Master of 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.
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:
- Core of Finance Knowledge: Demonstrate mastery of the critical areas in the field of finance.
- Demonstrate competency in the key fields of corporate finance, investments, banking and financial institutions, and risk management.
- Integrate their knowledge in these key fields to solve complex problems.
- Analytical Skills: Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking skills needed by upper-level finance managers.
- Build and analyze financial reports.
- Craft strategic and tactical financial plans.
- Research Skills: Demonstrate research skills necessary to study complex financial/economic problems.
- Employ appropriate statistical/econometric techniques to identify and evaluate complex financial problems.
- Articulate and defend their financial analyses and recommend solutions to upper level managers and other stakeholders.
- Value System: Understand the importance of ethical financial governance to the sustainability of business enterprises, and the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders.
Admission Requirements
- Statement of Goals
- Current resume
- Two recommendation forms and letters
- Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
- A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
- International Applicants: All foreign degrees will be evaluated by International Student Services prior to an admission decision
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a scale of 4.0)
- Official GMAT (Minimum quantitative score in the 55 percentile and verbal score of 50 percentile) or GRE (score equivalent to GMAT score)
- International Applicants: an official score from either the TOEFL (minimum score of 88) or IELTS (minimal score of 7.0) exam is required
- International Applicants: Proof of financial support will be required to attend the University of Portland, but is not required for application review
The GMAT/GRE requirement can be waived if an applicant has significant and relevant work experience (at least three years); has successfully completed 9 hours of coursework at an AACSB accredited graduate business program with a cumulative G.P.A of 3.0 or higher; has a business-related graduate degree from an AACSB accredited program; has taken six hours of graduate business courses at the University of Portland as a non-degree seeking student and earned a 3.0 cumulative G.P.A. or higher; has earned a CFP, CPA, CFA or JD professional designations; or for those pursuing the MSF as part of the 4+1 program, the GMAT/GRE can be waived if the student earned a 3.2 cumulative GPA in a quantitative major. It is strongly recommended that applicants have two to three years of professional experience after their bachelor’s degree to fully benefit from the program.
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, and Principles of Macroeconomics.
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.
1. Non-thesis option
A minimum of 30 hours beyond the common body of knowledge.
Degree Requirements
Prerequisite — 3 hours
| BUS 500 | Statistical and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
Required Courses — 15 hours
| BUS 530 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| BUS 532 | Security and Portfolio Analysis | 3 |
| BUS 533 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 3 |
| BUS 534 | Derivatives and Risk Management | 3 |
| BUS 563 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
BUS 530; if waived based on completion of three finance courses, students may substitute any finance elective.
Electives — 15 hours
The maximum number of hours allowed for a directed study is three.
2. Thesis Option
A minimum of 27 hours beyond the common body of knowledge.
Degree Requirements
Prerequisite — 3 hours
| BUS 500 | Statistical and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
Required Courses — 15 hours
| BUS 530 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| BUS 532 | Security and Portfolio Analysis | 3 |
| BUS 533 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 3 |
| BUS 534 | Derivatives and Risk Management | 3 |
| BUS 563 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
BUS 530; if waived based on completion of three finance courses, students may substitute any finance elective.
Electives — 12 hours
Thesis — 3 hours
The thesis will follow the guidelines provided by the Graduate School of the University of Portland. Registration of BUS 599x is required for any graduate student who has received the grade of IP in BUS 599.