Program Overview

Major Area of Specialization in Finance (STEM)

The Finance major of the Bachelor in Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree prepares students for careers in Finance.

Differently from the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (BSAF), the BSBA coursework is not specifically tailored for students arriving at the business school with a clear interest in careers in Finance. BSBA students sample different business disciplines before specializing in a major, and it is not uncommon to have BSBA students switch majors over time, or to graduate with double majors in Finance and another business discipline, or in Finance and a non-business discipline.

Differently from the Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) degree, the BSBA coursework places greater emphasis on quantitative skills, including, for example, a required computer programming class and higher-level statistics classes. Because of this, relative to the BBA degree, the BSBA may be a better fit for students who are quantitatively oriented.

Curriculum Requirements

In addition to satisfying the University General Education Requirements and Electives, students pursuing the BSBA in Finance must complete the BSBA Business Core and the specific coursework for the Finance major area of specialization as follows:

General Education Requirements 1 , 2
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II 33
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
Calculus I (fulfilled through the BSBA business core)
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People and Society Cognate9
STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
Additional Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Electives 15
BSBA Business Core Requirements 1
ACC 211Principles of Financial Accounting3
or ACC 221 Accelerated Principles of Financial Accounting
ACC 212Managerial Accounting3
or ACC 222 Accelerated Managerial Accounting
BSL 212Introduction to Business Law and Ethics3
BTE 210Fundamentals of Business Technology and Innovation3
BTE 320Python Programming: Fundamentals and Algorithms3
BUS 150Business Analytics3
BUS 211Professional Development for Finance and Accounting (or other approved Miami Herbert Business School career course)1
or MGT 199 Professional Development and Success in the Workplace
BUS 300Critical Thinking and Persuasion for Business 33
ECO 211Principles of Microeconomics3
ECO 212Principles of Macroeconomics3
FIN 302Fundamentals of Finance3
MAS 311Applied Probability and Statistics (minimum grade of C- required)3
MAS 312Statistical Methods and Quality Control3
MTH 161Calculus I (minimum grade of C- required; fulfills Quantitative Skills Requirement)4
MTH 162Calculus II4
MGT 100Managing for Success in the Global Environment3
MGT 303Operations Management3
MGT 304Organizational Behavior3
MGT 401Strategic Management (taken in the final semester)3
MKT 201Foundations of Marketing3
or MKT 301 Marketing Foundations
Quantitative Choice - Select one of these suggested courses approved by the Vice Dean for Undergraduate Business Education - check pre-requisites:3
Object-Oriented Programming
Database Management Systems
Applied Econometrics
Mathematical Economics and Applications
Introduction to Optimization and Decision Making
Stochastic Models in Operations Research
Computer Simulation Systems
Supply Chain Modeling and Analysis
Supply Chain Strategy
Major Area of Specialization in Finance 4 , 5
Fundamentals of Finance (taken as part of the Business Core - minimum B grade required)
FIN 303Intermediate Financial Management 63
FIN 320Investment and Security Markets 63
Major Choice Courses12
Select two courses (6 credit hours) at the 300-500 level from the Finance departmental offerings. 7
Select two courses (6 credit hours) at the 400 or 500 level from the Finance departmental offerings.
Total Credit Hours120
1

NOTE:  WRS 105 and WRS 106 or ENG 106 or their equivalents, must be completed prior to attaining junior year classification, per the University General Education Requirements. Additionally, all 100 and 200-level Business Core courses must be completed by the end of the fifth semester of college work or during the semester in which the student is completing 75 credit hours.

2

 At least one course with an international focus must be completed within the degree requirements.  The appropriateness of the course is determined by the Vice Dean for Undergraduate Business Education.

3

 Students who do not earn at least a C- in WRS 106 or ENG 106 must either repeat WRS 106 or ENG 106 and earn at least a C- or complete WRS 230 with at least a C- before enrolling in BUS 300.

4

 In order to pursue a Finance area of specialization, a student must earn a grade of "B" (grade point of 3.0) or higher in FIN 302 (note that a grade of "B-" does not qualify), and must have a minimum cumulative University of Miami GPA of 2.5 before enrolling in FIN 303 or FIN 320.

5

 All specific coursework for the major area of specialization in Finance must be completed with a grade of "C-" of higher (except for the minimum "B" grade required for FIN 302, as noted).  A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for all specific coursework taken in the major area of specialization.

All courses must be taken within the current pre-requisite structure.

6

 Students are strongly encouraged to take FIN 303 and FIN 320 during the same semester.

7

 Excluding FIN 300FIN 308, and FIN 336.

Sample Plan of Study

This Sample Plan of Study represents one possible version of a new freshman business student’s 8-semester plan.  The individual student's plan may vary depending upon the initial placement into English Composition and mathematics. Moreover, numerous plan variations are possible if a student enters the University with advanced college credits, wishes to participate in study abroad, chooses a special program option, or selects additional majors or minors.  

Note that each major/minor at the University of Miami satisfies a particular "Area of Knowledge" within the general education requirements of the University. This means that it is possible to pursue two majors, or a major and a minor, within Miami Herbert Business School and fulfill both the STEM and People and Society Areas of Knowledge; a separate cognate in these areas would not be required. The only remaining general education Area of Knowledge is Arts and Humanities, which must be completed through a major, minor, or cognate outside of the Business School.

Students construct their individualized plans in collaboration with their assigned academic advisor.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
FallCredit Hours
ECO 211 Principles of Microeconomics 3
MGT 100 Managing for Success in the Global Environment 3
MKT 201 Foundations of Marketing 3
MTH 161 Calculus I 4
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
 Credit Hours16
Spring
BUS 150 Business Analytics 3
ECO 212 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
Arts and Humanities Cognate Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore Year
Fall
ACC 211 Principles of Financial Accounting 3
BSL 212 Introduction to Business Law and Ethics 3
BTE 210 Fundamentals of Business Technology and Innovation 3
BUS 211 Professional Development for Finance and Accounting 1
MAS 311 Applied Probability and Statistics 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
ACC 212 Managerial Accounting 3
BUS 300 Critical Thinking and Persuasion for Business 3
FIN 302 Fundamentals of Finance 3
MAS 312 Statistical Methods and Quality Control 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior Year
Fall
BTE 320 Python Programming: Fundamentals and Algorithms 3
FIN 303 Intermediate Financial Management 3
FIN 320 Investment and Security Markets 3
MGT 304 Organizational Behavior 3
People and Society Cognate Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MGT 303 Operations Management 3
Finance Major Choice 3
Finance Major Choice 3
People and Society Cognate Course 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior Year
Fall
Finance Major Choice 3
Quantitative Choice Course 3
People and Society Cognate Course 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MGT 401 Strategic Management 3
Finance Major Choice 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120

Mission

  • To develop innovative ideas and principled leaders that transform global business and society.

Goals

The Finance major area of specialization is designed to prepare business students for a wide variety of careers.  Because finance is focused on valuation and decision making, it is applicable to virtually every possible type of organization. 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • BBA/BSBA graduates will be critical thinkers, able to select and apply appropriate models, tools, and techniques, and frameworks to enable them to render analytically sound business decisions.
  • BBA/BSBA graduates will be able to identify, analyze and resolve ethical issues in business scenarios.
  • BBA/BSBA graduates will demonstrate professional written communication skills.
  • BSBA graduates will have strong technical skills.