Major Description

The finance curriculum at Kellogg provides students with a knowledge base and a set of practical tools that are essential to a variety of careers as well as personal investing. Many of the students that major in finance intend to pursue careers in finance. These range from the investment side of finance (asset management for large institutions or for family offices, real estate investing, private wealth management) to the corporate finance side of finance (CFO, investment banking, private equity, venture capital, restructuring). A number of students who are not pursuing a finance career also major in finance (consulting, entrepreneurship, product manager).

The curriculum begins by building the basic tools of finance and intuition you will need for your career and the advanced courses in Finance I and II (or Accelerated Corporate Finance). The advanced courses allow you to focus and provide practice applying the mechanics and intuition to increasingly complex and real-world applications. The department also offers a set of experiential courses that let you practice in non-classroom environments.

The major requirements and links to descriptions of each course are listed below. Students interested in accelerating their finance studies can find information on class waivers here. If you have additional questions, reach out to the finance faculty.

Major requirements are determined by the quarter you began your Kellogg MBA program. Any new courses and adjustments to the major displayed in the most recent academic year can be applied to previously matriculated students.

Please click on the relevant time period below to confirm your specific requirements:

Summer 2022 - Spring 2023

In addition to completing or waiving the core course requirements for the MBA, students must earn at least FOUR Finance course credits that include one course credit from the following list of Corporate Finance courses:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

and one course credit from the following list of Capital Markets courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-450-0
Capital Markets
FINC-465-0 Derivatives Markets
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
The remaining two required credits can be completed with any combination of half and full credit courses listed with the prefix FINC, but NO MORE THAN ONE ofthe lab courses FINC-615, FINC-639, FINC-910 may count towards the Finance major. Field Study and Independent Study courses FINC-498, FINC-499 may NOT count toward the Finance major.

Last edited June 2, 2022. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2021 - Spring 2022

In addition to completing or waiving the core course requirements for the MBA, students must earn at least FOUR Finance course credits that include one course credit from the following list of Corporate Finance courses:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

and one course credit from the following list of Capital Markets courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-450-0
Capital Markets
FINC-465-0 Derivatives Markets
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
The remaining two required credits can be completed with any combination of half and full credit courses listed with the prefix FINC, but NO MORE THAN ONE ofthe lab courses FINC-615, FINC-639, FINC-910 may count towards the Finance major. Field Study and Independent Study courses FINC-498, FINC-499 may NOT count toward the Finance major.

Last edited March 3, 2022. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2020 - Spring 2021

In addition to completing or waiving the core course requirements for the MBA, students must earn at least FOUR Finance course credits that include ONE course credit from the following list of Corporate Finance courses:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

and at least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-450-0
Capital Markets
FINC-465-0 Derivatives Markets
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
In addition to the above requirements, all remaining credits can be fulfilled with any combination of half and full credit courses listed with the prefix FINC.

NO MORE than one of 
the lab courses FINC-615, FINC-639, FINC 910 may count towards the Finance major.

Last edited May 14, 2021. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2019 - Spring 2020

A student must earn at least FOUR credits (in any combination of half-and full-credit courses) from the courses listed below to complete the major. Only one Lab credit can count toward the major.

ONE course credit from the following list:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

At least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-450-0
Capital Markets
FINC-465-0 Derivative Markets
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets

TWO ADDITIONAL COURSE CREDITS from the Capital Markets courses listed above or from the following list, except that only one of the lab courses FINC-615, FINC-639, or FINC 910 may count towards the major:

FINC-442-0 Financial Decisions
FINC-445-0 Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
FINC-447-0 Financial Strategy and Tax
FINC-448-0 M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
FINC-454-0 Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-455-0 Applied Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-456-0
Asset Management Practicum I
FINC-457-0
Asset Management Practicum II
FINC-458-0
Asset Management Practicum III
FINC-459-0
Asset Management Practicum IV
FINC-461-0 Investment Banking
FINC-472-0
Wall Street, Hedge Funds and Private Equity
FINC-477-0
Global Entrepreneurial Finance
FINC-478-5
Financial Modeling for Leveraged Buyout Transactions
FINC-484-5 Managing Firms for Shareholders and Society: Thought Leadership Seminar
FINC-615-0 Venture Lab (V-Lab)
FINC-639-0
Private Equity Lab (PE Lab)
FINC-910-0
Asset Management Lab
FINC-946-0 Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance
FINC-965-5 Blockchain Technology, Digital Assets, and the Future of Finance
FINC-980-5 Venture Investing (San Francisco Immersion Program Only)
FINC-982-5 Advanced Topics in Venture Investing (San Francisco Immersion Program Only)

Last edited July 25, 2019. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2018 - Spring 2019

A student must earn at least FOUR credits (in any combination of half-and full-credit courses) from the courses listed below to complete the major. Only one Lab credit can count toward the major.

