Finance Major

The Finance major provides an academic experience sufficient to prepare students for employment in financial services, which includes banking, investment banking, investment management, financial planning, insurance and financial management. It also benefits students interested in pursuing finance-related professional certifications such as the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Major Requirements

Major: Finance

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Credits Required for Degree: 123

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

• A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
• General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.

Major Requirements

Degree Requirements and Notes

• Students must include one of the following international courses in their plan of study:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  BUSN 340	International Business	3
  BUSN 341	Global Business Environment	3
  FIN 440	International Finance	3
  MGMT 440	International Management	3
  MRKT 440	International Marketing	3

• 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. 
• Business courses from programs that do not hold AACSB International accreditation cannot be used for major or minor requirements in the College of Business (CoB); such courses may be eligible for use as free electives.
• The CoB accepts a maximum of nine credits of non-NDSU 300-400 level business courses from AACSB programs with approval of the department.
• Admission into the finance major: Students must earn a 'C' or better in the pre-college and pre-finance major courses that are indicated with an asterisk (*), achieve junior standing (60 credits), and earn a 2.50 institutional cumulative grade point average.  Students must submit an online application to the CoB.
• Admission to the finance major is required to enroll in the advanced 300 or 400 level courses in the CoB.
• A grade of 'C' or better is required in transfer courses accepted for ACCT 200 Elements of Accounting I and ACCT 201 Elements of Accounting II and all 300-400 level accounting, business administration, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing courses.
• A letter grade must be earned in any course that fulfills a major requirement (with the exception of some practicum options and BUSN 301).
• A 2.50 cumulative grade point average is required to enroll in 300-400 level CoB courses.
• Students must earn a 2.50 institutional GPA to graduate.
• Of the credits completed in residence at least 30 credits must be in 300-400 level CoB courses.
• 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 is NOT offered with this major.
• For multiple majors within the CoB, at least 15 unique credits of 300-400 level CoB courses must exist between the majors.
• Prerequisite for Finance Internship: Fin 320 with a grade of C or better.
• Students should refer to www.ndsu.edu/business for current and complete listing of the major requirements.

Plan of Study 

Note: This is only a sample curriculum; actual class schedules will depend on availability and individual choices. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic adviser on a regular basis to review their plan of study.