1. Fisher College of Business
Finance
T he finance major is designed to prepare students for the Acceptance in the student’s major area of interest within the
increasingly important area of financial management in College of Business is competitive on a space available basis.
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all types of businesses, firms, and financial institutions. The More information may be found at fisher.osu.edu.
financial officer has responsibility for activities such as raising
and allocating funds, cost analysis, forecasting and budgeting,
investment management, and formulating financial and credit The Fisher College of Business
operating policies. undergraduate Finance program was
recently ranked 10th in the nation according
Students studying the field of finance take course work in to US News and World Reports 2007.
corporate finance in which they study the effects of projects
and financial policy on stockholder wealth. They study capital Members of the department have received
budgeting, project cost of capital, dividend policy, debt policy, numerous teaching awards and have
leasing policy, and option pricing. Different types of investments innovated with experiential learning
and their relative merits, the role of financial institutions including
with courses like the Student Investment
the study of asset and liability management in commercial banks
Management Program which manages over
and saving institutions are examined. Students have choices
$9 million in University funds and offers trips
of additional topics in investment analysis including portfolio
for students to major financial centers.
management, the stock market, and opportunities and problems
in international finance.
Ohio State was home to the Journal of
Finance for twelve years, an outlet for high
Pursuing Finance at Ohio State
impact research in finance.
Students interested in finance as a major should have a good
high school background in mathematics and written and oral
communication. Experience with computers is helpful.
Finance Requirements
Students who come to Ohio State to study business will be • Principles courses include:
directly enrolled as pre-business students in the Fisher College Accounting Principles
of Business if they meet one of the following criteria: a minimum Economics Principles
ACT composite score of 25, SAT combined Critical Reading and Statistics
Math scores of 1150, or a rank in the top 20% of their high school
class. As a pre-major, students will enter the pre-major advising • Core courses include:
program within the Fisher College of Business. Those students Business Skills and Environment
not eligible to directly enroll in business may enroll in the Legal Environment of Business
Management and Industry Exploration Program. To learn more, International Business
visit exploration.osu.edu. Intermediate Accounting
Finance
Acceptance into the major and degree candidacy within the Management Sciences
college is by application. Students may apply to a major program Management and Human Resources
after completing a specified set of courses. Admission of students Marketing
with an overall cumulative point-hour ratio (CPHR) of 3.00 or Economics
above is guaranteed. College academic counselors can provide Senior Seminar in Business Policy
CPHR information for the most recently admitted class.
• Required major courses include:
New freshmen with high ACT or SAT test scores and a high Corporate Finance
school rank in the upper 10% or acceptance into the University Investment Management
Honors Program may be eligible for direct enrollment into Management of Financial Institutions
business majors. Selected Topics in Finance
For more information, check these web sites:
Career Services: fisher.osu.edu/career
Finance: fisher.osu.edu/fin/finance.html
Majors: fisher.osu.edu/career/ungrad/explore.htm
Fisher College of Business: fisher.osu.edu
Rankings: fisher.osu.edu/news/about/rankings.htm
Ohio State: www.osu.edu

2. Curriculum Sample Co-Curricular Opportunities
This is a sample list of classes a student may take to There are many opportunities for students in the Fisher College of Business to
pursue a degree in Finance. Since university students enrich and broaden their academic experience. Though internship and co-ops
need more than specific education in a narrow field, are not required for business students, 82% of students have some kind of
they also will take classes to complete the General internship experience before they graduate. Many students receive an offer of
Education Curriculum (GEC). The GEC will allow full-time employment from their internship employer.
students to develop the fundamental skills essential
to collegiate success across major programs. Course In addition students are encouraged to explore other opportunities such as
work options satisfying the GEC often come from a studying abroad. In coordination with the Fisher College of Business, the Office
variety of academic areas of study allowing students of International Education offers several undergraduate exchanges for students
to tailor their GEC toward their interests. Note: This wishing to study abroad in countries throughout the world.
sample represents one of several possible paths to a
degree in Finance. Consult the departmental web site, Students interested in the area of Finance may wish to participate in the
fisher.osu.edu/fin/finance.html, for details on each Undergraduate Finance Association (UFA) whose mission is to provide finance
specific track. majors with professional, social, and educational opportunities in the area of
finance.
Freshman Year:
College Algebra 4
Honors & Scholars Programs
Calculus 9
Fisher College of Business honors students can enrich their academic
Principles of Economics 5
experience by participating in the Mitte Honors Program, which includes the
Business Survey 1
Accounting Honors Programs, the Business Administration Honors Cohort
Computer Problem Solving 5
Program, and the Business Administration Honors Contract Program. Honors
English Composition 5
students who are selected for these programs and who successfully complete
GEC (history sequence) 10
GEC (social sciences) 5 the program requirements will graduate with honors.
Total hours 44
The Accounting Honors program consists of a sequence of accounting courses
Sophomore Year: that students complete, beginning in their sophomore year and continuing into
Principles of Accounting 10 the senior year. The Honors Business Administration Cohort Program consists of
Principles of Economics 5 a set of sequenced business honors courses that students follow in a lockstep
Elements of Statistics 9 manner beginning in the junior year. The Honors Contract Program consists
Decision Theory 4
of an enriched academic plan that is designed by the student and detailed in
GEC (arts and humanities) 5
an honors contract. Honors students with strong research interests have the
GEC (natural sciences) 10
opportunity to pursue the Degree with Distinction, a program of research during
GEC (second writing course) 5
the senior year culminating in a thesis and oral defense.
Total hours 48
Career Prospects in Finance
Junior Year:
Career opportunities for finance majors parallel the study and practice of
Business Skills and Environment 4
finance. Virtually all businesses, whether large or small, need help analyzing
Financial Accounting I and II 6
their financial needs and opportunities. Specific career opportunities include
Introduction to International Business 4
Legal Environment of Business 4 financial management in manufacturing and distributing firms, commercial
Principles of Finance 4 bank management, savings and loan management, stock brokerage, insurance,
Principles of Marketing 4 security analysis, and trust management. Some jobs require special training
Organizational Behavior 5 and licensing such as stock brokers, certified financial analyst (CFA) or certified
Operations Management 4 financial planner (CFP). A few jobs will require graduate school work such as an
Economics Money and Banking 5 MBA although most require the bachelor’s degree as essential for entry level
Corporate Finance 4 work.
GEC (natural sciences) 10
Total hours 54
Beginning salaries for finance graduates in 2005-2006 averaged $45,425 or
above depending on the candidate’s skills; previous work experience gained
Senior Year:
from part-time, co-op, and/or internship assignments; and type of employment.
Investment Management 4
Management of Financial Institutions 4
Finance options 8
Seminar in Business Policy 4
GEC (arts and humanities) 10
GEC (contemporary world) 5
Electives 15 Revised July 2006
Total hours 50
Contact information:
Undergraduate Programs in Business Administration
Max M. Fisher College of Business | Schoenbaum Hall
210 West Woodruff Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43210-1144
(614) 292-2715 | fisher.osu.edu