BBA in Finance

The curriculum of our department prepares students for careers in corporate financial management, the investments and securities business, and the management of financial institutions, e.g., banks and insurance companies.  The theory of finance and its applications are emphasized.  Students learn about:  security analysis and valuation, security trading, government policy and financial markets, financial forecasting, capital structure, financial risk management, venture capital, security issuance and international finance.

A significant part of our coursework teaches you to understand risk and uncertainty, both at an intuitive level and at a technical level.  More importantly, you learn to construct models of financial decisions, e.g. an investor’s portfolio choice problem, the issuance of securities by corporations and the structure of financial investments by banks.  These models are inherently quantitative, relying on knowledge of calculus and statistics.  Not surprisingly then, you should be well prepared in mathematics before you enroll in finance courses.

Finance Careers and Recommended Courses

Asset Management and Security Analysis

     Recommended Electives

  • FINANCE 445 Multinational Business Finance (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 520 Intermediate Investment Theory (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 630 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 635 Security Analysis (3 credits)

     Other Relevant Courses

  • Real Est 425 Real Estate Asset Management (3 credits)
  • Acct I S 603 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
  • Econ 364 Survey of International Economics (4 credits)
  • Econ 464 International Trade and Finance (4 credits)

Commercial Banking

     Recommended Electives

  • FINANCE 410 Bank Management
  • FINANCE 445 Multinational Business Finance (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 610 Bank Simulation and Strategy
  • FINANCE 630 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities (3 credits)

     Other Relevant Courses

  • ACCT I S 406 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 credits)
  • ACCT I S 603 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
  • RMI 640 Management of Insurance Enterprise (3 credits)
  • Real Est 410 Real Estate Finance (3 credits)

Corporate Financial Management

     Recommended Electives

  • FINANCE 365 Contemporary Topics — Entrepreneurial Finance (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 445 Multinational Business Finance (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 455 Financial Policy (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 630 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities (3 credits)

     Other Relevant Courses

  • ACCT I S 329 Taxation: Concepts for Business and Personal Planning (3 credits)
  • ACCT I S 406 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 credits)
  • ACCT I S 603 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
  • Econ 364 Survey of International Economics (4 credits)
  • Econ 464 International Trade and Finance (4 credits)

Investment Banking

     Recommended Electives

  • FINANCE 365 Contemporary Topics — Entrepreneurial Finance
  • FINANCE 455 Financial Policy
  • FINANCE 630 Fixed Income and Derivative Securities (3 credits)
  • FINANCE 635 Security Analysis (3 credits)

     Other Relevant Courses

  • ACCT I S 406 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 credits)
  • ACCT I S 603 Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
  • Real Est 410 Real Estate Finance (3 credits)


The Finance Major

The major requirements give students the preparation necessary to compete in the finance job market.

If you are a new student, entering the business school in the fall 2004 semester, then you must meet a set of requirements that are different than those for continuing students (and different from the requirements in the University of Wisconsin-Madison course catalog). If you are a new student, view a list of requirements here.

If you are a continuing student, see the University of Wisconsin-Madison Course Catalog for the specific requirements for the Finance Major. 

It is strongly recommended that you contact the advisors in the Undergraduate Programs Office of the Business School if you wish to pursue the Finance major.  For many students, four semesters are required to complete the major.  For some students, e.g., those who study abroad during their junior or senior years, a fifth semester of coursework is required for the major.  The advisors in the Undergraduate Office will help you to plan your schedule of courses.  

Students enhance their chances of getting a superior job in the finance profession by participating in undergraduate finance clubs and in internships, and by selecting electives wisely. Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor.  As a general rule, excellent electives are accounting courses and those that train students to write well and to speak in public.  Other good electives are courses in Risk and Insurance, Real Estate, and Economics.

Prerequisite Requirements

The quality of instruction in our courses is much greater when all students have equivalent preparation than when they do not.  With this in mind, all students – including both finance majors and others – must meet the prerequisite requirements of Finance Department courses before they enroll.  Prerequisite requirements for specific courses are listed in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Course Catalog, and in the University Timetable.

In particular, you should study carefully the calculus and statistics courses that are required to enroll in Finance 320 Investment Theory.

Prerequisite requirements for Finance Department courses are enforced.  Therefore, you should refer to the catalog and the timetable to plan your schedule of courses in advance.  If you have questions regarding scheduling of your coursework in order to enroll in Finance Department courses, please contact the advisors in Undergraduate Programs Office in the Business School.  Plan ahead.

Pursuit of Graduate Degrees

You may be one of a small number of students who wish to continue their studies and obtain a masters degree or a Ph.D. degree in finance.  If so, please contact the Finance Department Office for information.