2023-2024

Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Virtually every business needs someone with specialized financial knowledge. This degree provides the  theoretical background and quantitative tools for  financial analysis, strategic planning, capital budgeting, management of working capital, sources of capital,  assessment of risk, and valuation of securities, assets, and firms. This degree also provides training in advanced computer technology, data acquisition, and spreadsheet modeling.

This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 46 units of business core requirements
  • At least 27 units of major requirements including 6 units of additional business courses, a certificate, or a minor

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 121
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
University Honors Program Optional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-B Recommended
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan
Minor or Certificate Required

A minor or certificate is required for this major.

Purpose Statement
 
The mission of the Northern Arizona University undergraduate Finance Program, is to educate skilled and well trained finance professionals. The graduates with a major in finance will be well positioned to understand important issues and tools in the fields of investments, corporate finance and international finance. They will be prepared for their first position in the field of finance and prepared to continue to progress throughout their careers. Consistent with this goal, the Finance Area seeks to continuously improve the curriculum to ensure that our graduates possess those core competencies which are most closely aligned with the values of finance professionals. These competencies support the concept of learning as a continuum that begins in an academic setting and continues with life-long professional education and experience. This core competency framework focuses on skills and is not necessarily structured around traditional subject areas. While knowledge requirements will change with time, these core competencies have long-term value and will support a variety of career opportunities in the fields of Investments, Corporate Finance and Banking.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Value Assets: When valuing stocks, bonds, projects or other assets, students can identify and use the correct inputs and understand how they affect value and understand how value changes in an international setting.
  • Assess Risk: Students should fully understand the causes of risk, how risk can be measured in various ways and how risk affects value and decision making.
  • Analyze Financials: Students should be able to accurately analyze an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.  Students should be able to use them correctly to identify strengths and weaknesses of a company.
  • Forecast Financials: Students should be able to accurately forecast an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.  Students should be able to use these forecasts to help a firm prepare for future changes.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • Admission to Northern Arizona University qualifies you for admission into the preprofessional program in The W. A. Franke College of Business. You must meet the following requirements to enter our professional programs:

    • Complete at least 56 units with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.
    • Complete the following courses with a grade of "C" or better in each course:
    • Complete six (6) different Pathways experiences (one pathway credit must be the Career Steps online module). Transfer students who have met all of the requirements listed above need to complete four (4) Pathways experiences (one pathway credit must be the Career Steps online module) during their first semester in The W. A. Franke College of Business.
    • If you have a 2.75 GPA in these courses and have satisfactorily completed Pathways activities designated by The W. A. Franke College of Business, we guarantee your acceptance into our professional program. If your average is less than a 2.75 but you have at least a 2.5 and have satisfactorily completed all designated Pathways activities, we admit you into the professional program on a space-available basis according to the rank order of your grade point average in these courses.
    • If you are in the preprofessional program and have completed all required courses with "C" or better, but have a GPA in those courses that is below the acceptable grade point average for admission to the professional program, you may repeat up to two of the required courses in which you earned a "C" to meet the minimum GPA requirement. You may only repeat a required course in which you earned a grade of "C" one time.
Major Requirements

  • This major requires 73-92 units distributed as follows:

    • Business Core: 46 units
    • Major Requirements: 21 units
    • Certificate, Minors, or additional upper-division coursework: 6-25 units
      • W.A. Franke Certificate: 15-21 units
      • Non-Franke Certificate: 15-25 units (except two education certificates with 30-37 units)
      • Minor: 18-24 units
      • Upper-division course work: 6 units

    • Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in FIN 311 to continue as a Finance Major.

  • These courses represent the General Academic Requirements (GAR) for The W. A. Franke College of Business. Some of these courses also fulfill liberal studies requirements.

    For information about the overlap between the GAR and liberal studies, consult an advisor in Room 222 of the college.

Certificate Requirements

  • Certificate, Minor, or additional upper-division coursework (6 to 25 units):

    • A certificate within the W.A. Franke College of Business (15 to 21 units)
    • Get your advisor's approval to take either:
      • a certificate outside the W.A. Franke College of Business (15 to 25 units)
      • a minor outside the W.A. Franke College of Business (18 to 24 units)
      • additional upper-division coursework (6 units)
General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
    • You must complete at least 15 units in your major and 9 units of the upper-division business core at The W. A. Franke College of Business (FCB).
    • You must earn 50% of your overall business units required for your degree at the FCB.
    • All transfer credits must be approved by the FCB and are subject to guidelines listed in the current general catalog. The FCB does not accept upper-division transfer credits from programs not accredited by the AACSB (such as the University of Phoenix or the Bachelor of Business Administration program at NAU-Yuma).
    • Students must complete the following courses at the FCB: MGT 490C (Business Strategy) and the junior writing requirement (if filled by MGT 350W (Business Communication)).  Students who satisfy the junior writing requirement with ENG 302W (Technical Writing) must complete that course at Northern Arizona University.
    • Students earning two BSBA majors within The W. A. Franke College of Business must take 18 credit units in the first major and an additional 18 units exclusive to the second major (for a total of 36).

  • You must have completed all of the coursework used to fulfill these requirements within the last 10 years.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.