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Research Track

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MS in Finance Research Track Overview

The Carlson School of Management’s Master of Science in Finance Research Track provides students with the research skills needed to obtain research-oriented jobs or gain admission to a PhD program in finance. 

  • MS in Finance Research Track students will complete the existing MS in Finance core curriculum alongside traditional MS in Finance students and have access to the same student advising, career coaching, and clubs.
  • Students will complete the experiential learning requirements by completing a research project with Carlson School faculty and an elective course.

Students can complete the program in 10 or 16 months based on personal goals and preferences.

Program Structure

The MS in Finance Research Track curriculum requires students to complete the existing core curriculum: 23 credits of shared courses, eight credits of PhD finance courses, two credits of other finance courses, and six credits of electives.

Summer Semester

MSF 6031 - Financial Accounting (3 credits)

MSF 6221 - Finance I: Risk, Return, and Value (2 credits)

MSF 6421 - Computing for Finance (2 credits)

MSF 6921 - Introduction to Python (2 credits)

Fall Semester

Spring Semester
A Term B Term A Term B Term

MSF 6222
Finance II: Cash Flows, Managerial Decisions, and Project Valuation
(2 credits)

MSF 6423
Financial Econometrics II
(2 credits)
(required course only for research track)

MSF 6621
Finance within the Macroeconomy
(2 credits)

MSF 6223
Corporate and Entrepreneurial Finance
(2 credits)

MSF 6422
Financial Econometrics I
(2 credits)

MSF 6522/6121/6321
2 courses from Derivatives and Risk Management, Fixed Income, and Quantitative Portfolio Analysis
(4 credits)

FINA 88XX
PhD Intermediate Course I
(2 credits)

MSF 6821
Experiential Learning: Research with Faculty
(2 credits)

FINA 88XX
PhD Intro Course I
(2 credits)

FINA 88XX
PhD Intro Course II
(2 credits)

2  Electives
(4 credits)

 FINA 88XX
PhD Intermediate Course II
(2 credits)

 

     Elective
(2 credits)

Research Track Admissions

The admissions process and application deadlines for the MS in Finance Research Track are the same as for the MS in Finance program. The only additional item Research Track students will complete as part of the application process is a personal statement of why they want to pursue a research track. The rest of the application process is the same as for traditional MS in Finance applicants. 


Start an Application View Application Requirements

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Research Track is built upon the business foundation of the MS in Finance curriculum. The Research Track is 39 credits and requires 23 credits of shared courses, eight credits of PhD finance courses, two credits of other finance courses, and six credits of electives.

Candidates will select the MS in Finance Research Track at the time of application. When opening the online application, applicants will choose Finance MS—Research Track instead of MS in Finance as their program of interest. The application round deadlines and admission decision release dates are the same as those for the MS in Finance program. Review application deadlines.

Yes. All applicants are reviewed for eligible scholarships as part of the Admissions Committee review process. If you are awarded a merit-based scholarship, information about your award will be issued in conjunction with your admissions decision.

Students must choose between the Research Track or traditional MS in Finance program at the time of application and should not apply for both programs. Transferring back and forth between programs is not permitted.

No, this option is not available for dual degree students.

Finance Specializations