Finance Major + Computer Science Minor or Finance Major + More Business Classes?

College Majors Business Major
1

<p>Hi, guys!</p>

<p>I will be a freshman this fall. After spending a year at a local university, I will be transferring to the University of Missouri - Columbia. </p>

<p>I intend to major in finance, but I'm not sure if I should pursue a a minor in computer science. </p>

<p>The courses that I would be taking are: Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming, Algorithm Design and Programming I, Algorithm Design and Programming II, Introduction to Digital Logic Design, Object Oriented Programming, Database Application and Information Systems, and Software Engineering.</p>

<p>I know that programming knowledge is really beneficial to have, but if I do the minor, I will have to take two summer classes and 18-21 hours each semester. That makes it more difficult to intern and I'm not sure I can handle working 20 hours a week and carrying 21 credit hours. </p>

<p>My other option is to only take Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming and Algorithm Design and Programming I. I'll still know something about programming.</p>

<p>I won't have to take summer classes or 21 hours a semester. I will have room for classes such as Marketing Research, Game Theory or Financial Accounting Theory and Practice I.</p>

<p>My dream is to become an investment banking analyst, but because I'm attending Mizzou, that probably isn't going to happen. I'm also interested in securities and global compliance. </p>

<p>I'm thinking about getting my CFA certification too. That's several years away, though. </p>

<p>So, will the computer science minor benefit me or should I stick with more business classes? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Taking 18-21 credits a semester is a good path to burning out. So I wouldn’t do it. Also, for analysis, you really don’t need to have CS. You will do a lot of analysis on spreadsheets with information provided by the IT department.</p>

<p>Also, if you want to learn computer science, get your BS degree and then get your company to pay for computer classes. Hopefully you will work for a company which will have a tuition assistance program.</p>

3

<p>geo1113: Thanks! Would you say that taking Financial Accounting Theory and Practice I and Marketing Research or Game Theory would be more beneficial for what I want to do?</p>

4

<p>Yes. Accounting is always good for analysts and it is not unusual for analyst jobs to ask for GAAP knowledge. Also, my preference would be to take Game Theory over Marketing research. Game Theory deals with strategic decision making. Marketing Research is geared more towards gathering info about markets and customers so it is a part of business strategy.</p>

5

<p>geo1113: I just looked at the syllabus for Financial Accounting Theory and Practice I and it’s restricted to accounting majors. For the finance degree, Mizzou requires Accounting I, Accounting II, and Financial Accounting Concepts.</p>

<p>Would you say that 9 hours would be enough to give me adequate accounting knowledge? </p>

<p>I will make sure I take Game Theory. It seems very helpful.</p>

6

<p>HIC, I have noticed at a numner of schools that it can be tough to get non-major classes. Another thought might be Taxation. Taxes are always come into plkay when making business decisions.</p>

7

<p>Chelsea, did you look onto a MIS minor? This may have a business analyst type of class structure.</p>

<p>Also, does you’re program require electives? If so these courSes might fit multiple requirements. Taking on a minor shouldn’t tack on that much extra. I finished two minors and graduated on time with no summer classes.</p>

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<p>fendergirl: As far as I know, Mizzou doesn’t offer a MIS minor, and it only offers a graduate certificate in accounting information systems. </p>

<p>Yes, the program does require electives. I’m taking some extra economics and finance courses.</p>

9

<p>If you’re planning on CFA/financial analysis, then Comp Sci won’t relate that much to your interests. Know Excel in and out, and learn VBA and maybe SQL if you’re working with financial databases and that’s as far as I think you’ll need from Comp Sci. The rest would be software development/other IT-intesive material that wouldn’t really be beneficial to the kind of work you seem to want to be doing.</p>

10

<p>I think you should choose between these interests rather than lose the opportunity for internships (which are essential). Finance -> CFA is a very good path. So is CSci -> software engineering. If you decide on finance, I think courses in databases, ERP, and other more applied IT topics will be more useful than intensive programming or theory.</p>