Skip to Content

Academic Advising

Finance – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.)

Darla Moore School of Business
Finance Department
Bulletin Year: 2026-2027

Print this page

Important: This course plan is a recommended sequence for this major. Courses designated as critical (!) may have a deadline for completion and/or affect time to graduation. Please see the program notes section for details regarding “critical courses” for this particular Program of Study.

Semester One (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
! ENGL 101 Critical Reading and Composition (CC-CMW) 3 C    
! MATH 122 Calculus for Bus. Admin. & Soc. Sci. or MATH 141 Calculus 13 (CC-ARP) 3-4 C   C or better in MATH 111/111I/115 (MATH 122); C or better in MATH 112/115/116 (MATH 141); or through placement exam 
! MGSC 290 or ECON 221 or ECON 222 Computer Info. Systems in Business4 or Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics (CR) 3 C    
    Foreign language5 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL) 3      
    UNIV 101 The Student in the University or Carolina Core Requirement6 (PR/CC) 3      

Semester Two (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
! ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Composition (CC-CMW, CC-INF) 3 C   C or better in ENGL 101
! STAT 206 or STAT 205 Elementary Statistics for Business or Elem. Stat. for Biological & Life Sci. (CC-ARP) 3 C   C or better in MATH 111 or higher or through placement  exam
! ACCT 225 Introduction to Financial Accounting (CR) 3 C    
! MGSC 290 or ECON 221 or ECON 222 Computer Info. Systems in Business4 or Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics (CR) 3 C    
    Foreign language5 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL) 3-4      

Semester Three (16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  ACCT 226 Introduction to Managerial Accounting (CR) 3 C   ACCT 225
  ECON 221 or ECON 222 Principles of Microeconomics or  Principles of Macroeconomics (CR) 3 C    
  FINA 363 Introduction to Finance (CR) 3 C   C or better in ECON 221 or 224; C or better in ACCT 225 or RETL 261; C or better in STAT 201, 205, 206, 509, 511, 515, or MATH 511
  MGMT 250 Professional Communication (CR) 3 C   ENGL 101 & 102
  BADM 301 Bus. Careers in the Global Economy (CR) 1 C    
  MGSC 291 Applied Statistics for Business (CR) 3 C   STAT 206

Semester Four (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  FINA 365 Corporate Financial Analysis (MR) 3 C   C or better in FINA 363
  MGMT 371 Principles of Management (CR) 3 C    
  MGSC 395 Operations Management (CR) 3 C   C or better in STAT 206
  MKTG 350 Principles of Marketing (CR) 3 C    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3-4      

Semester Five (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  FINA 469 Investment Analysis & Portfolio Mgmt. (MR) 3 C   C or better in FINA 363 & MGSC 291
  FINA 470 Financial Statement Analysis (MR) 3 C   ACCT 225 & 226, & FINA 363
  ACCT 324 Survey of Commercial Law (CR) 3 C    
    Minor or Cognate7 or Elective8 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3-4      

Semester Six (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
    Business Elective9 (MR) 3 C    
    Minor or Cognate7 or Elective8 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Minor or Cognate7 or Elective8 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3-4      

Semester Seven (15 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
    Finance Elective10 (MR) 3 C    
    Business Elective9 (MR) 3 C    
    Minor or Cognate or Elective7 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 or Elective8 (CC/PR) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 or Elective8 (CC/PR) 3      

Semester Eight (15 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  MGMT 478 Strategic Management (CR, CC-INT) 3 C   MKTG 350, FINA 363, MGMT 371
    Finance Elective10 (MR) 3 C    
    Minor7 or Elective8 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Minor7 or Elective8 (PR) 3 C (minor)    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 or Elective8 (CC/PR) 3      

