MS in Finance Curriculum
Program Structure
Choose to complete the program in 10 or 16 months based on your personal goals and preferences. You have until the end of the second semester of the program to choose your track or specialization, leaving time to consult with your career coach and academic advisor before deciding.
- Complete the program in May
- Default curriculum option
- Return to full-time job market quickly
- Ideal if you have previous internship and/or full-time work experience in finance
- Complete the program in December
- Additional summer and fall semester
- Option to spread out class schedule
- Flexibility for summer finance internship
- Internship assistance from Graduate Business Career Center
- Recommended if you are joining the program directly after undergrad studies, pivoting from another career area, or would like to further boost your resumes before graduation
What you'll learn
Designed for recent graduates and early-career professionals, the MS in Finance curriculum marries the essentials of education in finance theory with the quantitative and computational skills now driving the field, along with intensive practical application throughout.
The Carlson MSF program is recognized by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security as a STEM-designated program.
Curriculum Highlights:
- Rigorous, 39-credit, STEM-designated curriculum
- CFA affiliation, ensuring classes prepare students for the CFA exam (optional)
- Technical skill-building courses: Intro to Python Programming, Computing for Finance, Machine Learning for Finance, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Their Business Applications
- Use of programming languages, software, and databases: Python, MATLAB, Stata, Excel VBA, ModelRisk, Bloomberg, Factset, CRSP, Compustat, among others
- Intensive experiential learning component analyzing real financial challenges for real client companies
This comprehensive Summer Semester will equip you with essential quantitative and analytical skills, a solid foundation in finance theory and risk management, programming proficiency in Python, and a deep understanding of financial accounting principles.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6421 | Computing for Finance | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6221 | Finance I: Risk, Return, and Value | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6921 | Introduction to Python | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6031 | Financial Accounting | Summer | 3 |
The rigorous Fall curriculum will deepen your expertise in financial modeling, quantitative analysis, portfolio construction, and risk mitigation strategies, preparing you for a successful career in investment management, corporate finance, or related quantitative fields.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6222 | Finance II: Valuation and Modeling Basics | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6322 | Corporate Valuation and Modeling | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6422 | Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods I | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6121 | Fixed Income and Securities | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6321 | Quantitative Portfolio Analysis | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6423 | Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods II | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6522 | Derivatives and Risk Management | Fall B | 2 |
Note: Domestic students completing the 16-month program option will complete their 4 credit electives in the second fall semester.
International students completing the 16-month program will take their 4 credit electives and 2 credits of required coursework in Fall 2023 to retain their full-time status. International students should discuss with the Academic Director which required course should be delayed until their second fall semester.
The well-rounded Spring curriculum will refine your communication abilities, provide insights into macroeconomic factors influencing financial decisions, explore advanced corporate finance strategies, introduce cutting-edge machine learning techniques, and offer hands-on experiential learning opportunities to solidify your finance expertise.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6021 | Communications for Finance | Spring A | 2 |
MSF 6621 | Finance within the Macroeconomy | Spring A | 2 |
MSF 6223 | Corporate and Entrepreneurial Finance | Spring B | 2 |
MSF 6424 | Machine Learning | Spring B | 2 |
MSF 6821 | Experiential Learning | Spring A & B | 4 |
N/A | Elective | Spring A & B | 4 |
This comprehensive Summer Semester will equip you with essential quantitative and analytical skills, a solid foundation in finance theory and risk management, programming proficiency in Python, and a deep understanding of financial accounting principles.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6421 | Computing for Finance | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6221 | Finance I: Risk, Return, and Value | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6921 | Introduction to Python | Summer | 2 |
MSF 6031 | Financial Accounting | Summer | 3 |
The rigorous Fall curriculum will deepen your expertise in financial modeling, quantitative analysis, portfolio construction, and risk mitigation strategies, preparing you for a successful career in investment management, corporate finance, or related quantitative fields.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6222 | Finance II: Valuation and Modeling Basics | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6322 | Corporate Valuation and Modeling | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6422 | Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods I | Fall A | 2 |
MSF 6121 | Fixed Income and Securities | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6321 | Quantitative Portfolio Analysis | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6423 | Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods II | Fall B | 2 |
MSF 6522 | Derivatives and Risk Management | Fall B | 2 |
Note: Domestic students completing the 16-month program option will complete their 4 credit electives in the second fall semester.
International students completing the 16-month program will take their 4 credit electives and 2 credits of required coursework in Fall 2023 to retain their full-time status. International students should discuss with the Academic Director which required course should be delayed until their second fall semester.
The well-rounded Spring curriculum will refine your communication abilities, provide insights into macroeconomic factors influencing financial decisions, explore advanced corporate finance strategies, introduce cutting-edge machine learning techniques, and offer hands-on experiential learning opportunities to solidify your finance expertise.
| Course Number | Course Title | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
MSF 6021 | Communications for Finance | Spring A | 2 |
MSF 6621 | Finance within the Macroeconomy | Spring A | 2 |
MSF 6223 | Corporate and Entrepreneurial Finance | Spring B | 2 |
MSF 6424 | Machine Learning | Spring B | 2 |
MSF 6821 | Experiential Learning | Spring A & B | 4 |
N/A | Elective | Spring A & B | 4 |
Master of Science in Finance Curriculum & Faculty
The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) faculty and curriculum prepares you to succeed in finance careers after graduation and beyond.
In my current role as a Transactions Advisory Services Senior Associate at STOC Advisory, I intensively use the advanced financial modeling skills that I have learned in the program daily, conducting financial due diligence specifically on Quality of Earnings and Purchasing Price Allocation analyses of prospective target companies in the mergers and acquisitions landscape.