Finance, Master of Science
The Master of Science in Finance is a 36-credit, fully online program designed for students interested in developing and improving their professional competencies and skills in various finance related disciplines to increase their marketability. The program has a well-designed and rigorous curriculum with a focus on international perspectives and a strong commitment to the high ethical standards required in the finance field. The program provides students with state-of-the-art skills and the knowledge necessary to compete in an increasingly challenging business environment. Additionally, as an affiliated university program1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA)®, a significant portion of the core curriculum, with appropriate electives, covers the Institute’s Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK)®.
The program is ideal for those working or planning to work in the following areas:
- Commercial and retail banking
- Investment banking
- Security analysis and brokerage
- Corporate finance, venture capital and corporate restructuring
- Security trading and risk management
- Financial services and consulting
- Government financial auditors
- Financial information systems and data providers
Program Design
This program is delivered through online instruction, providing flexibility and convenience for working professionals and adult learners. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule. Full-time enrollment for students who want to complete the program in 20 months requires enrolling in 9 credits in the fall and spring terms and 3 to 6 credits during the summer terms. Part-time students may complete the program in 24-27 months.
Program Delivery and Tuition Rate
This master’s program is delivered through online courses and is billed at the non-MBA rate.
Course Materials Fee
The MS in Finance program requires access to online financial data. The School for Graduate Studies will provide access to this data via Thomson Reuters Eikon web application for a fee of $130, charged at the time of course registrations.
- ®
The Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) is a registered trademark owned by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA).
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Completion of the MS in Finance program does not guarantee acceptance into or passage of any of CFA Institute’s programs.
Admission
Admission to the M.S. in Finance program is selective. This program begins new students in the fall and spring terms only. In addition to completing the graduate application, acceptable candidates should have the following academic prerequisites in addition to a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field from an accredited university or college:
- 3 credits of financial accounting
- 3 – 6 credits of economics (micro or macro)
- 3 credits of statistics
- 3 credits of management information systems or demonstrated equivalent experience
Application
Please see the Graduate Admission section of this catalog for a complete listing of materials required to complete a graduate application.
Program Curriculum
The MS in Finance program's curriculum consists of foundation courses, advanced core courses, electives and the final capstone. Students must choose four elective courses to reflect their interests and to reinforce the individual focus of their degree. To satisfy this requirement, students may choose one of the two available concentrations1 below or may even wish to incorporate one of the advanced graduate certificates (12 credits) into their master’s degree as their focus area.2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION COURSES | ||
| FSMA 6010 | Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| FSMA 6015 | Financial Economics | 3 |
| MGMT 6016 | Financial Management | 3 |
| ADVANCED CORE COURSES | ||
| FSMA 6020 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| FSMA 6025 | Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 6075 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| FSMA 7015 | Strategies of Financial Management | 3 |
| ELECTIVES | 12 | |
| Corporate Finance concentration | ||
| Financial Risk Management | ||
| Mergers & Acquisitions | ||
| Money Banking & Financial Institutions | ||
| Financial Analysis & Control | ||
| International Finance concentration | ||
| International Accounting | ||
| International Financial Law & Regulation | ||
| Economics for Global Managers | ||
| Financial Instruments & Derivatives | ||
| CAPSTONE | ||
| FSMA 7020 | Global Financial Strategy | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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Concentrations are not required, and students may wish to pick electives from different subject areas.
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Students wishing to receive a certificate must apply and be accepted into a certificate program.
Enrollment Sequence (part-time)
The following suggested enrollment sequence is based on a fall term start, half-time schedule.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| FSMA 6010 | Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 6016 | Financial Management | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FSMA 6015 | Financial Economics | 3 |
| FSMA 6020 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| FSMA 7015 | Strategies of Financial Management | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FSMA 6025 | Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 6075 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective 4 | 3 | |
| FSMA 7020 | Global Financial Strategy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Enrollment Sequence (full-time)
The following suggested enrollment sequence is based on a fall term start, full-time schedule.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| FSMA 6010 | Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 6016 | Financial Management | 3 |
| FSMA 6020 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| FSMA 6015 | Financial Economics | 3 |
| FSMA 6025 | Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 6075 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| FSMA 7015 | Strategies of Financial Management | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective 4 | 3 | |
| FSMA 7020 | Global Financial Strategy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Disciplinary Knowledge: Integrate core functional knowledge and quantitative methods in the areas of financial management, financial economics, investment analysis, international financial management, and financial management strategies to facilitate sound organizational, financing and investment decision-making processes;
- Strategic Thinking: Critically and strategically think using appropriate financial management skills to facilitate effective decision-making processes;
- Leadership: Manage organizational processes and transformational change effectively through well-developed organizational skills and roles;
- Ethical Reasoning: Evaluate theory and tools necessary for sound ethical reasoning;
- Global Understanding: Assess the challenges associated with managing and operating effectively in a global financial environment for supporting organizational goals;
- Managerial Communication: Communicate effectively orally and in writing across managerial contexts and with diverse stakeholders; and
- Teamwork: Contribute effectively to the achievement of organizational financial goals in a team environment.