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Total Hours Minimum Major Requirements Hours College and Program Requirements Hours Carolina Core Hours Minimum Institutional GPA
122 21-27 52-70 31-43 2.800
  1. Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 3.000 cumulative GPA at the end of their first year (fall, spring, summer term). All students are reviewed annually at the end of each summer term for meeting the upperclassmen retention and graduation requirement of a 2.8 cumulative GPA.
  2. Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
  3. Students who do not place into MATH 122 or MATH 141 will be required to take a summer course in the summer following their first year.
  4. MGSC 290 is a progression requirement and must be taken within the first year in the Darla Moore School of Business. Either ECON 221 or 222 must be taken during the first year. Whichever remains incomplete at the end of the first year, will be taken during the third semester.
  5. Students in the Darla Moore School of Business are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language by a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course.
  6. The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
  7. Minors (non-business) may be selected from a University-wide list of approved minors. The minor is normally a minimum of 18 hours of prescribed courses in one subject area. Minors are recognized on the transcript. Cognates consist of 4 related courses in a specific field. The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. Cognates do not earn an additional designation on the transcript.
  8. The total number of elective hours required depends on the number of hours used to fill other degree requirements, including the minor or cognate, multiple business majors or the business analytics concentration. Options to meet this requirement may include: pre-professional coursework, an accelerated master’s program (maximum of 4 courses if not counted elsewhere in the degree), electives, or a second business major. Consultation with your academic advisor is required to determine appropriate use of the electives.
  9. Business Electives must be 300-level or higher business courses in ACCT, ECON, FINA, IBUS, MGMT, MGSC, or MKTG. Students must meet prerequisites to take the business elective of their choosing.
  10. Finance Electives (6 credit hours) choose from the following: FINA 341, 366, 444, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 471, 472, 475, 476*, 478, 479, 490**, 589, IBUS 401

*International-focused course
**Depending on the semester or nature of the project, FINA 490 may or may not be applicable to the Finance major. Please consult your advisor to determine if it is applicable in the semester you wish to enroll in the project course.

Note: FINA 333, 367, 369, 442, 443, and 446 do not count toward the major in Finance.

Program Notes

  • Courses identified as “critical” must be completed with a grade of “C” or better in the student’s first year in the Darla Moore School of Business in order to continue in the Business School.
  • Students may choose to complete a Business Analytics Concentration (9 hours) in conjunction with the Finance major. Courses applied in the major may not also fulfill concentration requirements.
    • Required: MGSC 394 – Data Analytics for Business (3)
    • Choose 6 hours from the following: ACCT 404, 475; ECON 336, 436, 594; FINA 444, 464, 469, 472; IBUS 430; MGMT 425; MGSC 390, 391, 486; MKTG 352, 447, 448, 470
  • Students may choose to complete a Sustainability in Business Concentration (12 hours) in conjunction with the Finance major. Courses applied in the major may not also fulfill concentration requirements.
    • Required: MKTG 472 – Business, Markets and Sustainability (3)
    • Choose 6-9 hours from the following: ACCT 550; ECON 500, 505, 548; FINA 462, 473; MGMT 407, 408; MGSC 489; MKTG 479
    • Choose 0-3 hours from the following: ENVR 321, 322, 331, 533; GEOG 321; HTMT 485; POLI 478
  • Business courses may be repeated only once. Students may appeal to take a course for a third time and must see an advisor to complete the appeal process.
  • Students must complete nine hours of international-focused courses. These courses can be satisfied within the 122 required hours and do not require additional coursework. At least three credits must be a Business or Economics course at the 300-level or above. The remaining six credits can come from: a) two Carolina Core courses OR b) two 200-level or above foreign language course(s) in the same language. For a complete list of the these courses, please visit the Bulletin.
  • All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
  • The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. 

Code Definitions

University Requirements: Bachelor’s degree-seeking students must meet Carolina Core (general education) requirements.

Code Definition
CC Carolina Core
CC-AIU Carolina Core – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding
CC-ARP Carolina Core – Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
CC-CMS Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component
CC-CMW Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written Component
CC-GFL Carolina Core – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language
CC-GHS Carolina Core – Historical Thinking
CC-GSS Carolina Core – Social Sciences
CC-INF Carolina Core – Information Literacy
CC-INT Carolina Core – Integrative Course
CC-SCI Carolina Core – Scientific Literacy
CC-VSR Carolina Core – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
CR College Requirement
MR Major Requirement
PR Program Requirement

Disclaimer: Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.


Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©