Master Science in Finance, M.S.

Brian Adams, Ph.D., director

Degree Outcomes

Master of science in finance programs are designed to provide specialized skills for those interested in careers in corporate finance, investments, financial analysis, and/or risk management. The master of science in finance program has a rigorous and quantitative curriculum in finance that integrates theories and applications from economics, accounting, mathematics, strategy, and other fields.

Admission Requirements

Master of science in finance applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland. Admissions guidelines include a preferred index of 1240 or higher. This index is the sum of the applicant’s Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and 200 times the applicant’s undergraduate grade point average (G.P.A.) on a four-point scale. Preferred admissions standards are a score of 600 on the GMAT and an undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) can be accepted in place of the GMAT exam. The minimum GRE score must be equivalent to earning 600 on the GMAT using the comparison tool. Admission may be considered for those not strictly meeting these criteria but having extensive work experience in finance. Admission to the M.S.F. program is based on the entire application, including two letters of recommendation, a statement of goals, and a resume, not merely quantitative factors. It is strongly recommended that applicants have at least three to four years of professional experience after their bachelor’s degree to fully benefit from the program. Application requirements may be subject to change.

Applicants whose native language is not English or who did not complete their degree at a university where all courses were taught in English must achieve a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 88 iBT (internet-based test) or 570 (paper-based) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 7.0. See the M.B.A. program director for specific requirements.

Learning Goals and Objectives for Master of Science in Finance

Students who successfully complete all requirements for a master of science in finance should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the core of finance knowledge. M.S.F. graduates will be able to demonstrate competency in the key fields of corporate finance, investments, banking and financial institutions, and risk management when they apply the knowledge in the required courses to solve finance problems. M.S.F. graduates will be able to integrate the knowledge in the finance subfields to solve complex problems.
2. Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking skills. M.S.F. graduates will possess highly developed analytical and critical thinking skills needed by upper-level finance managers. M.S.F. graduates will be skilled in building and analyzing financial reports. They will be able to identify and evaluate complex financial problems by integrating the skills learned in the core finance area. M.S.F. graduates will be skilled to craft and implement strategic and tactical financial plans.
3. Demonstrate research skills necessary to study complex financial/economic problems. M.S.F. graduates will be able to employ appropriate statistical/econometric techniques to identify and evaluate complex financial problems. They will be able to write comprehensive research reports. M.S.F. graduates will be able to articulate and defend their financial analysis and recommend solutions to upper level managers and other stakeholders.
4. M.S.F. graduates will understand the importance of ethical financial governance to the sustainability of their business enterprise, and the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders.

M.S.F. Degree Requirements

Common body of knowledge prerequisites (CBK): The prerequisite courses provide incoming M.S.F. students with the basic knowledge necessary for graduate-level course work in the Pamplin School of Business. Students without the necessary background may take M.B.A. equivalent classes to fulfill the CBK requirements. The number of prerequisite courses required will be determined by the M.B.A. program director after reviewing the student’s previous academic record. However, all students must take BUS 500 (Statistical and Quantitative Analysis) or pass a statistics waiver exam in their first two semesters in the program. A student passing this exam will have the BUS 500 class waived from their course requirements. Please note that students are expected to have some familiarity with statistics and a basic proficiency with Excel applications before entering the BUS 500 class.

Students may be waived from one or more of the core courses if they have completed comparable courses from an AACSB-accredited school with a grade of B or better within eight years of acceptance to the M.S.F. program. If a student has coursework from a non-AACSB accredited school, it will be reviewed for acceptability by the M.B.A. program director.

Common body of knowledge (CBK) requirements include: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Business Statistics.

Students can choose one of two tracks: a thesis option or a non-thesis option.

Students must complete 30 credit hours (ten courses) of finance coursework and must satisfy the common body of knowledge (CBK) required of the master of science in finance program.

All M.S.F. students, beginning with those admitted for fall 2012, are required to take an international-experience course before they graduate. The courses with the international experience will be identified prior to the beginning of each academic year.  The international experience will focus on a course-related project that will require a week-long trip to a foreign destination. Additional travel fees will be collected at the beginning of the course.