Finance majors enjoy some of the highest paying jobs in the world. Moreover, finance-related careers are expected to dramatically increase over the next decade.
If you plan to pursue a finance degree in the future, this article is perfect for you. We will go over how hard a finance major is to give you an idea of what to expect.
Is Finance a Hard Major?
Finance is a moderately hard major. Finance is easier than STEM subjects but more difficult than liberal arts majors. Most students find a finance degree difficult because of the moderately complex mathematics involved, the interdisciplinary approach, and the unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary included in the major.
Finance is not only the study of the stock market or money. It is a much more comprehensive subject than that. In fact, finance majors are also required to study economics, maths, accounting, business, and stats alongside finance itself. This interdisciplinary approach makes finance a much more challenging degree.
When comparing finance to other commerce degrees, student reviews suggest that economics and accounting are slightly harder than finance. This is because the complexity of mathematics and the level of analysis required is higher in accounting and economics. On the flip side, business is considered easier than finance.
A finance major provides graduates with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This gives students an edge when applying for jobs upon graduation.
Unfortunately, despite the versatility of a finance degree, employers still demand additional credentials in the form of internships, specialization, and certifications.
Finance is a very mathematics and statistics oriented degree. Learning the quantitative skills required for a finance major is quite a tough task.
Finance jobs are all about understanding, interpreting, and analysing numbers. The maths in a finance major is not very complex but it is present in practically every single course.
Finance is one of the most popular majors as it often leads to high paying jobs. This explains why some of the most talented students want to take up finance in college.
As a result, professors tend to make their classes extra competitive by increasing the difficulty of the course. Otherwise, they would have to hand out an A grade to everyone.
Finance students need to have a broad outlook on several areas to make the best financial decisions. Understanding economics, geopolitical issues, current affairs, global events, markets and sectors, trade deals, and diplomatic relations is crucial to creating a good financial strategy.
Professors expect their students to read around the subject which makes finance a relatively challenging major.
How Hard is a Finance Degree?
A finance degree is moderately hard to pursue. Although finance courses require maths and analysis; they are not very complex or challenging at the bachelor’s level. The difficulty of a finance degree depends on the compulsory core courses, the advanced courses you select, and the overall difficulty of your university.
Top tier universities tend to attract the brightest students. As a result, universities need to make their courses more difficult. Hence, you can expect more difficult and mathematically rigorous classes from higher-ranked universities.
Similar to other degrees, a finance major requires 10-15 mandatory core courses. These lessons are the foundation of a finance degree. They go over the basics and provide students with the tools and knowledge to take more advanced courses in their senior years.
A finance major typically has the following core courses:
- Principles of Financial Accounting
- Principles of Managerial Accounting
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Statistics for Business and Economics
- Information Systems
- Calculus I
- Foundations of Business Analytics
- Operations Management
- Business Ethics
- Business Law I
- Financial Management
- Organizational Behaviour
- Strategic Management
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- Investments
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Financial Statement Analysis
The rest of your classes will compose of general electives and advanced finance courses. General electives serve the purpose of broadening the students’ perspective, increasing their knowledge of different subjects, helping them learn critical thinking and communication skills, and advancing cultural diversity in society.
Finally, the advanced courses build on the knowledge of core classes. These finance courses are quite difficult, math-intensive, and require strong analytical skills. You should use the advanced courses to your advantage by selecting them based on your strengths, interests, and career goals. Generally, the more quantitative courses will provide the most benefits career-wise.
For the most part, a finance degree is not a particularly difficult one. Initially, students struggle with the unfamiliar terms and mathematics involved in the degree. Over time, however, most students can develop an understanding of finance and through consistent revision, they manage to do well.
Can I Major in Finance If I am Bad at Math?
You can major in finance if you are bad at math provided you are willing to improve your mathematical abilities. The maths in a finance major is not overly complex but it is present throughout. Since finance is quite a math-oriented subject you should devote some extra time to improve your math abilities.
If you have no issues with middle school maths then you should definitely take a finance major as long as you are willing to put in the extra work. A command over middle school math is a strong indication that your understanding of the rudiments of math is good.
However, if you struggle with elementary and middle school math, finance might not be your major. You should look at some financial books and courses to get an idea of the complexity of the maths involved before you enrol yourself on finance.
Is Finance Harder Than Accounting?
Finance is not harder than accounting. The reason accounting is more difficult than finance is because accounting is very detailed, rigid, abstract, and requires a lot of math. Finance on the other hand is less math-oriented and rigorous. These factors make finance an easier major than accounting.
Is Finance Harder Than Economics?
Finance is not harder than economics. Economics is more difficult because it is more complex, abstract, theoretical, and mathematical. Finance requires a lot of math as well; however, the math involved in a finance major is not overly complex. These factors make an economics major harder than finance.
Conclusion
Finance is a great major especially if you can apply what you have learnt in college. Finance is a moderately difficult major; easier than STEM subjects but harder than most other humanities and liberal arts degrees. More often than not finance majors make fabulous careers with their degrees.
Finance may be an excellent choice for some individuals but a poor one for others. Whatever degree you plan to graduate in, make sure it is a well thought out decision.
