Finance Major Map
Get started thinking about the future now.
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don’t have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- BA 100, College of Business Foundations
- SM 120, Business Problem Solving with Computer Applications
- Mathematics according to placement, College Algebra required
- Composition courses or General Education requirements
- BBA prerequisites
Engage: What kinds of activities and organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway
- Attend events about finance and join student organizations involving finance in the College of Business
- Join VictorsLink, the online hub for all student organization and event activities
- Volunteer on or off campus, see Civic Engagement for ideas
Network: What are important topics in my field?
- Helping people plan for financial security
- Developing financial strategies that support corporate success
- Evaluating different investment possibilities for risk, return and match with investor needs
Transform: What are the challenges and the strengths in my community?
- Make a habit of reading the local newspaper
- Attend a community or town hall meeting
- Learn whether community members have the financial literacy to plan for a secure future
- Visit the Office of Student Life to learn about volunteer opportunities and community needs
Prepare: What are the career options for people with my major?
- Careers in financial planning
- Careers in financial services (banking, investments, etc.)
- Careers in corporate financial strategy
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- Begin electing BBA core requirements: BA 300, Career Planning; DS 302, Advanced Business Statistics; LE 253 Business Law; and MKT 352, Principles of Marketing
- Attend Supplemental Instruction to strengthen understanding of core concepts
- Meet with your advisor to declare your major
Engage: What activities and organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Join CREW, Alpha Kappa Psi, or a campus organization or club
- Participate in networking activities (starts with BA 300) and attend speaker events hosted by the College of Business
- Explore Beta Alpha Psi
- Join the Financial Management Association and attend its meetings with area finance professionals
Network: How do I connect with faculty and students with similar interests?
- Make connections with students in your FIN 401 class who are planning to major in Finance
- Talk to your FIN 401 instructor during office hours about careers in Finance
- Attend meetings of the Financial Investment Club
Transform: What are the challenges and strengths of the Detroit Metro area?
- Contribute to a community project through the Office of Metropolitan Impact
- Become a Diversity Ambassador or participate in a Conversation on Race
- Volunteer at the Environmental Interpretive Center
- Attend Engagement Day, held annually in January
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- The Internship and Career Management Center
- Talent Gateway
- Resume prep is covered in BA 300, a required BBA course
- Scholarships are available for qualified students interested in finance
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- Elect FIN 401, Corporate Finance
- Earn the Bloomberg Market Concepts certification using the Bloomberg Finance Lab
- Talk to the Finance faculty about career paths in Finance
- Work with your advisor to tailor your Finance major to your career goals – like banking, financial planning, investments, or corporate finance
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for a leadership position in a professional organization
- Participate in a campus or college related function like Open House and the Admitted Student Reception
- Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Connect with alumni through the 30-Minute Mentor Program
- Establish a LinkedIn profile to connect with UM-Dearborn alumni or to join industry-related LinkedIn Groups that hire students
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local and global challenges?
- Attend the Conversation on Race
- Consider adding a financial planning minor or certificate
- Consider a study abroad program
- Participate in the Poverty Simulation through the CIViC
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Create a LinkedIn account
- Participate in a mock interview on campus to pre-pare for internship interviews
- Participate in one or two professional internships
- Plan to obtain professional qualifications such as Bloomberg Market Concepts
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- Prepare your BBA audit and meet with your advisor regularly
- Take courses that develop strong technology and quantitative skills
- Research potential employers and potential investment strategies using the Bloomberg Finance Lab
- Request any needed letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Participate in student recruitment events for your professional organization
- Volunteer to organize an event for your professional organization
- Become a tutor or supplemental instructor for finance or business economics
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Get an internship in finance or another relevant field, like accounting or sales
- Get Bloomberg Market Concepts certification
- Consider certification in relevant tools such as Excel
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, the region, and the world?
- Participate in programs designed to spread financial literacy
- Volunteer your finance skills to help other charitable organizations
- Join the Apprenticeship Program with Public Allies Metro Detroit AmeriCorps
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Visit the ICMC or campus Career Services for job placement opportunities
- Talk to finance faculty about preparation for careers
- Use the Bloomberg Finance Lab facilities to bring yourself to the attention of potential employers
Finance majors develop skills in financial management, analyzing data, and adapting to global market changes. The finance industry includes a wide variety of positions. Many finance majors have pursued careers in corporate finance upon graduation. Other students have chosen the routes of commercial and investment banking, or financial services and planning. Each of these career paths is exciting and challenging, and available in almost every industry. Many can be highly specialized and require additional education, training or certification. For example, those interested in going into the field of financial planning often have obtained licenses (i.e. Series 7 or Investment Advisor), or have chosen to go to graduate school.
The Financial Management concentration prepares students for a career in which they help organizations develop and implement their financial strategy and tactics. Financial managers in corporations, governments, and organizations usually supervise the preparation of financial reports, guide investment activities, and execute cash-management strategies. Potential job positions include controller, treasurer, credit management, cash management, and risk management.
The Financial Services concentration helps prepare students to pursue careers in the banking industry and financial or investment services. These are generally careers that are client based, although your firm's clients may be individuals, businesses, or institutions. Potential job positions include financial analyst, credit analyst, portfolio management, loan officer, mortgage banker, financial advisor, and financial planner.
Our students have gone on to a variety of positions including:
- Financial Analyst/Investment Analyst
- Financial Advisor/Consultant/Stock Broker
- Business Analyst
Other potential positions available in finance:
- Risk Manager
- Bank Auditor
- Corporate Auditor
- Treasury or Cash Manager
- Financial Planner and/or Investment Advisor
- Equity/Fund/Research Analyst
- Portfolio Manager
How to use this Major Map
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions — figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally.