If you are thinking about a career in finance, there are several course requirements you must take. This article will go over pre-requisites, finance major requirements, business electives, and the CFA level one curriculum. Hopefully this will help you decide whether a finance major is right for you. In the meantime, get started on your course of study by browsing the links below. You’ll have a better idea of what courses to take and when you need to complete them.
Courses required for a finance major
If you’re interested in personal finance and business, a major in finance may be right for you. Finance majors analyze the big picture, develop individual financial plans, and understand the workings of financial markets. To succeed in this field, you need to be organized, detail-oriented, good at communicating, have strong math skills, and have the ability to think strategically about the long-term consequences of their decisions. These are just a few of the many benefits of a finance major.
Before you begin your degree in finance, you should take a variety of core and elective courses in economics and business. Specifically, you should take ECON 10 in your first year, FIN 101 and 102 in your sophomore and junior years. You should also take STAT 71 & 72, a course that examines advanced topics in equity investments. These courses will help you develop analytical and communication skills that will be useful in your career.
Prerequisites
Students who wish to pursue a career in finance will need to complete a variety of prerequisites. As a finance major, you will study the principles of economics and the role of financial markets in business. You will learn how to make effective investment decisions and personal financial plans. In addition, you will develop analytical and problem-solving skills. The financial markets are the conduit for global investments and understanding the ways they operate is essential for success in any business.
In order to get the most out of your finance major program, you’ll need to take the appropriate number of prerequisite classes. First, you’ll need a business core course. These courses introduce you to the principles of accounting, financial management, and financial markets.
You’ll also need to complete an upper-division course or two in the major component. Typically, a finance major will need 24 upper-division units, with 12 of these being in the major component. Then, you’ll need to work with an advisor to develop a study plan and take courses in the major component.
Business electives
The finance major requires 120 hours of credit, of which half must be taken outside the College of Business. Non-business electives can include all General Education hours, three hours of economics, or COB 191 Business Analytics I. Students can also choose electives from any department to fulfill their major requirements. Non-business electives are helpful because they provide a broader range of knowledge outside of the business world.
Students who major in finance gain a more specific focus on a particular area, such as accounting. Students can also acquire a thorough knowledge of human behavior and people skills through a concentration in psychology. The electives should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor, and should include courses related to the major component. If students have not decided what areas to specialize in, they can take the remaining general education electives and business electives.
CFA level 1 curriculum
If you are interested in becoming a certified financial analyst, you may be wondering how to start your educational journey. The first step in achieving this goal is completing a degree in finance or accounting. Finance students must study financial statements and ratios, which are both crucial components of a career in finance. Other important topics covered in the curriculum are corporate finance and government regulations, behavioral finance, tax efficiency strategies, valuation and analysis of different types of assets, quantitative methods and economics.
Taking the CFA exam requires four years of work experience and education. In addition to the four-year degree program, candidates must complete at least 4,000 hours of work experience. Depending on the type of education program they chose, candidates from other majors can still pass the exam with some extra preparation. The CFA level I curriculum emphasizes tools and economics, as well as portfolio management techniques. The CFA level II curriculum covers quantitative methods and asset valuation.
Career opportunities for finance majors
As a finance major, you’ll gain knowledge of business models, financial markets, and risk management, among other things. You will also develop new skills. One question that might be on your mind is what kind of job you can get. Thankfully, there are a wide variety of finance- related careers. If you’re interested in this field, read on to find out what you can do with it. Here are a few examples.
While many finance majors enter the field with a conventional accounting or business degree, there are many other options available. Some choose to pursue law school and/or further study in the field. Others choose careers that are completely unrelated to the field, such as banking or consulting. Many finance professionals obtain professional designations. For example, investment managers may pursue Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, while risk managers in business organizations may pursue Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation.
These designations often require additional coursework.
