may elect any combination of business courses to fulfill the elective requirement. | 9 |
| Total Hours—Business Electives | 9 |
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 Financial Analysis
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 | Hours |
| FIN 444—Small Business Finance | 3 |
| ACTG 315—Intermediate Financial Accounting I (Business Elective) |
3 |
| ACTG 316—Intermediate Financial Accounting II (Business Elective) |
3 |
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 | Hours |
| FIN 404—Financial Strategies and Text Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 412—Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 418—Commodities, Energy, and Related Markets | 3 |
| FIN 449—Applied Equity Investment Management | 3 |
| FIN 455—Asset Management | 3 |
| FIN 480—Market Microstructure and Electronic Trading | 3 |
Banking
The banking system is crucial to the proper functioning of modern industrialized economies. This area provides an introduction to the structure and functions of the modern financial system, the roles played by commercial and central banks, the impact of regulatory and monetary policies, and the management of commercial banks.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 430—Introduction to Money and Banking | 3 |
| FIN 431—Management in the Financial Services Industry | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance (when topic is Islamic Finance) | 3 |
Global Finance
This area provides an introduction to international financial markets and the firm’s financial management in a global context. FIN 340 and FIN 442 are the central courses. Among other topics covered are the international monetary system, markets for foreign exchange, management of foreign investments, and exchange rate risks.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 340—International Financial Markets | 3 |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 442—International Corporate Financial Management | 3 |
| FIN 494—Special Topics in Finance (when topic is Islamic Finance) | 3 |
| ACTG 484—International Accounting (Business Elective) | 3 |
Real Estate
Real estate represents a significant portion of the assets held both by firms and by households. This area provides an introduction 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 |
| ECON 332—Urban Economics (Business Elective) | 3 |
| ECON 475—Real Estate Markets and Valuation (Business Elective) |
3 |
Risk Management
This area prepares students for careers in areas of the financial industry that involve financial risk management.
| Courses | Hours |
| FIN 415—Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN 416—Options and Futures Markets | 3 |
| FIN 473—Introduction to Risk Management | 3 |
| FIN 479—Enterprise 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.
