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finance-degree-requirements-2023

Smeal College of Business baccalaureate degree requirements in Finance (FIN_BS) for Academic Year 2023-24. Students new to Penn State in summer 2023, fall 2023 and spring 2024 follow these requirements.

Smeal College - Finance Department

B.S. Finance (FIN_BS) – Academic Year 2023-24

FIN_BS - Suggested Academic Plan 2023-24

A. GENERAL EDUCATION

    a. Writing and Speaking (GWS) – Complete 3 credits in each area with grades of C or better (9 credits)
        i. Composition – ENGL 015 (3), ENGL 030 (3), ESL 015 (3), ENGL 137H (3), or CAS 137H (3)
        ii. Speech – CAS 100 (3), CAS 100A (3), CAS 100B (3), CAS 100C (3), CAS 138T (3), or ENGL 138T (3)
        iii. Effective Writing – ENGL 202D (3)
      b. Quantification (GQ) – Complete the following two categories with grades of C or better
          i. Calculus – MATH 110 (4), MATH 140 (4), or MATH 140B (6)
          ii. Statistics – SCM 200 (4) or STAT 200 (4)
        c. Global, Cultural, and Integrative Studies – Courses may satisfy General Education, Major, or Elective requirements
            i. Complete 6 Inter-Domain (N) and/or Linked (Z) credits
            ii. Complete 3 United States Culture (US) credits
            iii. Complete 3 International Culture (IL) credits
        d. Natural Sciences (GN) – Complete 9 GN credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        e. Arts (GA) – Complete 6 GA credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        f. Humanities (GH) – Complete 6 GH credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        g. Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) - Complete the following two categories (6 credits)
            i. ECON 102 – Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (3)
            ii. Complete 3 GS credits (3)
        h. Health and Wellness (GHW) - Complete 3 GHW credits that are not Inter-Domain

            B. COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

              a. World Language – Demonstrate proficiency at the 12th credit level (4 credits)
                b. ECON 104 – Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy (3 credits)
                  c. Foundation Business Courses – Complete the following at Penn State with grades of C or better (13 credits)
                        ACCTG 211 – Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making (4) [Prerequisite: MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                        MGMT 301 – Basic Management Concepts (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and (ECON 102 or 104) and MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                        MKTG 301 – Principles of Marketing (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and (ECON 102 or 104) and MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                        FIN 301 – Corporation Finance (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and ACCTG 211 and (ECON 102 or 104) and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)]
                    d. Core Business Courses - Complete the following prescribed courses (15 credits)
                        SCM 301 – Supply Chain Management (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)]
                        MIS 250 – Introduction to Problem Solving with Spreadsheet Analysis and Information Systems Management (3)
                        BA 342 – Socially Responsible, Sustainable and Ethical Business Practice (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301/301W; Concurrent: FIN 301 and MKTG 301 and SCM 301]
                        BLAW 341 – Business Law I: Introduction to Contracts, Liability Issues, and Intellectual Property (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301/301W; Concurrent: FIN 301 and MKTG 301 and SCM 301]
                        BA 411 – Analyzing Business and Industry (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341 and FIN 301]

                    PLEASE NOTE: Smeal College of Business Residency Policy - Pursuant to accreditation standards of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Smeal College of Business requires that all upper-division courses within the sponsoring department must be completed in residence at University Park under the instruction of Smeal College faculty. Students in the Finance (FIN_BS) major complete the following prescribed and additional 300-level and 400-level courses in residence with Smeal College faculty.

                    C. PRESCRIBED FINANCE COURSES – Complete the following prescribed courses (9 credits)

                      A grade of C or better is required in all courses.
                          FIN 305W – Financial Management of the Business Enterprise (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]
                          FIN 406 – Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]
                          FIN 408 – Financial Markets and Institutions (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]

                          D. ADDITIONAL FINANCE COURSES – Complete two courses from the following (6 credits)

                            A grade of C or better is required in all courses.
                                FIN 405 – Advanced Financial Management (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 305W]
                                FIN 407 – Multinational Financial Management (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 305W]
                                FIN 410 – Derivative Markets (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 406]
                                FIN 414 – Financial Trading Applications (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 305W and FIN 406]
                                FIN 415 – Advanced Financial Modeling (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 406]
                                FIN (RM) 460 – Real Estate Financial Analysis (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 305W or RM 303 or RM 330W]
                                FIN (RM) 470 – Real Estate and Capital Markets (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 305W or RM 303 or RM 330W]

                                E. RELATED AREA – Complete three credits of related coursework (3 credits)

                                  Complete three credits from a Smeal Two-Piece Sequence below. Courses cannot double count in Related Area and Supporting Courses.

