Finance, B.S.

The field of finance encompasses three closely related perspectives: how businesses raise and invest capital, how individuals allocate their savings among different investment alternatives and how markets function to equate the demand for capital by firms and the supply of capital by investors. The nationally-ranked finance program at Saint Louis University's the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business prepares students for successful careers in finance in the increasingly global economy. Students may elect to pursue the financial analysis concentration within the finance major, which helps prepare students to pass the CFA exam. Students may also elect to pursue a real estate finance concentration. 

Students are mentored by the outstanding faculty and then encouraged to establish a real, professional career network with the amazing resources provided to them, perfectly setting the students up for success." —Arthur Pach, Class of 2022

CFA Institute University Affiliation Program 

This initiative is a relationship between the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and select colleges and universities worldwide that have embedded a significant percentage (70%) of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge into their degree programs. Only 270 U.S. Finance programs are CFA University Affiliated Programs. 

Additionally, affiliated institutions have committed to covering CFA Institute's ethical and professional standards in these degree programs. Recognition as a CFA University Affiliate signals to potential students, current students and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA exams.

Curriculum Overview

Students majoring in finance at the Chaifetz School of Business gain professional finance knowledge and develop strong critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, decision-making and data analysis skills for success in today’s environment.

Students monitor and analyze real-time financial data with industry-standard Bloomberg terminals in the state-of-the-art Edward Jones Data Analytics Lab. As part of their major coursework, finance majors utilize Bloomberg Market Concepts learning modules available on the Bloomberg terminals and achieve certification at no additional charge. Senior-level students can gain additional hands-on experience in evaluating common stocks as investments and the fiduciary management of investment assets through the management of $2+ million in University endowment funds through the innovative Applied Portfolio Management course. APM students also receive one-on-one mentoring from industry practitioners as part of this experiential learning opportunity. 

Internships/Student Organizations

St. Louis’ metropolitan location provides many year-round internship opportunities, which allow students to gain practical, career-related work experience while applying classroom experiences to practice. Most internships are paid, and students may opt to complete one for academic credit. Finance students from the Class of 2022 interned with:

  • Investment firms
  • Financial institutions 
  • Consulting firms
  • Fortune 500 companies like Boeing, Centene and Wells Fargo
  • Nonprofits
  • Regulatory agencies

The Department of Finance has launched the Billiken Asset Management (BAM) Investment Fund, an initiative to be led by SLU's Finance Club's Executive Board. Finance Club students will manage fund assets on a semi-active basis using a sector rotation strategy. Participating students will gain meaningful experiences in asset management and benefit from mentorship interactions with professional money managers who will advise the Fund.

Careers

Possible career paths with a degree in finance include:

  • Public finance
  • Commercial loan officer
  • Corporate finance officer
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial planner
  • Procurement analyst
  • Real Estate lender
  • Securities broker

SLU graduates have been highly successful on the Series 7 exam and on other professional exams that are necessary for specific career paths in finance. In a survey of SLU's class of 2022 finance graduates, 100% reported they were either employed or attending graduate school within six months of their graduation date. Graduates join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.

Admission Requirements

Freshman

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply. Saint Louis University also accepts the Common App. 

All applications are thoroughly and carefully reviewed. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. 

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. Beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, undergraduate applicants will not be required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) in order to be considered for admission. Applicants will be evaluated equally, with or without submitted test scores.

Transfer

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s).

Transfer students must have a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students, along with the following:

  • You must demonstrate English Language proficiency.
  • Proof of financial support must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding your time at Saint Louis University.
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of your study at the University.
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Year
Undergraduate Tuition $52,260

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

  • Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
  • Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2022, 99% of first-time freshmen and 90% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $445 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit www.slu.edu/financial-aid.

Accreditation

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty. Approximately 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

  1. Graduates will be able to understand essential business concepts and how the various functional areas of business are related.
  2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ethical concepts and corporate social responsibility and be able to evaluate business problems from multiple ethical perspectives.
  3.  Graduates will be able to identify and structure business problems and propose actionable solutions to business problems and, when applicable, utilizing appropriate technology.
  4.  Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective written communication.
  5.  Graduates will be able to understand how cultures, politics, laws, ethics, and economies influence and impacts business and use tools and concepts to analyze and formulate an international business strategy.
  6.  Graduates will be able to gather data and perform analysis needed to value any real or financial asset.
  7.  Graduates will be able to understand the value of, and tools and techniques for, implementing risk management strategies.

