Is there an undergraduate finance major at UC Berkeley?
I'm a current high school junior and I've been researching different universities that offer strong undergraduate programs in finance. I know UC Berkeley is very well-known for business, but I can't seem to find a specific 'finance' major listed for undergrads on their website.
Does anyone know if Berkeley has a finance major or concentration for undergrads? Or is it more of a focus within their business major, like at Haas? Any insight from current students or recent applicants would be super helpful as I’m trying to narrow down my college list.
Does anyone know if Berkeley has a finance major or concentration for undergrads? Or is it more of a focus within their business major, like at Haas? Any insight from current students or recent applicants would be super helpful as I’m trying to narrow down my college list.
1 week ago
•
19 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 1 week ago
Advisor
UC Berkeley does not offer a stand-alone undergraduate finance major. For undergrads interested in finance, the primary option is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through the Haas School of Business. Within the Haas BS program, you can specialize your studies by choosing electives related to finance, such as Corporate Finance, Investment Banking, Financial Modeling, and similar coursework.
Haas students often choose these electives and get involved with finance-related clubs and organizations like the Berkeley Finance Club or the Undergraduate Investment Group. Many students leverage these opportunities to network and land internships in banking, consulting, venture capital, and other finance-related fields.
If your main goal is a finance-heavy undergraduate curriculum, keep in mind that Berkeley's approach is more flexible than some schools with a specific finance major. You build a finance focus by selecting the right electives and extracurriculars after being accepted into Haas. Admission to Haas is separate from the general UC Berkeley application: as a freshman, you apply to the College of Letters & Science with an intended business major, fulfill prerequisites, and then apply to Haas as a sophomore.
For example, a recent Berkeley student interested in finance took core business classes and then focused on classes like Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Investment Strategies. They also interned with a local investment firm during the summer, gaining practical experience outside the classroom.
If you’re open to a broader business education with the possibility to concentrate in finance, Haas is a great option! But if you want a clear, structured finance major from day one, you might want to consider schools where that specific path is available.
Haas students often choose these electives and get involved with finance-related clubs and organizations like the Berkeley Finance Club or the Undergraduate Investment Group. Many students leverage these opportunities to network and land internships in banking, consulting, venture capital, and other finance-related fields.
If your main goal is a finance-heavy undergraduate curriculum, keep in mind that Berkeley's approach is more flexible than some schools with a specific finance major. You build a finance focus by selecting the right electives and extracurriculars after being accepted into Haas. Admission to Haas is separate from the general UC Berkeley application: as a freshman, you apply to the College of Letters & Science with an intended business major, fulfill prerequisites, and then apply to Haas as a sophomore.
For example, a recent Berkeley student interested in finance took core business classes and then focused on classes like Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Investment Strategies. They also interned with a local investment firm during the summer, gaining practical experience outside the classroom.
If you’re open to a broader business education with the possibility to concentrate in finance, Haas is a great option! But if you want a clear, structured finance major from day one, you might want to consider schools where that specific path is available.
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years