Finance

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Major Requirements

Major: Finance

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

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

Communication (C)12
ENGL 110
College Composition I
ENGL 120
College Composition II
COMM 110
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing †
Quantitative Reasoning (R) †3
Science and Technology (S) †10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) †6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) †6
Wellness (W) †2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

†

 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

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 440International Finance 23
FIN 460Corporate Finance 23
BUSN 430Legal and Social Environment of Business 1, 23
BUSN 489Strategic Management (Capstone Course) 1, 23
300-400 Level Electives 2
Select any course prefix at the 300-400 level6
Finance Electives or Commercial Banking Track 2
Select may complete 12 credits of 300-400 level courses with the FIN prefix or they may declare the Commercial Banking Track 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.

Certificate Requirements

Certificate: Finance

Minimum Required Credits: 9

FIN 320Principles of Finance3
Select 2 courses from the following:6
FIN 410
Investment Analysis and Management
FIN 420
Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives
FIN 430
Management of Financial Institutions
FIN 440
International Finance
FIN 450
Advanced Bank Management
FIN 451
Credit Analysis
FIN 460
Corporate Finance
FIN 470
Analysis of Fixed-Income Securities
FIN 480
Applied Portfolio Management
Total Credits9

Degree Notes: 

  • Students must earn a 2.50 cumulative GPA in the courses used to satisfy the certificate requirements.
  • Courses may not be taken Pass/Fail.
  • Required courses for the certificate may require prerequisites.