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Finance

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Faculty Advisors

  • Assist with course selections and schedule planning for one or more semesters. 
  • Advice on progression toward graduation (Gen Ed requirements, major, minor, college requirements).
  • Discuss opportunities such as undergraduate research and creativity, job shadowing, internships, study abroad programs
  • Need the name of your faculty advisor? Check your Student Center in WINGS or Navigate.

College Academic Services

Your major determines which of the following colleges you are in: 

Each college office provides extensive academic services:

  • Process change of major requests.
  • Perform credit checks and degree verifications.
  • Ensure accuracy of the Advising Report (AR) report.
  • Interpret academic policies and procedures 
  • Advise incoming transfer students and assist with transfer credits.
  • Approve off-campus courses for transfer credit.
  • Notify and advise students who are ineligible or on probation

Academic Advising Center

  • The Academic Advising Center provides academic advisors, career advising specialists, and pre-health advising.
  • Assists students with academic advising, exploring majors, transferring to UWL, researching graduate schools, and careers.

Are you ...

The Finance degrees at a glance

  • Topic areas include corporate finance, investments and financial institutions
  • Subtopics include risk and insurance, personal financial planning, international finance, equity valuation, financial modeling and real estate

Finance

The Finance major provides an excellent mix of theoretical and practical knowledge. Students are exposed to a variety of teaching methods, ranging from lectures and group discussions to problem-solving case analysis and independent studies. The program provides a foundation in the primary financial areas of corporate finance, investments and financial institutions.

FIN major requirements:

Must take the following four courses:

  1. FIN 370: Corporation Finance (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  2. FIN 380: Principles of Investment (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  3. FIN 390: Money & Capital Markets (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  4. FIN 485: Problems & Cases in Finance (prerequisite: FIN 370)
        1. Or: FIN 475: Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management (prerequisite: FIN 380)

As electives, must take one of the following Group 1 courses:

  • FIN 360 OR FIN 363 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 361 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 400
  • FIN 407 (prerequisite: FIN 355; senior standing)
  • FIN 408 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 409 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 437 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 440 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 456 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 460 (prerequisite: FIN 360/363, 380, 407/408)
  • FIN 475 (prerequisite: FIN 380)
  • FIN 485 (prerequisite: FIN 370)

Must take two of the following Group 2 courses:

  • ACC 301, 303, 311, or 325
  • ECO 301, 305, 307, 308, 310, 333, 340, or 380
  • MGT 495
  • FIN 450 (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 499
  • Any Group 1 course

IMPORTANT NOTES: You will need more credits to get to the 120 required to graduate. These could be courses that apply towards a minor or double-major. Any time you can’t fill out a full schedule with the required courses, remember that you eventually need 120 to graduate. Due to the high demand for CBA courses, you may want to consider programs outside the CBA.

Also, these requirements are specific to the current University Catalog. Be sure to check your WINGS advisement report to be sure your requirements are not different.

Finance - Risk, Insurance, and Financial Planning (RIFP) Concentration

Finance RIFP is designed to prepare students to enter the fields of insurance and personal financial planning. Students who choose to specialize in this area learn about treatment methods for risk, and the mechanism of insurance as a means of handling major risks in a business. Students are also introduced to the primary components of financial planning.

Risk, Insurance, and Financial Planning major requirements:

Must take the following four courses:

  1. FIN 360: Principles of Insurance and Risk Management
    1. OR: FIN 363: Insurance Planning
  2. FIN 370: Corporation Finance (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  3. FIN 380: Principles of Investment (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  4. FIN 390: Financial Markets and Institutions (prerequisite: FIN 355)

Must take one of the following capstone courses:

  1. FIN 460: Cases in Financial Planning (prerequisites: FIN 360/363, 380, 407/408)
  2. FIN 485: Problems & Cases in Finance (prerequisite: FIN 370)
  3. FIN 475: Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management (prerequisite: FIN 380)

Must take one of the following Group 1 elective courses:

  • FIN 361: Life Insurance (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 407: Advanced Financial Planning (prerequisite: FIN 355; senior standing)
  • FIN 408: Retirement Planning (prerequisite: FIN 355)
  • FIN 409: Estate Planning (prerequisite: FIN 355)

Must take one of the following Group 2 electives:

  • ACC 303
  • ACC 311
  • ACC 330
  • ECO 301
  • ECO 307
  • FIN 400
  • FIN 437
  • FIN 440
  • FIN 450
  • FIN 456
  • FIN 499
  • MKT 362
  • MKT 370
  • An additional capstone course
  • An additional Group 1 course

Note: UW-La Crosse is one of the few schools in the nation to offer a major in Finance with a Risk, Insurance and Financial Planning concentration.

Finance - Personal Financial Planning Concentration

The UWL Personal Financial Planning Program is an official CFP® Board-registered program. With this program, students will be qualified to take the CFP® exam upon graduation, eliminating the need for any further educational training.

Courses include:

  • ACC 303 | Tax Planning
  • FIN 363 | Insurance Planning
  • FIN 370 | Corporation Finance
  • FIN 380 | Principles of Investment
  • FIN 390 | Financial Markets and Institutions
  • FIN 408 | Retirement Planning
  • FIN 409 | Estate Planning
  • FIN 460 | Case Studies in Financial Planning

See the Personal Financial Planning concentration page for more details:

Personal Financial Planning Concentration Webpage

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Advice from Finance Majors

Johnny Komppa - May 2022 Graduate, Finance & Economics Major

"Prioritize getting to know both your professors and peers outside of the classroom. Oftentimes this results in meaningful friendships or relationships that could benefit your career in the future. Always take the opportunity to have a conversation with somebody who has been in your shoes."

Benjamin Hendel – May 2022 Graduate, Finance Major

"Be vulnerable to your classmates and teachers by asking a lot of questions. Everyone shares different perspectives, and you will learn a lot from each other once you make the effort. Prioritize gaining experience through internships and jobs during your four years. You will learn so much, and it will make you stand out when applying for jobs after graduation."

Rachel Rendall – May 2023 (expected) Graduate, Risk, Insurance, and Financial Planning Major

“Get involved as much as you can! Anything from joining business clubs or simply going to your professors' office hours can help you make some of the best connections with likeminded students and faculty. You may even find yourself acting as an executive member of a club and gaining valuable friendships and experience in the process!”

Emily Otto – May 2022 Graduate, Finance Major

"Visit your academic advisor, go to office hours, and utilize tutoring resources. There are so many opportunities available to help you succeed, take advantage of them! Also, you don't have to be perfect but always try your best. In the end, you'll make yourself very proud!"