Decoding the USC Undergraduate Finance Program Curriculum: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Southern California (USC) offers several pathways for undergraduate students interested in finance. Understanding the curriculum and options can empower prospective and current students to make informed decisions about their academic journey. This article provides a detailed overview of the relevant programs, courses, and requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance: A Joint Degree

USC offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance as a joint degree from the Leventhal School of Accounting and the Marshall School of Business. This program provides a solid foundation in accounting and finance, preparing students for various finance-oriented careers. The degree requires at least 128 units, including USC’s General Education requirements. It cannot be combined as an additional major in either accounting or business administration.

Eligibility and Advisement:

To be eligible for admission, students must complete BUAD 280 (Introduction to Financial Accounting) or BUAD 305 (Abridged Accounting) and BUAD 306 (Business Finance) or BUAD 308 (Advanced Business Finance). Leventhal students who have completed 24 units or less at USC are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for Spring 2025. Current Leventhal students can schedule appointments through Advise USC on MyUSC. Drop-in advising is available via Zoom on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-4 PM during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Career Paths and STEM Designation:

While the Accounting & Finance degree doesn’t specifically fulfill the educational requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure (the Bachelor of Science in Accounting is recommended for that), this major has been approved as STEM-eligible. This allows graduates to apply for the STEM OPT Extension, although approval isn't guaranteed.

Finance and Business Economics Emphasis: A Deep Dive

The Finance and Business Economics Emphasis is designed for current Marshall undergraduates who have attained sophomore standing and completed at least one semester in residence at USC. It provides a robust set of theoretical frameworks, analytical techniques, and market and industry knowledge to enable students to excel in finance and economics-oriented careers. The emphasis allows students to learn tools and frameworks to guide financial decisions and develop sound financial strategies. Students also learn how financial markets function and the roles of various institutions. This foundation prepares students for a broad array of entry-level positions and career opportunities across the financial services industry and within corporations, government, and non-profits. The emphasis also provides the foundation for students to pursue graduate study in law, economics, and business.

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Coursework and Requirements:

Students must complete BUAD 306 (Business Finance) or BUAD 308 (Advanced Business Finance) before declaring the Emphasis. The Emphasis requires completion of at least twelve (12) units of Finance and Business Economics (FBE) upper-division coursework (numbered 300-499). BUAD 308 is faster-paced than BUAD 306 and is intended for students interested in pursuing the Finance emphasis and/or a career in finance. Students can consult their BUAD 306/308 professor or any professor in the Finance and Business Economics department for advising, in addition to the faculty advisor.

Skills and Career Opportunities:

There is no dominant quality or skill aligned with Finance and Business Economics-related careers, due to the vast range of positions across corporate finance, financial services, investment management, and financial and economic consulting. Employers typically seek candidates who combine strong analytical and critical thinking skills with excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. Students have the flexibility to choose classes that provide a breadth of knowledge and skills as a finance generalist, or to choose classes that provide a depth of knowledge and skills aligned with a specific sub-field or career path. Students who participate in the Marshall International Exchange program (IEP) may fulfill up to 6 units towards this emphasis while studying abroad. This emphasis has also been approved as STEM-eligible.

Career Paths:

Students who choose the Finance and Business Economics Emphasis can pursue positions in investment and commercial banking, economic and financial consulting, investment management, and corporate financial management and strategy, among others.

Darla Moore School of Business Finance Major at USC Columbia: A Detailed Curriculum

The Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina Columbia offers a comprehensive finance major. Admission is competitive, and meeting minimum criteria doesn't guarantee acceptance. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee adjusts enrollment levels based on staffing and resources.

Admission Requirements:

New freshmen are only considered for Fall Term admission. Students from other USC campuses must have a minimum cumulative Institution GPA of 3.25, at least 15 USC credit hours, and have completed calculus with a minimum grade of C. Internal transfers are also considered for Fall Term admission only. Transfer students from other institutions must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on all college work taken and have completed calculus with a minimum grade of C.

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Degree Requirements (122 hours):

The program requires 122 hours of coursework, divided into Carolina Core, College Requirements, and Program Requirements. A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (31-43 hours):

CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours): ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (must be passed with a grade of C or higher).
ARP - Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-7 hours): MATH 122 or MATH 141, and STAT 206 or STAT 205 (must be passed with a grade of C or higher).
SCI - Scientific Literacy (7 hours): Two approved Carolina Core Scientific Literacy courses, including one laboratory course.
GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours): Demonstration of foreign language ability or equivalent coursework at USC.
GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours): Any CC-GHS course.
GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours): Any CC-GSS course.
AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours): Any CC-AIU course.
CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component (0-3 hours): Any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course.
INF - Information Literacy (0-3 hours): Any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course.
VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (0-3 hours): Any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course.*Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed.

