Finance

Undergraduate students studying finance at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business will learn from world-class faculty in the finance department who deliver a state-of-the-art curriculum. With our "Plus 1" program, students have the option to earn their bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years. 

The finance curriculum is designed to familiarize the student with the institutions, theory and practice involved in the allocation of financial resources within the private sector. It is also designed to incorporate foundation study in such related disciplines as economics and the quantitative areas. Finance provides an educational foundation for careers involving financial analysis and management, investment analysis and portfolio management, investment banking, insurance and risk management, banking, and international finance.

While only MATH 120 Elementary Calculus I or MATH140 Calculus I (MATH130 also accepted) is required for the finance major, students with a strong math background are encouraged to complete both MATH140 Calculus I and MATH141 Calculus II. In addition, these students are encouraged to complete MATH240 Introduction to Linear Algebra because the material in this course provides a deeper understanding of finance. Students with an advanced math background will be in a better position to compete for admission to the Quantitative Finance Fellows and the Wall Street Fellows programs. In addition, this quantitative background will expand a student's career opportunities within finance.

Download complete degree requirements and/or a 4-year plan

New Requirements

(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2020 and later. Students who entered UMD prior to Fall 2020 have the option of adopting these new requirements. Please consult your Smith School Academic Advisor if you have questions.

Old Requirements

(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2015 through Spring 2020. 

(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2014 through Spring 2015.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see additional Finance major curriculums from past years. 

Economics Requirements

One of the following courses:
ECON 330 Money and Banking or BMGT341 Financial Markets 		 3 credits
Total 3 credits

Major Requirements

BMGT 343 - Investments 3 credits
BMGT 440 - Financial Management 3 credits
Complete combined total of 4 courses (12cr) from the following options: 12 credits

BMGT 342 - Wall Street Finance
BMGT 347 - Quantitative Financial Analysis (formerly BMGT448G)
BMGT 441 - Fixed Income
BMGT 442 - Advanced Portfolio Management
BMGT 443 - Applied Equity Analysis and Portfolio Management
BMGT 444 - Futures and Options Contracts
BMGT 445 - Banking and Financial Institutions
BMGT 446 - International Finance
BMGT 447 - Computational Finance 
1 of ECON 305/ECON 325 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory & Policy or ECON306/ECON 326 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

In addition, students can apply a maximum of one course (3cr) toward this requirement from the following options:
BMGT 349 Private Equity Fund 
BMGT 448 - Special Topics in Finance
BMGT 449 - Investment Fund Management: Lemma Senbet Fund

  
One of the following courses: 3 credits

BMGT 310 - Intermediate Accounting I
BMGT 313 - Financial Statement Analysis
BMGT 332 - Quantitative Models for Management Decisions
BMGT 430 - Data Modeling in Business

Both BMGT438A Applied Quantitative Analysis and ECON423 Econometrics II approved as course substitutes.  

  
Total 21 credits

 

Additional Old Requirements

(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2013.  External transfer students will be required to complete the new Smith School core requirements (launched in 2011) beginning Fall 2013. Please consult your Smith School Academic Advisor if you have questions.

(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2012 through Spring 2013. External transfer students will be required to complete the new Smith School core requirements (launched in 2011) beginning Fall 2013.

(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2011 through Spring 2012. External transfer students will be required to complete the new Smith School core requirements (launched in 2011) beginning Fall 2013.

(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2008 through Spring 2011.

(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2008.

(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD from Fall 2005 through Fall 2007.

(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD from Fall 1996 through Spring 2005