BA in Finance

A Beloit College student in an economics computer lab takes notes during class.

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What is Finance?

Finance is the study of how money moves through organizations, markets, and economies, and how people and institutions manage financial resources to achieve their goals. It blends theory and practice, connecting mathematics, economics, and data analysis with real-world decision-making in investments, banking, corporate strategy, and financial technology.

Why study Finance?

A degree in finance prepares you to understand and shape the financial systems that drive today’s economy. You’ll learn how to assess risk, value assets, model performance, and make ethical financial decisions that impact organizations and individuals alike. Whether you want to work in investment banking, wealth management, or corporate finance, this major gives you the quantitative, analytical, and strategic skills that employers value across industries.

Why study Finance at Beloit College?

At Beloit College, finance is an experience reaching beyond the classroom. You’ll learn from faculty with deep industry expertise while gaining hands-on experience through internships, business case studies, and student-led investment simulations. The School of Business integrates finance, economics, and data analytics to help you understand how money works and why it matters in human and global contexts.

You’ll also benefit from a personalized career pathway, mentorship by career coaches (a network of alumni and other professionals), and access to opportunities like the Business Networking Summit at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Concierge Internship Program (where students get credit and pay to do internships with multi-billion dollar companies in the area), and Executive-in-Residence mentorship. Our Executives-in-Residence are professionals with significant business experience who teach courses, advise students, and share their professional networks to help students launch their own careers. By graduation, you’ll be prepared for high-demand finance roles and ready to lead in an evolving, AI-driven financial world.

Details

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Specialization

Major

Credits Required

13 units (52 semester hours)

Format

In-person

Related Departments & Schools

Related Offerings

A panel of six recent graduates talks to students during the 2024 Business Networking Summit. Finance students are able to attend an annual Business Networking Summit in Chicago where they tour a company, ask questions of alumni panels, and network with professionals.

A Beloit College student works in an office of the Beloit Sky Carp as part of the Concierge Internship Program. Beloit College students can apply to be a Concierge Intern that works with top Beloit area business—like Beloit Sky Carp, the city's minor league baseball team—to gain invaluable work experience.

Finance curriculum

The finance major provides a rigorous foundation in financial theory, accounting, data analytics, and investment strategy. Coursework integrates quantitative modeling, AI-based tools, and global financial systems, preparing students for modern careers across financial sectors.

Finance Major (13 Units)

The Finance Major equips students with both the soft skills and analytical tools necessary for success in a wide range of finance careers, such as portfolio management, investment banking, wealth management, and financial advising. Through a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes accounting, mathematics, statistics, and financial modeling, students learn to apply quantitative methods to model financial theories using real-world data drawn from firms and global markets.

Additionally, this program is heavily structured towards career development, with paths designed specifically for finance professions. This includes mentorship from career coaches, and opportunities to build a strong professional network through career focused events. Students may also benefit from combining this major with a second major or minor in fields such as political science, international relations, data analytics, or history to broaden their understanding of the broader institutional landscape in which financial systems operate.

Nine departmental units:
1. Economics 112, 212 or 245, and 251.
2. Business 110, 216, 217, and 340.
3. Two units of finance electives chosen from Business 218, 341, 342, and 350.
Three supporting units:
1. Three units from Mathematics 110, Data Science and Data Analytics 210, 215 and either Philosophy 225 or English 262 (when the topic is relevant).
One unit of capstone/practicum: Business 382.

At most, one accounting course from a partner institution can count toward the finance electives requirement. Students are allowed to complete up to one major and one minor with the Department of Economics and Business. Students who do not major with the department are allowed to complete up to two minors with the department.

Students may declare a maximum of one major and a maximum of one minor with the Department of Economics and Business. Students who do not major with the Department of Economics and Business may declare up to two minors.

Students explore financial markets, corporate decision-making, data analytics, marketing strategy, and applied economic modeling, developing the technical and analytical skills used across today’s business and finance careers.

[BUSN 218] Sustainable Finance and Investing: Finance is often seen as an obstacle to a better world. However, this course focuses on how financial markets can be used as a tool to bring about positive social and environmental impact. Financial markets can do this by redirecting capital to flow toward initiatives and projects that confront climate and environmental issues.
[BUSN 340] Investment and Portfolio Management: This course provides a basic understanding of the investment process and the investment management world and career. Students learn: the various types of investment instruments and trading mechanisms available in the financial markets, how to measure and manage risk in the context of portfolio management, analytical techniques used for the evaluation of financial assets, and how to construct, manage, and evaluate the performance of an investment portfolio.
[BUSN 382] Applied Financial Modeling: The goal of this course is to build, understand, and implement the tools prevalent in applied finance and statistical modeling. This course primarily focuses on modeling as opposed to theory. Students are expected to have a rudimentary understanding of financial topics, such as time value of money, bond valuation, and capital budgeting. Students use Microsoft Excel throughout the course to build comprehensive, and multi-purpose financial models.

Finance outcomes

Graduates of Beloit College’s finance program enter the workforce prepared to analyze markets, manage portfolios, and make informed financial decisions in a rapidly changing global economy.

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in finance at Beloit College can:

Master core finance concepts, financial decision-making frameworks, and foundational accounting principles.
Analyze markets, firms, and financial statements using real financial data and industry-standard research practices.
Demonstrate strong quantitative and technical skills through financial modeling, statistical analysis, and data-driven problem solving.
Utilize tools such as Excel, STATA, and R Studio, as well as SQL, Python, Tableau, and other emerging data visualization and analytics tools.
Learn how to leverage AI and evolving technologies to enhance efficiency and adaptability in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
Apply classroom knowledge through case studies, internships, and experiential projects that build confidence and career readiness.

Accounting & Financial Reporting: Prepare financial information, review transactions, and help organizations meet reporting requirements. ($55,000 → $120,000+)
Banking & Financial Services: Support client accounts, analyze transactions, and help manage financial products and services. ($35,000 → $110,000+)
Business Strategy & Consulting: Analyze challenges, recommend solutions, and support organizations in reaching strategic goals. ($55,000 → $100,000+)
Corporate Finance: Analyze budgets, track spending, and support financial decisions within organizations. ($55,000 → $110,000+)
Financial Analysis & Planning: Evaluate financial data, build forecasts, and help guide long-term organizational decisions. ($50,000 → $120,000+)
Government & Public Administration: Support public programs, manage resources, and help agencies deliver services to communities. ($50,000 → $100,000+)
Investment & Wealth Management: Review markets, assess risk, and support strategies that grow or protect assets. ($50,000 → $120,000+)
Real Estate & Property Investment: Research markets, evaluate properties, and support investment or development decisions. ($45,000 → $90,000+)
Risk Management & Insurance: Identify risks, evaluate exposure, and help organizations plan for financial protection. ($50,000 → $110,000+)
Supply Chain & Logistics: Coordinate purchasing, transportation, and distribution to ensure products move efficiently and reliably. ($45,000 → $100,000+)

Reviewed on November 2025. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary figures shown here are estimates. Actual pay will vary by position, industry, location, education, and experience. Some pathways and positions may require additional education or certifications. For more detailed information, please explore reputable career and salary resources.

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