MS in Finance Curriculum
A Finance Curriculum Built for Impact
Get more than a master’s degree—gain the tools to lead in finance. Carlson’s MSF program blends immersive learning with cutting-edge financial technology, offering hands-on experiences and flexible completion paths that fit your pace and career ambitions.
Master of Finance Program Structure
The STEM-designated Master of Science in Finance transforms industry theory into practice through immersive, hands-on experiences—including managing investment funds with the Carlson Funds Enterprise. You can customize your journey with flexible timelines and 4 specialized tracks:
- Asset Management
- Corporate Finance
- Healthcare Finance
- Finance Research
Choose between a 10-month or 16-month completion path, with the flexibility to select a specialization for your master’s degree in finance by the end of your second semester. This gives you time to explore your options, consult with career coaches and academic advisors, and make the choice that best aligns with your goals.
- 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 in Finance Courses
Designed for recent graduates and early-career professionals, the MS in Finance program blends finance theory with cutting-edge quantitative and computational skills, preparing you for the rapidly evolving financial landscape. Finance classes provide an intensive, hands-on education to help you gain real-world experience and technical expertise to stand out in the industry.
Curriculum Highlights:
- Rigorous, 39-credit, STEM-designated curriculum
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) affiliation, ensuring your finance classes prepare you 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 financial challenges for real client companies
- Research track option for those interested in an academic path or pursuing a Ph.D.
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) program sets you up for long-term success in the finance industry—upon graduation and beyond. With guidance from expert faculty and access to a built-in network of classmates, alumni, and industry advisors, you'll gain both the knowledge and connections to thrive in your career.
Inside the Classroom: What You'll Learn in a Master’s Degree in Finance Courses
Explore the career possibilities with a Master of Finance that offers expertise through core courses, specialized tracks, and hands-on learning—including experience with the nation’s #2 student-managed investment fund. From corporate finance to asset management and beyond, this Master of Science in Finance program equips you with the skills and real-world exposure needed to excel in the global financial industry.
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.