Standard Track

Eighteen credits in addition to FIN 3010 Principles of Finance (3 cr), which is taken as a business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) requirement, are required. 

UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE CORE32-35
BUSINESS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Program Requirements15
Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK)48
Major-Specific Finance Requirements 12
Fixed Income Securities and Markets
Equity Securities and Markets
Financial Management
Derivative Securities and Markets
Major-Specific Finance Electives6
Select two of the following:
Insurance
Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
International Financial Management
Financial Modeling and Analysis
Personal Financial Planning
Applied Portfolio Management *
GENERAL ELECTIVES 18-21
Total Credits120
*

Course enrollment is by application only.

In addition to completing lower and upper-division coursework in all areas of business, each student typically selects a business major before or during the first semester of the junior year. 18 major-specific credit hours are required as determined by the appropriate department. To broaden their expertise, students may complete more than one major in business, or a major and a minor in business. Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), however, a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

Financial Analysis Concentration

Twenty-one credits in addition to FIN 3010 Principles of Finance (3 cr), which is taken as a business CBK requirement, are required. 

UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE CORE32-35
BUSINESS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Program Requirements15
Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK)48
Major-Specific Finance Requirements
FIN 3330Fixed Income Securities and Markets3
FIN 3630Equity Securities and Markets3
FIN 4230Financial Management3
FIN 4630Applied Portfolio Management *3
FIN 4650Derivative Securities and Markets3
ACCT 3110Financial Reporting I §3
ACCT 4110Financial Reporting II §3
GENERAL ELECTIVES 15-18
Total Credits120
*

Course enrollment is by application only.

In addition to completing lower and upper-division coursework in all areas of business, each student typically selects a business major before or during the first semester of the junior year. 18 major-specific credit hours are required as determined by the appropriate department. To broaden their expertise, students may complete more than one major in business, or a major and a minor in business. Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), however, a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

§

In addition to course prerequisites, a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA is a prerequisite for 3000 and 4000-level accounting courses.

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

Real Estate Finance Concentration

Eighteen credits in addition to FIN 3010 Principles of Finance (3 cr), which is taken as a business CBK requirement, are required. 

UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE CORE32-35
BUSINESS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Program Requirements15
Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK)48
Major Requirements
FIN 3330Fixed Income Securities and Markets3
FIN 3630Equity Securities and Markets3
FIN 4130Real Estate3
FIN 4160Commercial Real Estate3
FIN 4230Financial Management3
FIN 4650Derivative Securities and Markets3
GENERAL ELECTIVES 18-21
Total Credits120

In addition to completing lower and upper-division coursework in all areas of business, each student typically selects a business major before or during the first semester of the junior year. 18 major-specific credit hours are required as determined by the appropriate department. To broaden their expertise, students may complete more than one major in business, or a major and a minor in business. Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), however, a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

Continuation Standards

Finance students must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to fulfill the major-specific course requirements.  

​Students will be on program probation if their GPA in major-specific courses used to fulfill major requirements falls below a 2.00. Students will have one semester to increase their major-specific cumulative GPA to a 2.00; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000- or 4000-level major-specific courses.

Students will be automatically placed on university probation if any of the following occur:

  • Their Saint Louis University cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00
  • Their Saint Louis University semester grade point average is below a 1.00
  • More than two "incomplete" or two "in-progress" grades on their academic transcript

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance.

In order to improve scholastically and demonstrate their ability to make progress toward a degree, students on probation may not register for more than 12 credits in the fall and spring semesters, three credits in the winter term, and no more than one course/four credits in any single summer session term.

