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.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
Old Requirements
(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Fall 2015 through Spring 2020.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(New General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2014 through Spring 2015.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ XLS ]
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 In addition, students can apply a maximum of one course (3cr) toward this requirement from the following options: |
|
| One of the following courses: | 3 credits |
|
BMGT 310 - Intermediate Accounting I 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.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ XLS ]
(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.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(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.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2008 through Spring 2011.
- Degree Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD in Spring 2008.
- Freshmen/Sophomore Requirements[ PDF ]
- Junior/Senior Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD from Fall 2005 through Fall 2007.
- Freshmen/Sophomore Requirements [ PDF ]
- Junior/Senior Requirements [ PDF ]
- 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]
(CORE General Education) Effective for students entering UMD from Fall 1996 through Spring 2005
- Freshmen/Sophomore Requirements [ PDF ]
- Junior/Senior Requirements [ PDF ]
- Finance 4-year Degree Plan [ PDF ]