                                    F. SUPPORTING COURSES: Smeal Two-Piece Sequence – Complete one Two-Piece Sequence from the list below (6 credits)

                                    G. ELECTIVES – Complete 14 credits

                                    SUPPORTING COURSES LIST (Smeal College Two-Piece Sequence) – Complete one two-piece sequence (6 credits)

                                        Accounting – Complete two courses from the following
                                            ACCTG 404 – Managerial Accounting: Economic Perspective (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200) and ECON 102]
                                            ACCTG 471 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211]
                                            ACCTG 472 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471]
                                          Business Law – Complete two courses from the following
                                              BLAW (RM) 424 – Real Estate Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                                              BLAW (RM) 425 – Business and Environmental Regulation (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                                              BLAW 441 – Agency, Employment and Business Structure (3) [Prerequisites: BLAW 341 and FIN 301]
                                              BLAW 444 – Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions (3) [Prerequisites: BLAW 341, ACCTG 211, and FIN 301]
                                              BLAW 445 – Advanced Intellectual Property and Competition Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 441]
                                              BLAW 446 – Employment Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 441]
                                              BLAW 447 – Entertainment Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                                            Business Sustainability – Complete two courses from the following
                                                BA 441 – Strategies for Enterprise Sustainability (3) [Prerequisite: BA 342]
                                                BA (MKTG) 442 – Sustainable Behavior of Consumers, Firms and Societies (3) [Prerequisite: BA 342]
                                                SCM 448 – Building Sustainable Supply Chains (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                                              Corporate Diversity – Complete the following two courses
                                                  MGMT 320 – Establishing Workforce Diversity and Inclusion (3)
                                                  MGMT 445 – Managing a Diverse Workforce (US) (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                                                Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Complete the following two courses
                                                    MGMT 425 – New Venture Creation (3) [Prerequisite: (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (CAS 100 or CAS 137T)]
                                                    MGMT 453 – Creativity and Innovation (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                                                  Economics – Complete courses based on the following
                                                      a. Complete 3 credits of 300/400 level Economics
                                                      b. Complete 3 credits of 400 level Economics
                                                    Information Systems Management – Complete the following two courses
                                                        MIS 301 – Business Analytics (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 200 or STAT 200; Concurrent: (MATH 110 or MATH 140) and (MIS 204 or MIS 250)]
                                                        MIS 446 – Information Technology and Business Strategy (3) [Prerequisite: MIS 301 or MIS 390]
                                                      International Business – Complete two courses from the following
                                                          IB 303 – International Business Operations (IL) (3) [Prerequisite: 5th semester standing or higher]
                                                          IB 403 – International Business and National Policies (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]
                                                          IB 404 – Contemporary Issues in International Business (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]
                                                          IB 450 – Business Environment of Europe (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211; FIN 301]
                                                          IB 460 – International Business in Emerging Nations (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211and FIN 301; Concurrent: IB 303]
                                                          IB 470 – International Development in an African Context (3) [Prerequisite: 5th semester standing or higher]
                                                        Management – Complete the following two courses
                                                            MGMT 326 – Organizational Behavior and Design (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                                                            MGMT 481 - Global Strategic Management (3) [Prerequisite: MGM 326]
                                                          Marketing – Complete courses based on the following
                                                              a. Complete one of the following courses
                                                                MKTG 330 – Consumer Behavior (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                                                MKTG 327 – Retailing (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                                              b. Complete one of the following courses
                                                                MKTG 445 – Global Marketing (IL) (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                                                MKTG 422 – Advertising and Sales Promotion Management (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 330 or MKTG 342]
                                                            Real Estate – Complete the following two courses
                                                                RM 303 – Real Estate Fundamentals (3) [Prerequisite: 4th semester standing or higher]
                                                                RM 450 – Contemporary Issues in Real Estate Markets (3) [Prerequisite: RM 303 or RM 330W]
                                                              Risk Management – Complete the following two courses
                                                                  RM 302 – Risk and Insurance (3) [Prerequisite: 4th semester standing or higher]
                                                                  RM 440 – Risk, Strategy, and Decision Making (3) [Prerequisite: RM 302 or RM 320W or RM 303 or RM 330W]
                                                                Supply Chain and Information Systems – Complete two courses from the following
                                                                    SCM 404 – Demand Fulfillment (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                                                                    SCM 405 – Manufacturing and Services Strategies (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                                                                    SCM 406 – Strategic Procurement (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]

                                                                  In lieu of completing a two-piece sequence, students in Finance (FIN_BS) can complete one of the designated University minors listed below provided the program has a minimum of six credits of 400-level coursework to use in the two-piece category.

                                                                    Smeal College Minors
                                                                        Information Systems Management - ISM_UMNR
                                                                        International Business - IB_UMNR
                                                                        Legal Environment of Business - LEBUS_UMNR
                                                                        Supply Chain and Information Sciences & Technology - SCIST_UMNR
                                                                    Penn State Minors
                                                                        Economics - ECON_UMNR
                                                                        Entrepreneurship and Innovation - ENTI_UMNR
                                                                        Information Sciences and Technology - IST_UMNR
                                                                        Mathematics - MATH_UMNR
                                                                        Statistics - STAT_UMNR
                                                                    World Language Minors
                                                                        Arabic Language - ARAB_UMNR
                                                                        Chinese Language - CHNS_UMNR
                                                                        French and Francophone Studies - FR_UMNR
                                                                        German - GER_UMNR
                                                                        Greek - GREEK_UMNR
                                                                        Hebrew - HEBR_UMNR
                                                                        Italian - IT_UMNR
                                                                        Japanese Language - JAPNS_UMNR
                                                                        Korean Language - KORLG_UMNR
                                                                        Latin - LATIN_UMNR
                                                                        Portuguese - PORT_UMNR
                                                                        Russian - RUS_UMNR
                                                                        Russian Translation - RUST_UMNR
                                                                        Spanish - SPAN_UMNR
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