Bachelor of Science in Finance

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Finance (BSF) degree, also known as the Finance major, emphasizes a finance-focused education and directly targets the financial industry, including commercial banks, investment banks, investment companies and insurance companies.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 

General education and prerequisite course requirements
General education
UW 1020University Writing
One critical analysis course in the humanities 1
One scientific reasoning with lab course 1
Prerequisites
MATH 1231Single-Variable Calculus I
MATH 1232Single-Variable Calculus II
ECON 1011Principles of Economics I
ECON 1012Principles of Economics II
DNSC 1001Business Analytics I: Statistics for Descriptive and Predictive Analytics
or STAT 1051 Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics
or STAT 1053 Introduction to Statistics in Social Science
or STAT 1111 Business and Economic Statistics I
or APSC 3115 Engineering Analysis III
STAT 2118Regression Analysis
or ECON 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
or STAT 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
Major requirements
School of Business courses
BADM 1001
& BADM 1002		First Year Development Course I
and First Year Development Course II 2
or BADM 1003 Transfer Student Development Course
BADM 3001Career Management Strategy 3
BADM 4001Leadership and Career Launch 4
BADM 4101Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
or BADM 4101W Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
Courses in the major
ACCY 2001Introduction to Financial Accounting
ACCY 3106Financial Statement Analysis
BADM 3501Financial Management and Markets
FINA 3001Intermediate Finance
FINA 3101Investment and Portfolio Management
FINA 4001Advanced Financial Management
or FINA 4001W Advanced Financial Management
Four additional courses in the major selected from the following:
FINA 3201Exploring Finance with Simulation
or FINA 3201W Exploring Finance with Simulation
FINA 3301Money and Capital Markets
FINA 3401A Brief History of Finance
or FINA 3401W A Brief History of Finance
FINA 4101Applied Financial Securities Analysis
FINA 4201Real Estate Investment
FINA 4301Financial Derivatives
FINA 4900Special Topics (Applied Financial Security Analysis: Fixed Income)
FINA 4900Special Topics (Applied Financial Security Analysis: Real Estate)
FINA 4900Special Topics (Investment Analysis Venture Capital)
One international field course selected from the following:
ECON 2180Survey of International Economics
ECON 2181 International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 2182International Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
IBUS 3001Introduction to International Business
IBUS 3101Global Financial Environment
IBUS 3301International Business Finance
IBUS 4302International Banking
IBUS 4303International Monetary and Financial Issues
SMPP 4900WSpecial Topics (Strategy and International Political Economy)
TSTD 3302Financial Management in Tourism and Hospitality
Electives
In general, students complete 34 credits of electives or the minimum necessary to reach the 120 credits required for the degree. Elective courses may be numbered from 1000 to 4999. Electives may not include LSPA (Lifestyle, Sport, and Physical Activity) courses. They may include one HLWL (Health and Wellness) course.
Elective courses may be applied toward a GWSB concentration or a GWSB or non-GWSB second major. 6,7
Minor requirement
A minor outside of the School of Business is required for the degree. Courses vary by minor and typically require a minimum of 18 credits. Students may pursue a second minor or a second major in lieu of the minor. 7

​1A list of approved courses can be found in this Bulletin under General Education Requirements.

2Freshmen take BADM 1001 and BADM 1002. Transfer students take BADM 1003.

3BADM 3001 is offered with finance-specific sections and should be completed during the sophomore year, after completing BADM 1001 and BADM 1002 or BADM 1003. Students should take one of the following sections, in accordance with their career interests: Finance and Accounting or Finance and Investment Banking.

4BADM 4001 is offered with experiential-specific sections and should be completed in the senior year.  

5FINA 4001 must be taken at GW.

6Students pursuing a double major who wish to earn a major in accountancy must declare the BS in accountancy as their first major; i.e., accountancy may not be listed as a second major. Major courses in both majors must be completed with a grade of C- or above.

7Students should consult the regulations in this Bulletin and their academic advisor for assistance and additional information concerning elective courses and the minor requirement.

Finance as a Second Major Requirements 

Review the Finance as a Second Major document to see the requirements.