Financial Economics, BS
Economics and Finance Department
Program Overview
Turn your interest in money and markets into a high-paying career.
The BS in Financial Economics prepares students for high-demand careers in banking, investment banking, real estate, and government. The program features a state-of-the-art Wall Street Trading Lab and readies students for the SIE certification exam. This program offers maximum flexibility—attend classes on campus or complete your degree entirely online.
Major
Description
Are you fascinated by money, stock markets, and how big companies or even the government make financial decisions? If you want a high-paying, exciting career in the world of finance, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Financial Economics is your ticket!
This program teaches you the modern financial theory and tools you need to understand two huge questions:
- How are financial instruments priced? (Think stocks, bonds, and other investments.)
- How do people and companies manage financial risk? (How do they protect their money from big losses?)
You’ll graduate with the skills for major jobs in banking, investment banking, real estate, and government roles. Plus, you’ll be prepared for the important SIE certification exam, giving you a head start in the industry!
Program and Major
Requirements
General Education Requirements (CUNY Common Core & College Option)
These requirements align with the CUNY Common Core and College Option structure:
- Required Core (12 Credits):
- English Composition: ENGL 112 and ENGL 150.
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning: 1 course (e.g., MTH 115).
- Life and Physical Sciences: 1 course (e.g., BIO 101 or PHS 101).
- Flexible Core (18 Credits – 6 Courses): Complete one course in each of the five areas, plus an additional Flexible Core course in any area. No more than two courses from any one discipline are permitted.
- World Cultures and Global Issues
- U.S. Experience in its Diversity
- Creative Expressions
- Individual and Society (e.g., ECON 212 or ECON 213)
- Scientific World (e.g., CIS 101).
- College Option (9 Credits – 3 Courses):
- Socio-Cultural and Diversity Cluster III: 1 course (e.g., SOC 202).
- Integrative Knowledge Cluster IV:
- Socio-Cultural and Diversity Cluster III
- Integrative Knowledge Cluster IV (Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences & Mathematics)
Major Requirements
To earn your B.S. in Financial Economics, you need to complete the following courses. These are the main “ingredients” of your degree!
Required Core Courses (18 Total Courses)
You must complete ALL of the following core courses (78 credits total) to build your foundation in business, economics, and finance
- Accounting: ACCT 217 (Principles of Accounting I), ACCT 227 (Principles of Accounting II)
- Management & Marketing: MAN 200 (Principles of Management), MAR 231 (Essentials of Marketing)
- Computer Applications: CIS 101 (Computer Literacy), CIS 261 (Contemporary Computer Applications)
- Law: LAW 208 (Legal Environmental of Business)
- Introductory Economics: ECON 212 (Introduction to Macroeconomics), ECON 213 (Introduction to Microeconomics)
- Intermediate Economics: ECON 307 (Intermediate Microeconomics Analysis), ECON 309 (Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis), ECON 333 (International Economics)
- Statistics: ECON 316 (Business and Economic Statistics I), ECON 356 (Business and Economic Statistics II) OR ECON 474 (Econometrics and Forecasting)
- Finance: FIN 250 (Introduction to Business Finance), FIN 325 (Corporate Finance), FIN 458 (Financial Management) OR FIN 474 (Computer Modeling in Finance) OR FIN 452 (Analysis of Fixed Income Securities)
- Internship: FIN 401 (Finance Internship) OR ECON 401 (Economics Internship)
Mathematics Electives (Minimum 4 Credits)
You must earn at least 4 credits by choosing one course from the following sequences. This ensures you have the strong math skills needed for financial analysis:
- Options: MTH 141, MTH 151, MTH 202, MTH 203, MTH 241 (See an advisor to choose the right sequence!)
Finance and Economics Electives (Minimum 6 Credits)
You must earn at least 6 credits in other advanced courses in Economics or Finance. This is your chance to focus on an area that really interests you!
Free Electives (Minimum 14 Credits)
You will also take at least 14 credits of courses you choose. These can be used to explore other interests or add a Minor!
Degree Map
The B.S. in Financial Economics is a powerful degree, but it takes careful planning to get all the required classes done on time! The Degree Map (or Course Sequence) below shows you the typical path you’ll take, from your required English and Math courses (like College English I and Intermediate Algebra) to your advanced Finance and Economics classes.