Finance
Department of Finance
Administration
Chair: Taylor Nadauld
Department Information:
640 TNRB
801-422-8377
finance@byu.edu
Advisement Center:
460 TNRB
801-422-4285
msb_advisement@byu.edu
Admission to Degree Program
The degree program carries special enrollment limitations. Please see the BYU Marriott Undergraduate Advisement Center for specific details.
The Discipline
Is it worth it? This is the single, simple, and critical question that finance seeks to answer. Is it worth it for a company to make a strategic acquisition? Is it worth it for a mutual fund manager to buy a particular stock? Is it worth it for a company to issue a bond? Is it worth it for a recent graduate to pursue an MBA? Is it worth it to put solar panels on a house? Finance applies quantitative and qualitative analysis to answer these questions and many others, all with the aim of determining whether something is worth it.
More broadly, finance is the study of the optimal allocation (procurement, deployment, and distribution) of scarce financial resources. What is the best way for a startup to acquire financing? What are the best new projects for a firm to invest in? What is the best way for a mature firm to return excess capital to its shareholders? These are all questions finance seeks to answer.
Career Opportunities
Finance graduates work in a variety of fields that include but are not limited to asset manager, commercial banker, corporate financial planning analyst, corporate treasury analyst, consultant, credit analyst, equity analyst, investment banker, private wealth advisor, and securities or commodity trader.
As a part of their jobs, finance professionals:
Forecast expected cash flows from investment opportunities and potential projects
Assess the risk and uncertainty associated with investment opportunities and potential projects
Perform industry and macro-economic analysis
Estimate the value of financial assets and options
Minimize, manage, and hedge risk
Study the efficiencies of the markets in which financial assets trade
Analyze the interplay between time and interest
Utilize diverse technical, analytical, critical-thinking and problem solving skill sets
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following university requirements:
The University Core, consisting of requirements in general and religious education.
At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student
A minimum of 120 credit hours
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Be in good standing with the Honor Code Office
Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.