The conditions under which a student is dismissed from the school include:

  1. Inability to eliminate probationary status within the two semesters subsequent to the assignment of probation or
  2. A grade point average deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, a student must complete all course requirements and meet all of the following conditions:

  • Apply to graduate.
  • Complete the University Undergraduate Core.
  • Earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in overall SLU coursework, in business school coursework, and in major-specific courses. (B.S.-Accounting students must earn a minimum 2.70 cumulative GPA in overall SLU coursework, a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in business coursework, and grades of C or higher in all courses that fulfill the major-specific requirements.)
  • Complete 30 of the final 36 credits at the St. Louis campus or an approved study abroad program.
  • Complete at least 50% of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*
  • Complete major-specific course requirements in residence at the St. Louis campus.*
  • Students transferring from the Madrid campus must complete a minimum of 40 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 30 credits of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*
*

Students may pursue the economics, international business or marketing majors at the St. Louis campus and/or at the Madrid campus. The residency requirement then applies to courses taken at either campus.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Standard Track 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CORE 1000 Ignite First Year Seminar 1 2
BIZ 1000 Business Foundations 1 1
CMM 1200
Public Speaking 2
or Communicating in Groups and Teams
3
CORE 1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication 1 3
CORE 3800 Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas (MATH 1200, if appropriate) 7 3
 Credits15
Spring
MATH 1320
Survey of Calculus 2, 3
or Calculus I
3
PSY 1010 General Psychology 3
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
BIZ 1100/1002 Business in Action 1
BTM 2000 Introduction to Business Technology Management 3
ECON 1900 Principles of Economics 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
CORE 2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation 0
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
IB 2000 Introduction to International Business (meets University Core Attribute: Global Interdependence) 3
OPM 2070 Introduction to Business Statistics 3
 Credits15
Spring
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
ACCT 2220 Accounting for Decision Making 3
BIZ 3000 Career Foundations 1
BTM 2500 Data Modeling, Analysis and Visualization 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
MKT 3000 Introduction to Marketing Management 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 3
PHIL 2050 Ethics (meets University CORE Attribute: Dignity, Ethics & a Just Society) 3
FIN 3010 Principles of Finance 3
MGT 3000 Management Theory and Practice 3
OPM 3050 Introduction to Management Science and Operations Management 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective that Satisfies University Core Attribute: Identities in Context 3
FIN 3330 Fixed Income Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
FIN 3630 Equity Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
MGT 2000 Legal Environment of Business I 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas 7 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
CORE 4000 Collaborative Inquiry 3
CORE 4500 Reflection-in-Action 0
ENGL 4000 Professional Writing 3
FIN 4230 Financial Management (Finance Major requirement) 3
Finance Major Elective 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas 7 3
 Credits15
Spring
MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy 6 3
FIN 4650 Derivative Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
Finance Major Elective 3
Electives in Business or Other Areas 7 4
 Credits13
 Total Credits120
1

Must complete in first 36 credit hours at SLU.

2

Must complete in first 60 credit hours at SLU.

3

MATH 1510 highly recommended.

4

Must take second semester sophomore year unless studying abroad.

6

Must have completed all other Business Common Body of Knowledge courses.

7

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

Financial Analysis Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CORE 1000 Ignite First Year Seminar 1 2
BIZ 1000 Business Foundations 1 1
CMM 1200
Public Speaking 2
or Communicating in Groups and Teams
3
CORE 1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication 1 3
CORE 3800 Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas (MATH 1200, if appropriate) 7 3
 Credits15
Spring
MATH 1320
Survey of Calculus 2, 3
or Calculus I
3
PSY 1010 General Psychology 3
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
BIZ 1100/1002 Business in Action 1
BTM 2000 Introduction to Business Technology Management 3
ECON 1900 Principles of Economics 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
CORE 2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation 0
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
IB 2000 Introduction to International Business (meets University Core Attribute: Global Interdependence) 3
OPM 2070 Introduction to Business Statistics 3
 Credits15
Spring
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
ACCT 2220 Accounting for Decision Making 3
BIZ 3000 Career Foundations 4 1
BTM 2500 Data Modeling, Analysis and Visualization 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
MKT 3000 Introduction to Marketing Management 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 3
PHIL 2050 Ethics (meets University CORE Attribute: Dignity, Ethics & a Just Society) 3
FIN 3010 Principles of Finance 3
MGT 3000 Management Theory and Practice 3
OPM 3050 Introduction to Management Science and Operations Management 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective that Satisfies University Core Attribute: Identities in Context 3
ACCT 3110 Financial Reporting I (Financial Analysis Concentration requirement) 8 3
FIN 3330 Fixed Income Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
FIN 3630 Equity Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
MGT 2000 Legal Environment of Business I 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
CORE 4000 Collaborative Inquiry 3
CORE 4500 Reflection-in-Action 0
ENGL 4000 Professional Writing 3
FIN 4230 Financial Management (Finance Major requirement) 3
FIN 4630 Applied Portfolio Management (Financial Analysis Concentration requirement) 3
ACCT 4110 Financial Reporting II (Financial Analysis Concentration requirement) 8 3
 Credits15
Spring
MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy 6 3
FIN 4650 Derivative Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
Electives in Business or Other Areas 7 7
 Credits13
 Total Credits120
1