ONE course credit from the following list:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

At least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-451-0 Money Markets and the Fed
FINC-465-0 Derivative Markets
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
FINC-950-0 Capital Markets

TWO ADDITIONAL COURSE CREDITS from the Capital Markets courses listed above or from the following list, except that only one of the lab courses FINC-615 and FINC-639 may count towards the major:

FINC-442-0 Financial Decisions
FINC-445-0 Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
FINC-447-0 Financial Strategy and Tax
FINC-448-0 M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
FINC-454-0 Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-455-0 Applied Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-461-0 Investment Banking
FINC-463-0 Securities Analysis
FINC-484-5 Thought Leadership Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Finance
FINC-615-0 Venture Lab (V-Lab)
FINC-931-0 Wall Street, Hedge Funds and Private Equity
FINC-456-0 Asset Management Practicum I
FINC-457-0 Asset Management Practicum II
FINC-458-0 Asset Management Practicum III
FINC-459-0 Asset Management Practicum IV
FINC-639-0 Private Equity Lab
FINC-940-5 Financial Modeling for Leveraged Buyout Transactions
FINC-477-0 Global Entrepreneurial Finance
FINC-946-0 Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance
 FINC-910-0 Asset Management Lab

Last edited July 20, 2018. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2017 - Spring 2018

A student must earn at least FOUR credits (in any combination of half-and full-credit courses) from the courses listed below to complete the major. Only one Lab credit can count toward the major.

ONE course credit from the following list:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

At least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-451-0 Money Markets and the Fed
FINC-465-0 Derivative Markets I
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-473-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets (formerly designated FINC-941)
FINC-950-0 Capital Markets

TWO ADDITIONAL COURSE CREDITS from the Capital Markets courses listed above or from the following list, except that only one of the lab courses FINC-915 and FINC-939 may count towards the major:

FINC-442-0 Financial Decisions
FINC-445-0 Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
FINC-447-0 Financial Strategy and Tax
FINC-448-0 M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
FINC-454-0 Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-455-0 Applied Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-461-0 Investment Banking
FINC-463-0 Securities Analysis
FINC-484-5 Thought Leadership Seminar (formerly designated FINC-484-A)
FINC-915-0 Venture Lab
FINC-931-0 Wall Street, Hedge Funds and Private Equity
FINC-456-0 Asset Management Practicum I (formerly designated FINC-933)
FINC-457-0 Asset Management Practicum II (formerly designated FINC-934)
FINC-458-0 Asset Management Practicum III (formerly designated FINC-935)
FINC-459-0 Asset Management Practicum IV (formerly designated FINC-936)
FINC-939-0 Private Equity Lab
FINC-940-5 Financial Modeling for Leveraged Buyout Transactions
FINC-477-0 Global Entrepreneurial Finance (formerly designated FINC-945)
FINC-946-0 Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance

Last edited July 15, 2017. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2016 - Spring 2017

A student must earn at least FOUR credits (in any combination of half-and full-credit courses) from the courses listed below to complete the major. Only one Lab credit can count toward the major.

ONE course credit from the following list:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

At least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-451-0 Money Markets and the Fed
FINC-460-0 Investments
FINC-464-0 Fixed Income Securities
FINC-465-0 Derivative Markets I
FINC-467-0 Derivative Markets II
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-941-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
FINC-950-0 Capital Markets
FINC-970-0 Empirical Methods in Finance

TWO additional course credits from the Capital Market courses listed above OR from the following list:

FINC-442-0 Financial Decisions
FINC-445-0 Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
FINC-447-0 Financial Strategy and Tax
FINC-448-0 M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
FINC-454-0 Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-455-0 Applied Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-461-0 Investment Banking
FINC-463-0 Securities Analysis
FINC-484-5 Thought Leadership Seminar
FINC-915-0 Venture Lab
FINC-931-0 Wall Street, Hedge Funds and Private Equity
FINC-933-0 Asset Management Practicum I
FINC-934-0 Asset Management Practicum II
FINC-935-0 Asset Management Practicum III
FINC-936-0 Asset Management Practicum IV
FINC-937-0 Microfinance & the Role of Financial Institutions in Development (currently inactive)
FINC-939-0 Private Equity Lab
FINC-940-5 Financial Modeling for Leveraged Buyout Transactions
FINC-945-0 Global Entrepreneurial Finance
FINC-946-0 Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance

Last edited December 2016. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Summer 2015 - Spring 2016

A student must earn at least FOUR credits (in any combination of half-and full-credit courses) from the courses listed below to complete the major. Only one Lab credit can count toward the major.

