Finance Major

Major Requirements

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Credits Required: 120

University Degree Requirements

For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.

  1. Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
  2. Complete the University General Education requirements.
  3. Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  4. Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
  5. Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
  6. Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.

University General Education Requirements

A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.

Category C: Communication12
Category R: Quantitative Reasoning3
Category S: Science and Technology10
Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts6
Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences6
Category W: Wellness2
Category D: Cultural Diversity
Category G: Global Perspectives
Category L: Digital Literacy
Total Credits39

Major Requirements

Requirements for Admission to Pre-Major Requirements:
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking 23
ENGL 120College Composition II 23
MATH 144Mathematics for Business 24
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology 23
or SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics 23
or ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics
Finance Major Requirements:
TL 116Business Software Applications 23
ACCT 200Elements of Accounting I 23
ACCT 201Elements of Accounting II 23
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics (Select the course not taken for the pre-major.) 23
or ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics
PHIL 216Business Ethics 23
ENGL 320Business and Professional Writing 23
STAT 330Introductory Statistics 23
STAT 331Regression Analysis 22
Admission to major program required prior to taking the following courses:
FIN 320Principles of Finance 1, 23
MGMT 320Foundations of Management 1,23
MIS 320Management Information Systems 1,23
MRKT 320Foundations of Marketing 1,23
FIN 330Data Analytics in Finance 23
FIN 410Investment Analysis and Management 23
FIN 420Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives 23
FIN 430Management of Financial Institutions 23
FIN 460Corporate Finance 23
BUSN 430Legal and Social Environment of Business 1, 23
BUSN 489Strategic Management (Capstone Course) 1, 23
SCM 320Integrated Supply Chain Management3
300-400 Level Electives 2
Select any course prefix at the 300-400 level6
Finance Electives or Commercial Banking Track 2
Complete 12 credits of 300-400 level courses with the FIN prefix or declare the Commercial Banking Track with the Office of Registration and Records and complete the courses outlined in the track below.12
Total Credits93

 Commercial Banking Track

FIN 450Advanced Bank Management 23
FIN 451Credit Analysis 23
FIN 452Real Estate Lending 23
FIN 453Risk Management in Banking 23
Total Credits12
1

 Denotes Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) course.

2

Grades must be a C or better for all courses used to satisfy this requirement.

Degree Requirements and Notes:

  • A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the major, to enroll in 300-400 level courses, and to graduate.
  • Students follow the published curricula for the finance program of study from the semester/year of entrance in the College of Business to graduation provided enrollment at NDSU has not been discontinued for more than one year. Students who change their major are subject to meeting the curricular requirements in effect at the time the new major is declared. 
  • For admission to the finance major, students must submit an online application to the CoB.
  • A letter grade must be earned in any course that fulfills a major requirement (with the exception of some practicum options).
  • Students must be accepted to the finance major prior to the completion of the last 30 credits in 300 and 400 level CoB courses.
  • A Business Administration minor cannot be taken with this major.