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.

MSF Students 2022
10-Month Track
  • 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
MSF Students
16-Month Track
  • 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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6421

Computing for Finance

Summer2

MSF 6221

Finance I: Risk, Return, and Value

Summer2

MSF 6921

Introduction to Python

Summer2

MSF 6031

Financial Accounting

Summer3

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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6222

Finance II: Valuation and Modeling Basics

Fall A2

MSF 6322

Corporate Valuation and Modeling

Fall A2

MSF 6422

Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods I

Fall A2

MSF 6121

Fixed Income and Securities

Fall B2

MSF 6321

Quantitative Portfolio Analysis

Fall B2

MSF 6423

Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods II

Fall B2

MSF 6522

Derivatives and Risk Management

Fall B2

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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6021

Communications for Finance

Spring A2

MSF 6621

Finance within the Macroeconomy

Spring A2

MSF 6223

Corporate and Entrepreneurial Finance

Spring B2

MSF 6424

Machine Learning

Spring B2

MSF 6821

Experiential Learning

Spring A & B 4

N/A

Elective

Spring A & B4

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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6421

Computing for Finance

Summer2

MSF 6221

Finance I: Risk, Return, and Value

Summer2

MSF 6921

Introduction to Python

Summer2

MSF 6031

Financial Accounting

Summer3

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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6222

Finance II: Valuation and Modeling Basics

Fall A2

MSF 6322

Corporate Valuation and Modeling

Fall A2

MSF 6422

Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods I

Fall A2

MSF 6121

Fixed Income and Securities

Fall B2

MSF 6321

Quantitative Portfolio Analysis

Fall B2

MSF 6423

Financial Econometrics and Computational Methods II

Fall B2

MSF 6522

Derivatives and Risk Management

Fall B2

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 NumberCourse TitleTermCredits

MSF 6021

Communications for Finance

Spring A2

MSF 6621

Finance within the Macroeconomy

Spring A2

MSF 6223

Corporate and Entrepreneurial Finance

Spring B2

MSF 6424

Machine Learning

Spring B2

MSF 6821

Experiential Learning

Spring A & B 4

N/A

Elective

Spring A & B4

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.

Thomson Thamsir

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.

Thomson S. Thamsir - Transactions Advisory Services Senior Associate, STOC Advisory

Explore finance courses and specializations

Contact Master of Science in Finance