Finance (B.S.)

Do you want to make a difference? Have options when you graduate? Study finance.

A strong background in finance will prepare you for a decision-making role in any organization. Why? Because success for any organization depends on its ability to make good decisions in critical areas, including:

  • Opening a new production facility
  • Expanding the product line
  • Adding employees
  • Entering new markets
  • Adopting new technology

In Lerner’s finance program, you will learn how to balance opportunity with risk to ensure resources are allocated to their best use. You will learn how finance influences almost every aspect of an organization, whether a bank, consulting firm, public or private corporation, governmental organization or non-profit.

The curriculum provides a strong foundation that will prepare you for all categories of finance careers including investment management, corporate finance and financial services.

Our challenging, rewarding program is one of the most popular undergraduate majors at UD.

What I Love About my Major

In this video, UD Lerner College students majoring in finance and financial planning and wealth management discuss why they chose their majors – why it is unique and opportunities they’ve had that will prepare them for their careers.

Watch the video

Program Highlights

CFA Institute Recognition

The undergraduate finance degree at the University of Delaware has been recognized by the CFA Institute as a program that incorporates over 75% of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Exam Material into its curriculum, including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. For more information on the CFA Institute and recognized universities, visit the CFA Institute’s website.

The finance department awards five scholarships per year for qualified students to take the CFA Exam. See myLerner for details on how to apply for an exam scholarship.

Seminar Series

You’ll hear from finance industry professionals from public and private institutions such as the SEC, the Federal Reserve Bank and JPMorgan Chase.

Research Databases

As a finance student you’ll have access to an extensive set of research databases maintained by the Department of Finance.

Student Organizations

The Blue Hen Investment Club is the University of Delaware’s student-managed investment fund with $4 million assets under management. It is open to students of all majors who are willing to commit to managing a portion of the university’s endowment.

Over the years, the fund has created leaders who have found careers with institutions such as Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, UBS, PwC, EY, KPMG and McKinsey & Company.

Other student organizations include:

  • Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting
  • Financial Management Association
  • Women in Business
  • Minority Business Student Association

Honors in Finance

The honors program at UD offers a scholarly and enriching community that extends well beyond graduation. You’ll enjoy smaller, more challenging classes and the opportunity to engage in research and assume leadership roles.

The honors degree requires:

  1. All requirements for the B.S. in finance
  2. All of the UD requirements for the honors baccalaureate degree

The Honors credits in the major must include at least six credits in BUAD and/or FINC courses. They may include required courses from other departments in the Lerner College.

Program Requirements

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year
First semester
ECON 101 – Microeconomics
MATH 221 – Calculus I
BUAD 110 – Basics of Business
Social & behavioral sciences breadth course
Natural sciences & technology breadth course
 
Second semester
ENGL 110 – First-Year Writing
ECON 103 – Macroeconomics
Social & behavioral sciences breadth course
Natural sciences & technology breadth course with lab (4 credits)
Creative arts & humanities breadth course
Sophomore Year
First semester
ACCT 207 – Accounting I (Financial)
MISY 160 – Business Computing
STAT 200 – Basic Statistical Practice
Creative arts & humanities breadth course, history & cultural change breadth course or foreign language
Economics elective
 
Second semester
ACCT 208 – Accounting II (Managerial)
MISY 262 – Fundamentals of Business Analytics
MISY 261 – Business Information Systems
FINC 311 – Principles of Finance
COMM 212 – Public Speaking & Professional Presentation or HOSP 230 – Executive Presentations & Problem Solving
Junior Year
First semester
BUAD 301 – Introduction to Marketing
BUAD 306 – Service & Operations Management
BUAD 309 – Organizational Behavior
FINC 312 – Intermediate Financial Management
ECON 308 – Banking & Monetary Policy
 
Second semester
ACCT 350 – Business Law I or ACCT 351 – Business Law II or ACCT 352 – Law & Social Issues in Business
FINC 314 – Investments
History & cultural change breadth course
Creative arts & humanities breadth course, history & cultural change breadth course or foreign language
English Requirement
Senior Year
First semester
Finance elective
Finance elective
Free Elective or Multicultural Requirement
Free elective
Free elective
 
Second semester
BUAD 441 – Strategic Management (Capstone)
Finance elective
ACCT, BUAD, ENTR, FINC or MISY elective, 300-level or above
Discovery Learning Experience
Free elective

Career Opportunities

Within 6 months of graduating, for the class of 2022, 96% of Lerner’s finance graduates are employed (earning a mean starting salary of $67,821) or pursuing further education. For more information on career resources please visit the Lerner Career Services Center.

Top Employers

Some of the top employers of Lerner’s finance graduates include:

  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Goldman Sachs
  • KPMG
  • EY
  • Vanguard
  • Citi
  • Deloitte
  • PwC

Top Jobs

Job titles of recent graduates with a finance degree include:

  • Audit Associate
  • Advisory Associate
  • Financial Analyst
  • Investment Associate
  • Risk & Compliance Consultant
  • Technical Analyst

Visit the Career Outcomes of Lerner finance students to see more top employers, job titles, salaries and locations.

News

  • What is an Accelerated 4+1 Program? - 4+1 programs jumpstart the careers of undergraduates considering a graduate degree. Find out if a 4+1 is right for you.
  • What Is Fintech? - This article explains what fintech is, introduces jobs and salaries in the field and compares different ways of learning the subject.
  • My Summer Internship: Leah Walter - Walter, class of 2025 finance and economics double major in the Honors College, spent her summer participating in the Girls Who Invest program and serving as a summer analyst at Warburg Pincus LLC.
  • Lifelong Lerner: Lene Sperling - Lene Sperling, finance and global enterprise management double major from Rauenberg, Germany, is an outstanding member of the Lerner College Class of 2023.
  • Lifelong Lerner: Raymond Lucas III - Raymond Lucas III, honors finance and financial planning and wealth management double major with a minor in trust management from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is a proud member of the Lerner College Class of 2023.

Learn more

Phone: 302-831-1484
be-finc@udel.edu


Admissions Information

Learn more about undergraduate admissions requirements, deadlines, tuition and financial aid available to you.