Bachelor of Finance at University of Florida

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance (BSBA-FIN) degree program focuses on the acquisition and management of funds by businesses, financial markets, security analysis and valuation, management of financial institutions, interest rates, investments and securities, financial risk management, security trading, government policy and financial markets, financial forecasting, capital structure, venture capital and security issuance. The finance curriculum prepares students for careers in corporate financial management and the financial services industry. Finance graduates can also pursue graduate studies in business, law and public administration.

BSBA-FIN majors are encouraged to gain practical work experience through internships, student organizations and community service. In addition, the Heavener School of Business offers students a wide variety of academic and career and leadership programs, including study abroad, the Florida Leadership Academy, involvement in student organizations and research activities. Students should consult an academic advisor/career coach for specific information.

Requirements for the Major

BSBA-FIN majors must maintain a 2.0 core, major and UF GPA. Students must read the individual course descriptions in this catalog to determine the prerequisites for their required courses. In addition to the critical-tracking and general education courses outlined below, BSBA-FIN majors must take 120 credits, including:

¹

One electronic platform course (ENT 3003, GEB 3035, ISM 3004 or REE 3043) can be taken to fulfill the restricted elective requirement. Internship, independent study or assistantship credit will not count toward this requirement. 

²

GEB 4941 (one credit) in conjunction with an internship of at least 150 credits before the start of the senior year. The internship requirement can be waived for students who participate in a study abroad experience of at least six weeks. Students who waive the requirement via study abroad are strongly encouraged to complete at least one internship to improve their chances of obtaining full-time employment and/or admission to graduate programs or law school. Students should consult an academic advisor/career coach for more information. 

A bachelor’s degree in business administration enables students to achieve foundation knowledge in economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, business law, statistics, operations management, human resource management, information technology and entrepreneurship. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the links between various business disciplines and the development of sound business plans. Students will be able to effectively analyze a business entity's strengths and weaknesses as well as investigate the opportunities and threats present in the business environment.

The finance major covers the basics of financial statements, working capital management, capital budgeting decisions, the types of securities available to investors, and the risk/return attributes of those securities as well as factors affecting pricing.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Take the ETS Major Field Test in Business as part of MAN 4504. The ETS exam covers nine content areas in business. The score describes your performance relative to other seniors in business and accounting at 600+ colleges and universities (e.g., top 15% in the nation compared to your peers).
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by the faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of elements of economics, financial accounting, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, business law, information technology, business statistics and social responsibility.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of business-related software applications.
3. Define the ethical responsibilities of business organizations and identify relevant ethical issues.
4. Understand how the business environment, including culture, differs across countries.
5. Possess awareness of cultural differences and how these differences affect business decisions.
6. Identify characteristics and roles of groups and teams.
7. Identify characteristics and roles of managers and leaders.
8. Possess knowledge in an area of specialization outside the disciplines of business and accounting.

Critical Thinking

1. Specify and implement a framework for identifying a business problem and develop alternative solutions and a set of evaluation criteria.
2. Assess the outcomes of a course of action and make appropriate adjustments.

Communication

1. Write business documents clearly, concisely and analytically.
2. Speak in groups and in public clearly, concisely and analytically, with appropriate use of visual aids.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Exams, papers and presentations in the following:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  BUL 4310	The Legal Environment of Business	4
  FIN 3403	Business Finance	4
  GEB 3373	International Business	4
  MAN 3025	Principles of Management	4
  MAN 4504	Operations and Supply Chain Management	4
  MAR 3023	Principles of Marketing	4
  QMB 3250	Statistics for Business Decisions	4
  Major-specific courses

• Writing and public speaking assignments in the following:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  FIN 3403	Business Finance	4
  GEB 3213	Professional Writing in Business	3
  GEB 3218	Professional Speaking in Business	3