University of Florida Finance Program: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Florida (UF) offers a robust finance program within its Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Department, catering to students at the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate levels. Beyond traditional finance studies, the program provides specialized tracks in areas like entrepreneurship, real estate, and value investing. The faculty comprises leading experts in diverse fields such as banking, initial public offerings, investments, international finance, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance (BSBA-FIN)

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance (BSBA-FIN) degree program provides a comprehensive understanding of the functional areas of business with an emphasis in finance. It focuses on the acquisition and management of funds by businesses, financial markets, security analysis and valuation, management of financial institutions, interest rates, investments and securities, financial risk management, security trading, government policy and financial markets, financial forecasting, capital structure, venture capital, and security issuance.

Curriculum and Career Preparation

The finance curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in corporate financial management and the financial services industry. BSBA-FIN majors are encouraged to gain practical work experience through internships, student organizations, and community service. The Heavener School of Business offers a wide variety of academic, career, and leadership programs, including study abroad, the Florida Leadership Academy, involvement in student organizations, and research activities.

Academic Requirements and Critical Tracking

BSBA-FIN majors must maintain a 2.0 core, major, and UF GPA. Students must read the individual course descriptions in the catalog to determine the prerequisites for their required courses. The program also requires the completion of 6 credit hours of professional development coursework.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses required for entry to the major. To remain on track for the BSBA-FIN major, students must meet specific critical-tracking criteria, including earning a minimum grade of B in ACG 2021 and ACG 2071 and a minimum grade of B in FIN 3403. The critical-tracking GPA is calculated based on all attempts of the critical-tracking courses or their equivalents. Students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold in the course catalog.

Experiential Learning: Internships and Study Abroad

To satisfy the “Apply” phase of professional development, students must complete an internship or externship course. Students who choose the internship option must enroll in one of the internship courses and complete an internship of at least 150 hours before the start of their senior year. The internship requirement can be waived for students who participate in a study abroad experience of at least six weeks. However, students who waive this requirement via study abroad are strongly encouraged to complete at least one internship to improve their chances of obtaining full-time employment and/or admission to graduate programs or law school.

Restricted Electives

Students are required to complete 11-12 credits of any 3000/4000-level courses or 1000/4000-level foreign language courses as restricted electives. One electronic platform course (ENT 3003, GEB 3035, ISM 3004, or REE 3043) can be taken to fulfill the restricted elective requirement. Internship course options include GEB 4941 Internship in Business Administration (one credit) in conjunction with an internship of at least 150 hours before the start of the senior year.

Beyond the Bachelor's: Advanced Studies

For students looking to further their education, Warrington offers a combination bachelor’s-to-master’s program that accelerates their career for even greater returns. Students can also pursue a dual degree, combining a BSBA in Finance with another major at the University of Florida.

The MSF Program does not require a GMAT nor GRE score. Applicants may submit a GMAT score to enhance the MSF application. Any GMAT score received will be included as part of the holistic application review process. The minimum expected SAT combined math and reading score is 1350/1600, or ACT math 31/36, for application.

Master of Science in Finance (MSF)

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program at UF is an accelerated pathway for current Warrington undergraduates. This framework prepares students to assess financial data, present their observations, and navigate global markets. Instruction begins with financial theories, industry practices and regulations, and an exploration of domestic and global markets.

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Once accepted into the combination program, students take 16 graduate-level credits (out of 32) before finishing their bachelor’s. Twelve graduate credits count towards both degrees, resulting in a highly sought-after master’s degree completed in less time and at a lower overall cost.

Admission Requirements for MSF

Applications are only sought from current UF undergraduates. A minimum 3.5 overall GPA is expected for application.

Applicants must submit a resume formatted for use in the finance industry, including all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. A statement of purpose is required, describing the chosen career path and listing firms in the areas of interest. This document should focus briefly on long-term career expectations, and more extensively on the junior summer internship from which the applicant would want to receive an offer to return full-time. It must show evidence that the applicant has a clear idea of what the internship entails, their suitability for the job, and what they like about the job and that area of finance.

An Excel or Word table should accompany the paragraphs of text, including the list of firms targeted for junior summer internship, the caliber of students those companies select (GPA, other suitability criteria), and some understanding of the recruitment process (hiring calendars for those firms, indication of which companies recruit UF students on campus and which firms that have hired MSF students that do not recruit on campus).

Graduates of the master's finance program at UF make a median salary of $116,367.

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Pathways to Finance at UF

For Incoming Freshmen

Apply directly to UF, starting with the undergraduate application and selecting finance as your major. The Innovation Academy allows students to spend the spring and summer semesters studying finance and earning an Innovation Minor, using the fall to personalize their studies with an internship or study abroad trip.

For Transfer Students

Students arriving with some college credits or a completed associate degree who have previously studied finance or a related discipline can have their application evaluated by Warrington for admission to the BSBA program.

Changing Majors

Students already at UF can switch their major to finance to pursue a career in managing funds, investments, and risks, as long as their requirements are on track.

Financial Aid and Awards

The University of Florida offers various financial aid opportunities, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, which can cover 100% of tuition and fees for high-achieving high school graduates. There are also region-specific awards for students from certain Florida counties and study abroad awards for students participating in international programs. One-time, term-based awards range from $500 to $2,000.

Career Development and Opportunities

The Finance Professional Development program offers an inside look at careers in finance, exploring areas like banking, wealth management, and corporate finance. The Founders Fund, a student-managed finance organization, fosters financial expertise and professional growth, providing hands-on experiential learning opportunities in investment and portfolio management.

The program emphasizes the development of business-ready competencies, ensuring graduates are leaders, collaborators, and tech-savvy professionals. Students benefit from leadership development, professional development, mentorship, internships, and study abroad opportunities.

Career guidance is provided to help students navigate their path to their first post-graduate position, explore potential careers, and make key connections. Recruiters interested in hiring an MSF graduate can review resumes of students through HIREWarrington, the college’s career services portal.

Skills Developed

The UF finance program equips students with the skills to:

Analyze financial data
Predict market trends
Adjust financial strategies
Understand and navigate global markets

Faculty and Resources

The finance faculty at UF are not just professors but also industry experts. Digital platforms are used to track everything from paychecks to portfolio performance, and the program emphasizes the importance of improving the experience and security for fintech professionals.

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