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.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
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 |
Purpose Statement
The study of finance involves the use of credit and debt, securities, and investment to finance current projects using future income flows. Students of finance understand financial concepts such as the time value of money, interest rates, currency exchange, and related topics. In addition, students learn to use financial information to inform strategic decision-making in an organization.
Students will learn the processes and formulas associated with stock and bond pricing, capital budgeting, short and long-term financing of assets, international currency exchange, and investment decision-making. Students will analyze and discuss a variety of investment strategies, how money moves through the investment process, how securities markets work, and how to use financial decisions to create strategic advantage for an organization.
Students who take the elective Student-Managed Investment Fund courses will have deep exposure to investment strategy, will analyze various investment options, and will make recommendations for the investment of significant university foundation funds. Elective courses may lead to an additional certificate in investments, risk management and insurance, financial planning, or corporate managerial finance.
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance prepares students for careers related to security markets, financial institutions, risk management, international finance, investment principles, corporate financial management, financial analysis, and financial modeling. Job titles in finance include financial analyst, banker, certified financial planner, risk/insurance manager, portfolio manager, investment analyst, corporate financial manager, and loan underwriter.
Student Learning Outcomes
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:
This major requires 76 units distributed as follows:
Students must earn a Grade of "C" or better in FIN 311 to continue as a Finance Major.
Major Courses (30 units)
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.
You must have completed all of the coursework used to fulfill these requirements within the last 10 years.
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.
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.