Bachelor of Science in 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.
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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
- Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity
- Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity
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:
- All requirements for the B.S. in finance
- 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
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 – Seminar in Composition
ECON 103 – Macroeconomics
Social & behavioral sciences breadth course
Natural sciences & technology breadth course with lab (4 credits)
Creative arts & humanities breadth course
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
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
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 2021, 97% of Lerner’s finance graduates are employed (earning a mean starting salary of $62,960) 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
- 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 a STEM Degree - What are the advantages of STEM degrees? What are STEM-designated degrees? And, how can foreign students harness them to optimize their education and professional experiences in the U.S.?
- Lerner Finance Student Earns Prestigious Bond Club of Philadelphia Award - University of Delaware student Mia Alexander-Oliver, a junior finance major in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics was awarded the Howard A. Trauger Award from The Bond Club of Philadelphia.
- My Summer Internship: Josiah Hanson - Josiah Hanson, Class of 2023, finance major with a minor in economics, spent his summer as a mergers and acquisitions summer analyst at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
- Lerner Students Get a Transformative Look into Investment Banking - The Lerner Department of Finance is making a push to create more small group experiences for students. One of the most recent was a trip to NYC.
- Lifelong Lerner: Ursula Dzik - Ursula Dzik, a member of UD’s Lerner Class of 2022, shared her favorite UD memories, how she has grown during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
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.