Must complete in first 36 credit hours at SLU.

2

Must complete in first 60 credit hours at SLU.

3

MATH 1510 highly recommended.

4

Must take second semester sophomore year unless studying abroad.

6

Must have completed all other Business Common Body of Knowledge courses.

7

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

8

In addition to course prerequisites, a minimum 2.7 cumulative SLU GPA is a prerequisite for 3000 and 4000-level accounting courses.

Real Estate Finance Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CORE 1000 Ignite First Year Seminar 1 2
BIZ 1000 Business Foundations 1 1
CMM 1200
Public Speaking 2
or Communicating in Groups and Teams
3
CORE 1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication 1 3
CORE 3800 Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas (MATH 1200, if appropriate) 7 3
 Credits15
Spring
MATH 1320
Survey of Calculus 2, 3
or Calculus I
3
PSY 1010 General Psychology 3
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
BIZ 1100/1002 Business in Action 1
BTM 2000 Introduction to Business Technology Management 3
ECON 1900 Principles of Economics 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
CORE 2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation 0
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
IB 2000 Introduction to International Business (meets University Core Attribute: Global Interdependence) 3
OPM 2070 Introduction to Business Statistics 3
 Credits15
Spring
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
ACCT 2220 Accounting for Decision Making 3
BIZ 3000 Career Foundations 4 1
BTM 2500 Data Modeling, Analysis and Visualization 3
ECON 3120
Intermediate Macroeconomics
or Intermediate Microeconomics
3
MKT 3000 Introduction to Marketing Management 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 3
PHIL 2050 Ethics (meets University CORE Attribute: Dignity, Ethics & a Just Society) 3
FIN 3010 Principles of Finance 3
MGT 3000 Management Theory and Practice 3
OPM 3050 Introduction to Management Science and Operations Management 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective that Satisfies University Core Attribute: Identities in Context 3
FIN 3330 Fixed Income Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
FIN 3630 Equity Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
MGT 2000 Legal Environment of Business I 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas 7 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
CORE 4000 Collaborative Inquiry 3
CORE 4500 Reflection-in-Action 0
ENGL 4000 Professional Writing 3
FIN 4130
Real Estate (Real Estate Concentration requirement)
or Commercial Real Estate
3
FIN 4230 Financial Management (Finance Major requirement) 3
Elective in Business or Other Areas 7 3
 Credits15
Spring
MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy 6 3
FIN 4130
Real Estate (Real Estate Concentration requirement)
or Commercial Real Estate
3
FIN 4650 Derivative Securities and Markets (Finance Major requirement) 3
Electives in Business or Other Areas 7 4
 Credits13
 Total Credits120
1

Must complete in first 36 credit hours at SLU.

2

Must complete in first 60 credit hours at SLU.

3

MATH 1510 highly recommended.

4

Must take second semester sophomore year unless studying abroad.

6

Must have completed all other Business Common Body of Knowledge courses.

7

General electives may be selected from any area of study within the University, giving the student the opportunity to diversify their experiences.  Students should consider University Undergraduate CORE attribute requirements when selecting electives.

2+SLU programs are formal  transfer agreements for students seeking an associate degree at a partner institution.