ONE course credit from the following list:

FINC-431-0 Finance II
FINC-440-0 Accelerated Corporate Finance

At least ONE course credit from the following list of Capital Market courses:

FINC-444-0 Value Investing
FINC-451-0 Money Markets and the Fed
FINC-460-0 Investments
FINC-464-0 Fixed Income Securities
FINC-465-0 Derivative Markets I
FINC-467-0 Derivative Markets II
FINC-470-0 International Finance
FINC-941-0 Macroeconomic Policy and Global Capital Markets
FINC-950-0 Capital Markets
FINC-970-0 Empirical Methods in Finance

TWO additional course credits from the Capital Market courses listed above OR from the following list:

FINC-442-0 Financial Decisions
FINC-445-0 Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
FINC-447-0 Financial Strategy and Tax
FINC-448-0 M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
FINC-454-0 Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-455-0 Applied Real Estate Finance and Investments
FINC-461-0 Investment Banking
FINC-463-0 Securities Analysis
FINC-484-5 Thought Leadership Seminar
FINC-915-0 Venture Lab
FINC-931-0 Wall Street, Hedge Funds and Private Equity
FINC-933-0 Asset Management Practicum I
FINC-934-0 Asset Management Practicum II
FINC-935-0 Asset Management Practicum III
FINC-936-0 Asset Management Practicum IV
FINC-937-0 Microfinance & the Role of Financial Institutions in Development (currently inactive)
FINC-939-0 Private Equity Lab
FINC-940-5 Financial Modeling for Leveraged Buyout Transactions
FINC-945-0 Global Entrepreneurial Finance
FINC-946-0 Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance

Last edited December 2016. For any questions regarding this page, please email kellogg-registrar@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Academics

Discover more about the depth and breadth of our academic offerings.

Finance Major

Features two areas of study, Corporate Finance and Capital Markets, to prepare students for such career paths as investment banking, consulting, corporate finance, investment management and private equity.

Venture Capital and Private Equity Pathway

The VC/PE pathway is a tailored academic path that enables students to build the expertise and tools necessary to successfully navigate venture capital and private equity.

Real Estate Pathway

The Real Estate pathway is an academic path which provides students both foundational tools to analyze real estate transactions, as well as depth of knowledge on the specific institutions of the market.

Asset Management Practicum

At the core of the Asset Management Practicum is a yearlong experiential learning course sequence in which students manage a portfolio and are responsible for analyzing investments, making asset allocation decisions, trading, risk monitoring, and performance evaluation.

Labs

Turn theory into practice by consulting with businesses and non-profit organizations to address the real-world challenges they face daily. Labs include Global Lab, Risk Lab, Analytical Consulting Lab and Scaling Operations Lab.

Clubs

Check out our student-led clubs to get more involved in the areas of finance.

Kellogg Finance Alumni

Lex Leeming '02

Partner & Head of Business Development, NexPhase Capital

"Strategic thinking, teamwork and analytical rigor all come to mind when considering my time at Kellogg. But the concept that I have most effectively employed in my career has been Emotional Intelligence; respecting the desires and needs of others in order to achieve superior group outcomes."

Curt Brockelman '96

Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Harvest Volatility Management

"The team concept of finding people with different strengths and bringing them together to grow intellectually and economically is a concept Kellogg taught me, and I have relied on it throughout my business career."

Scott Shay '80

Chairman of the Board, Signature Bank

"At Kellogg, I learned how to combine the most sophisticated corporate finance concepts with real-world practicality. 30+ years into my career, I am still grateful for the solid grounding I received from Kellogg."

Mark Fischer '05

Head of Research, Pericles Capital Advisors

"Even the best, well-thought-out business plan needs to adjust for market changes. My success in starting a fund came from my willingness to change the traditional model. Kellogg's collaborative learning environment taught me to listen to and learn from my peers — a skill I use to give potential investors the product they want."

Dado Slezak '16

Hedge Fund Associate at Brookfield Investment Management, Inc

"The opportunity to test the classroom theories in experiential settings — where we dynamically discussed our analyses of good and bad investments, and challenged each other on our assumptions and biases — put me a step ahead in recruiting and career launch."

Jim Simmons '96

Partner, Ares Management

"Kellogg was instrumental in laying the foundation for my professional development and growth as an investment professional. The strength and depth of the finance department was a critical factor in providing opportunities for intellectual exploration in pursuit of a career in private equity."