2. College Requirements (40 hours): Specific requirements are detailed by the Darla Moore School of Business.

3. Program Requirements (15-30 hours):

Supporting Courses (0-9 hours)
Internationalization Requirement (0-9 hours): Requires 9 hours of coursework with international content. Three hours must be from an approved list of courses offered by the Moore School of Business which contain international business or international economics content. Other options include approved coursework containing international business or international economics content taken at a semester abroad program; an approved Maymester or summer overseas course, an approved internship course in international business, or an approved service-learning component. The remaining 6-hour requirement can be met with two language courses at the 200 level or above, OR two approved courses with international content taken either inside or outside the Moore School of Business.
Minor or Cognate (12-18 hours): Optional. Minors are selected from a University-wide list and are normally a minimum of 18 hours. Cognates consist of 4 related courses outside of but related to the major.
Electives (6-30 hours): The number of elective hours required depends on the number of hours used to fulfill other degree requirements. Options include pre-professional coursework, directed electives, and a maximum of 4 courses towards completion of an accelerated master’s program if not counted elsewhere in the degree. All directed coursework electives must be passed with a grade of C or better.

4. Major Requirements (21-24 hours):

A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Major Courses (9 hours):
- FINA 365: Corporate Financial Analysis (3 credits)
- FINA 469: Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (3 credits)
- FINA 470: Financial Statement Analysis (3 credits)
Major Electives (12 hours):

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- Select six hours from the following:
  - FINA 341: Management of Risk and Insurance
  - FINA 366: Introduction to Real Estate and Urban Development
  - FINA 444: Corporate Risk Management
  - FINA 463: Case Studies in Corporate Finance
  - FINA 464: Financial Innovation
  - FINA 465: Commercial Bank Practice and Policy
  - FINA 466: Real Estate Investment Fundamentals
  - FINA 467: Real Estate Finance
  - FINA 471: Derivative Securities
  - FINA 472: Student-Managed Investments
  - FINA 475: Fixed Income Securities
  - FINA 476: Foundations of Capitalism
  - FINA 490: Special Topics in Finance
  - IBUS 401: International Financial Management
- Upper-Level Business Electives (6 hours): Complete additional upper-level (300-level or above) business/economics course work (in ACCT, BADM, ECON, FINA, IBUS, MGMT, MGSC, or MKTG) for a total of 21 hours of Upper-Level Business courses, which include major hours. Students must meet prerequisites to take the business elective of their choosing. Students may choose to pursue an additional major or a business analytics concentration in place of Upper-Level Business Electives.

Note: FINA 333, FINA 369, and all Real Estate plus Risk Management and Insurance courses not specifically listed as electives of the Finance Major do not count towards the major in Finance.

Business Analytics Concentration (9 hours): Optional.

The analytics concentration must be taken in conjunction with a major. The department may add additional electives to the Business Analytics Concentration, subject to the approval of the Business Analytics Task Force.

MGSC 394: Data Analytics for Business (3 credits)
Select two of the following (6 credits):
- ACCT 404: Accounting Information Systems I
- ACCT 475: Integrated Business Processes with Enterprise Systems
- ECON 336: Introduction to Data Science for Economists
- ECON 436: Introductory Econometrics
- ECON 594: Advanced Econometrics
- FINA 444: Corporate Risk Management
- FINA 464: Financial Innovation
- FINA 469: Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (Designated sections only)
- FINA 472: Student-Managed Investments
- IBUS 430: Research in International Business
- MGMT 425: Analytics for the Human Resources Professional
- MGSC 390: Business Information Systems
- MGSC 391: Applied Statistical Modeling
- MGSC 486: Service Operations Management
- MKTG 352: Principles of Marketing Research
- MKTG 447: Pricing Strategy and Analytics
- MKTG 448: Data Science for Business Decision-Making
- MKTG 470: Digital Marketing & Social Media Analytics

Note: Courses applied in the major may not also fulfill concentration requirements.

Sustainability in Business Concentration (12 hours): Optional.

Please consult with your Academic Advisor or department on the courses recommended for individual majors. The sustainability concentration must be taken in conjunction with a major. The department may add additional electives to the Sustainability in Business Concentration, subject to the approval of the Sustainability Curriculum and research Faculty Committee.

Master of Science in Finance (MS) at USC

The Master of Science in Finance (MS) program is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel as finance experts and advance their careers. The curriculum begins with core courses in accounting, economics, finance, and statistics. This foundation is then enhanced with courses covering the role of finance in corporations, investment analysis and portfolio theory, and forecasting and risk management.

Admissions:

Applicants must satisfy most of the general admission requirements for Marshall graduate programs, including GMAT or GRE scores. Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of the applicant’s academic record, resume, test scores (if provided), letters of recommendation, and responses to application questions. Prospective students apply to begin the program in the summer term. A complete application includes the online form, application fee, responses to questions, test scores (if applicable), one letter of recommendation, and transcripts. Current USC students and alumni are exempt from submitting an application fee or transcripts from institutions attended prior to USC.

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