Finance Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Finance Program at UW-La Crosse provides an excellent mix of theoretical and practical knowledge. Students are exposed to a variety of teaching methods ranging from lectures and group discussions to problem-solving case analysis and independent studies. The program provides a foundation in the primary financial areas: corporate finance, investments, and financial institutions. Students then have the flexibility to explore the basic areas in greater detail or to branch out in other financial areas such as international finance, real estate, financial planning or insurance. The department also offers a finance major with a risk, insurance and financial planning emphasis for those particularly interested in that area.

The Spellman Fund, a student-managed investment portfolio, involves investing real money in selected stocks and bonds recommended by students.

Admission

Admission to the College of Business Administration

The 300/400 level finance courses are open only to those students who have been admitted to the business program and students in business related programs for which such a course is specifically required. Exceptions to this policy may be made only by the College of Business Administration Dean. Students will be allowed to register for FIN 360 Principles of Insurance and Risk Management (3 cr.) without having been admitted to the business program.

Curriculum

(College of Business Administration)

21 credits

Core
FIN 370Corporation Finance3
FIN 380Principles of Investment3
FIN 390Money and Capital Markets3
FIN 475Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management3
or FIN 485 Problems and Cases in Finance
Group I
Select one of the following:3
Principles of Insurance and Risk Management
Life Insurance
Advanced Financial Planning
Retirement Planning
Management of Financial Institutions
Financial Modeling
Multinational Financial Management
Real Estate Principles
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management 1
Problems and Cases in Finance
Group II
Select two of the following:6
College of Business Administration Internship 2
Taxation for Non-Accountants
Intermediate Accounting I
Cost Accounting
Money and Banking
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
Introduction to Econometrics
Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis
Managerial Economics
Behavioral Economics
Introduction to International Economics
International Financial Economics
Management Science
OR Any course listed in Group I
Total Credits21
1

FIN 475 or FIN 485 may apply to Group I if not used in the core.

2

A maximum of three internship credits from FIN 450 may be applied toward the finance major.

CBA core courses including FIN 323 and FIN 355 cannot apply to the major.

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR. 

College of Business Administration (CBA) core requirements

All students enrolled in any program within the college must complete the 16 business core courses listed below and all requirements for the major (see department listings). Courses numbered at the 100 and 200 level as well as MGT/MKT 301 are considered pre-business courses. MGT 449 must be taken in the semester of graduation.

ACC 221Accounting Principles I3
ACC 222Accounting Principles II3
BLAW 205The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business3
ECO 110Microeconomics and Public Policy3
ECO 120Global Macroeconomics3
ECO 230Data Analysis for Business Applications3
ENG 110College Writing3
or ENG 112 College Writing AP (Advanced Placement)
FIN 355Principles of Financial Management3
IS 220Information Systems for Business Management3
MGT/MKT 301Business Communication3
MGT 308Organizational Behavior3
MGT 393Production and Operations Management3
MKT 309Principles of Marketing3
MTH 160Mathematics for Business4-5
or MTH 175 Applied Calculus
or MTH 207 Calculus I
STAT 145Elementary Statistics (or equivalent)4
Capstone - taken in the semester of graduation
MGT 449CBA Capstone: Applied Business Strategy3
Total Credits50-51

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECO 110 or 120 (Gen Ed Global Studies/ Gen Ed Self & Society)13ECO 110 or 120 (Gen Ed Global Studies/ Gen Ed Self & Society)13
ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy - Written)13CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy - Oral)3
MTH 160, 175, or 207 (Depending on math placement exam results)14STAT 145 (Depending on math placement exam results)14
Gen Ed Arts2FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3
Gen Ed World History3Gen Ed Minority Cultures3
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ACC 22113ACC 22213
University Elective3BLAW 20513
University Elective3MGT 301 or MKT 3013
Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3Gen Ed Natural Lab Science4
University Elective3Apply to the Business Program 
 15 13
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FIN 3553MGT 3933
ECO 2303MKT 3093
IS 2203MGT 3083
University Elective4Gen Ed Arts3
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3University Elective3
 16 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
FIN 3703FIN 3903
FIN 3803FIN 475 or 4853
Finance Elective (Group I) 3MGT 4493
Finance Elective (Group I or II)3University Elective (300/400-level)3
University Elective3Finance Elective (Group I) 3
  
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
1

A grade of "C" or better is required for admission to the CBA Business Program.