Undergraduate Curriculum:

The Undergraduate Program in Finance, Insurance and Business Law was recently redesigned to better suit the requirements of students intending to have specialized careers in various aspects of financial management such as investment management, corporate financial management, financial services management, general finance and financial accounting. The program offers expertise in accounting and finance, essential for being a successful financial professional. This program includes computer-based courses and international electives which expose the students to the use of technology and to the operations of international financial systems. The students learn the application of various theoretical models in financial decision-making and in analytical approaches to problem-solving in the realm of finance. The program maintains a strong focus on case-oriented course work that will help students apply their knowledge to realistic situations and strengthen their oral and written communication skills.

Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business has been named a CFA Program Partner of CFA Institute, the global, non-profit professional association that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) curriculum and examination program. Please see link for details. Also check out the site:

The Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

University Requirements:

Since a student will not start taking courses from Finance before he/she becomes a junior, the student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements at both university and Pamplin College of Business level.

Finance Department Core Courses:

Once a student has met all the requirements at university and college level, he/she will be officially enrolled as a finance major (since the department does not offer finance as a minor.). The following are the requirements of the department.

FIN 3104: Introduction to Finance (also listed as college core course)
FIN 3134: Finance Concepts and Skills, prerequisite for FIN 3144 and FIN 3154
FIN 3144: Investments: Debt, Equity and Derivatives, prerequisite for all 42XX finance electives
FIN 3154: Corporate Finance, prerequisite for all 42XX finance electives
FIN 3055: Legal Environment of Business (also listed as college core course)
ACIS 3115: Financial Accounting

Finance Tracks:

In addition, students majoring in finance are also required to choose one or more career track(s) from the following and finish four finance electives to meet the requirements of each of their designated career track(s).

Investment Management Track
Corporate Financial Management Track
Financial Services Management Track
Financial Accounting Track
Certified Financial Planner Track
General Finance Track

Finance Electives:

Students may choose four electives from the following courses offered by Finance and ACIS:

FIN 4144: International Financial Management
FIN 4154: Real Estate Finance
FIN 4224: Fixed Income Securities
FIN 4234: Venture Capital and Investment Banking
FIN 4244: Asset Valuation and Corporate Governance
FIN 4254: Bank Management and Financial Services
FIN 4264: Managing Risk with Derivatives
FIN 4274: Equity Securities: Analysis and Management
ACIS 3116: Financial Accounting II
ACIS 3215: Cost Accounting
ACIS 4214: Cost Planning and Control

Suggested Program of Study

Sophomore Year (Spring): ACIS 2504

Junior and Senior Years Suggested Program of Study
(Word Document - All Tracks)

Junior Year

*Pre-requisite for FIN 3144 and FIN 3154. Minimum grade of C in FIN 3134 required.
** Pre-requisites for senior year 42XX finance electives. Minimum grade of C is required in both courses to take higher level 42XX Finance courses.

Senior Year

Investment Management Track

* Designated case/project course.

Corporate Financial Management Track

* Designated case/project course.

Financial Services Management Track

* Designated case/project course.

Financial Accounting Track

* At least one of the finance electives chosen must be a case designated course.

Certified Financial Planner Track

General Finance Track

Notes for General Finance Track:
1. At least 6 hours must be finance courses.
2. At least one of the finance elective chosen must be a case designated course.

© 2008 Pamplin College of Business