Finance, M.S.

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is a 30-credit graduate program designed to meet the needs of a distinct type of professional in the finance industry. The MSF develops the ability of students whose career goals include specialist, technical, and management roles in financial enterprises. The program accomplishes its mission by developing student expertise in financial instruments, financial technology, financial analysis and financial management. Positive program outcomes will be achieved through the knowledge and skills the students will acquire from a comprehensive curriculum design, instruction in an effective learning environment, opportunities for inquiry, and professional development. This program largely leverages our existing offerings.

Students learn concepts in risk, finance, investments, and analytics that provide the basis for careers in finance. Students also develop the technical and quantitative skills needed to pursue a variety of careers in the finance industry. While more specific and analytical in nature, these learning outcomes are in line with our institutional mission, and our MBA program .

Students will learn how to evaluate and price a financial opportunity. They will learn how to gauge the appropriate level of risk to discount future projections. They will learn how to compare across investment opportunities at a given time and how to allocate among them in an optimal way. They will learn how to create useful tools for answering financial questions so that reports could be generated automatically and progress can be tracked. They will learn how to both assess and manage risk. Most importantly and most generally, they will learn how to solve financial problems with finely honed problem-solving skills via analytical capabilities and data-driven decision-making.

Program characteristics

Although students with work experience will find maximum benefit from the MSF, no previous work experience is required. The curriculum is designed to recognize and accommodate substantial diversity in preparation and experience as well as the different goals and career expectations of students. For this reason, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework to successfully graduate from the 30-credit MSF program. Flexible course delivery enables students to proceed at their desired pace. Most students complete the MSF program in 18 to 24 months.

Progression/sequence of coursework

Preparatory coursework is the first step. In some cases, students may take a combination of preparatory and core courses during their transition into the program. Students begin the formal MSF program by completing the eight core courses (in any order). The Capstone courses should be taken in the final semester, or final two semesters.

STEM designation

The MSF is classified by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) degree.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate

1. proficient technical knowledge in all the areas of finance (financial statement analysis, corporate finance, equity investments, fixed income, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio investment),
2. proficient knowledge in quantitative methods,
3. understanding in ethical and professional standards, and
4. basic knowledge in both micro- and macroeconomics.

2. Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in oral and written structures in both formal and informal settings.
3. Contribute within diverse sets of teams and build internal and external relationships that facilitate success in contemporary organizations via interpersonal and professional skills.
4. Apply information literacy, proficiency with technology, and analytical techniques for ethical/effective/efficient decision-making.
5. Address current issues and case studies using creativity and methods for problem identification/solutions. 
6. Act with integrity as an individual and apply ethical theories to contemporary organizations/topics.
7. Think critically and logically by integrating concepts across disciplines to successfully lead in a dynamic international/global environment.

Eligibility for transfer credits in the 30-credit upper-level program courses

For students with graduate coursework from a regionally accredited university: No more than two (graduate) courses may be transferred into the MSF program. For students who have earned graduate credit from the Trefz School that is not included in a conferred degree: all applicable (graduate) 3-credit courses may be transferred into the MSF program.

MBA/MS MSA/MSF dual-degree programs

Students the are offered the opportunity to acquire concurrent graduate degrees within the Trefz School, allowing up to 15 credit hours to be applied to both programs. (Students must not be eligible to graduate from either program until the final semester.) A minimum of 45 credit hours must be completed to satisfy the requirements of an MS Analytics/MS Finance dual-degree program, and a minimum of 51 credit hours must be completed to satisfy the requirements of an MBA/MS dual-degree program.

The BUCP 599  Capstone course is available for dual-degree students with the following modification; students may complete a 3-credit internship and one 1-credit in each program.

Graduation requirements 

To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Finance, a student must fulfill the following minimum requirements:

1. Admitted to candidacy for the degree in the School of Business.
2. Satisfactorily complete all academic requirements with a cumulative grade point average grade of “B” (CGPA = 3.0) or bet­ter.
3. File an application for the award of the degree at the Registrar’s Office on or be­fore the date published in the University calendar.
4. Complete all academic requirements within five (5) years from the date of first registration, unless a petition for extension is granted. Extensions are granted only for compelling reasons.