Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Finance B.S.


TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study 

The Finance major provides a broad-based, analytical program for students anticipating a career in the management of both large and small organizations. Finance provides a good background for students seeking general careers in business. Finance majors can elect to take courses in the following areas that prepare them for entry and advanced careers in: financial management of corporations, management of financial institutions, investments, financial services, insurance, and real estate. In addition, the program in Finance is designed to provide the skills required by students earning degrees in other business disciplines and by students who seek professional degrees in areas such as law and public administration. The Finance program offers courses that enable the graduate to identify and solve problems in the acquisition and allocation of funds by organizations in the public and private sectors in domestic and international settings. It provides the background necessary for managing wealth in a risky environment. Finance relies on an interdisciplinary approach that draws on economic theory, accounting, information systems, and the quantitative decision frameworks of statistics and mathematics. The major is designed to ensure that graduates are familiar with the tools of financial decision making and that they possess the skills to stay abreast of the developments in the field. Finance graduates will understand the functions and operations of financial markets, become familiar with computer applications in finance, and know how to access and utilize financial information. Course content is designed to provide majors with an appreciation of cooperative work skills and to enhance their verbal and written communication skills.

University Admissions - Muma College of Business


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

Progression Requirements - Muma College of Business


All students entering USF for the first time in Fall 2017 or later, who subsequently earn three (3) D and/or F grades in any or any combination of the following courses at USF will be required to change their major to a major more appropriate to their goals and academic performance and to a major not conferred by the Muma College of Business. The courses are: ACG 2021 , ACG 2071 , CGS 2100 , ECO 2013 , ECO 2023 , MAC 2233   (or equivalent), and QMB 2100   (or equivalent).

Graduation Requirements - Muma College of Business


Satisfactory completion of the following requirements: 

  • General Education Program (36 credit hours), including State Core General Education Requirements;
  • State Computation (6 credit hours); 
  • State Communication (6 credit hours, in addition to ENC 1101  and ENC 1102 ); 
  • Minimum of 120 unduplicated credit hours;
  • A minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on all coursework taken at USF and an overall 2.0 GPA average on all college-level coursework;
  • Major and college requirements in a chosen degree program;
  • Nine credit hours of coursework taken during the summer term(s) (if entered USF with less than 60 credit hours); 
  • Registration and successful completion of at least thirty (30) of the last sixty (60) credit hours;
  • 42 credit hours of upper-level coursework;
  • Civics Literacy;
  • Foreign language admissions coursework.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Muma College of Business


Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program.

Transfer credits will be accepted from accredited institutions; however, all hours earned may not be applied toward USF business degree requirements. Individual courses will be evaluated by an academic advisor and appropriately credited toward requirements in the student’s program at USF.

Florida public state or community college students enrolled in an Associate of Arts (AA) program should normally complete the general education requirements and the State Mandated Common Prerequisites at a Florida College System institution. As a rule, AA students should avoid taking any business courses at the state or community college that are listed as 3000- and 4000-level courses at USF. Normally, courses in finance, marketing, management, and accounting, as well as other business administration courses, taken at the lower division level will not be accepted for upper division credit at USF in business administration. In general, business courses taken at the lower level, at technical schools, or as part of professional or military training, are not applicable to the degree programs of the Muma College of Business. Exceptions to this policy will be made only upon proper validation of such courses. Validation consists of successfully completing specified advanced courses in the discipline.

Florida College System students pursuing an Associate of Science (AS) program in Business Administration are fully admissible to USF Muma College of Business, but may only earn a major in Management. Please see a business advisor to determine the articulation courses, discuss admission to the Muma College of Business and prepare a program plan for degree completion. 

Florida College System students pursuing an Associate of Science (A.S.) program in any other discipline should contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies, SVC 2002, (813) 974-4051, for information regarding course transferability and degree articulation.

Completion of the following State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites (or equivalents) with a grade of C- or higher in each course and an overall 2.5 GPA in the seven (7) courses:

  • ACG X021 Principles of Financial Accounting or ACG X022 or (ACG X001 & ACG X011) - 3-6 credit hours
  • ACG X071 Managerial Accounting or ACG X301 - 3 credit hours
  • CGS X100 Computers in Business or CGS X100C or CGS X570 or CGS X060 or CGS X531 or CGS X000 or ISM X000 or CGS X518 or CGS X101 - 3 credit hours
  • ECO X013 Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 credit hours
  • ECO X023 Principles of Microeconomics - 3 credit hours
  • STA X023 Introductory Statistics or STA X122 or QMB X100 - 3 credit hours
  • MAC X233 Elementary Calculus - 3 credit hours

Finance Required Courses: (57 credit hours)


Business Foundation Courses (required of ALL Business majors): 9 courses; 27 credit hours


A minimum grade of C- in each Foundation Course and an overall 2.0 GPA is required.

Other business required courses (6 credit hours)


Finance Supporting Required Courses: 3 courses; 9 credit hours


The following courses are supporting courses for this major. They are required for the major. The degree will not be awarded if these courses have not been taken by the end of the student’s final semester.

A minimum grade of C- in each supporting course is required.

Finance Major Core Courses: 3 courses; 9 credit hours


Finance Major (Restricted) Electives: 4 courses; 12 credits


Students complete a general Finance program of study or complete one of three (3) concentrations:

Additional Information - Finance B.S.


GPA Requirements


Students must earn a 2.0 GPA on all major coursework at USF and have an overall 2.0 major GPA, including any applicable transfer work.

Grading Requirements


In computing entry grade point average, all business and economics courses taken for S or U grades will be converted to C or F, respectively.

Within the 120-credit hour program, students must complete a minimum of 21 hours of upper-level Finance/Personal Finance coursework beyond FIN 3403  with a grade of C- in all courses. Finance courses taken by Finance/Personal Finance majors on an S/U basis will not be counted toward the 120-hour graduation requirement.

Residency Requirements


Major residency: Students must complete 15 hours of upper-level Finance/Personal Finance requirements in residency at USF.

College residency: Muma College of Business residency requirements for graduation exceed the minimum requirements established for USF. Students are required to complete satisfactorily at USF a minimum of 50 percent (30-33 credit hours depending on major) of required Business courses, including 12-18 credit hours in the major field. Normally, independent study and independent research courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Internship Opportunities


It is strongly recommended that Finance students take an internship course (FIN 4940 - Finance Internship  or REE 4940 - Real Estate Internship ) as part of their plan of study.  For more information go to: https://www.usf.edu/business/talent-development/internships.aspx.

Research Opportunities - Muma College of Business


Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914  course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - Muma College of Business


Tampa campus location: BSN 2102
(813) 974-4290 or schedule an advising appointment online at https://www.usf.edu/business/undergraduate/advising/appointments.aspx

Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (Friday is reserved for walk-in’s only)
Please refer to the website for most current office hours and advising availability information: https://www.usf.edu/business/undergraduate/advising/

For questions email bsnadvising@usf.edu
Be sure to include your name, U#, and contact information with your question.

St Petersburg campus location: DAV 134
Mon-Thu: 8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m.
Fri: 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
(727) 873-4511 USFSP-advising@usf.edu
Website:  https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/about/index.aspx

Sarasota-Manatee campus location: SMC C107
(941) 359-4330  sar-advising@usf.edu
Website: https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/