Master of Science in Finance

The master's degree in finance offers advanced training that builds on a foundation of business and management skills. Please see admission requirements here A six-course core is required of all finance students: Banking Management (FIN 4510) or Monetary Theory (ECON 4450), Financial Theory Seminar (FIN 5520), Empirical Finance (FIN 5400), Investment Management (FIN 5310), Corporate Governance (FIN 5320), and Applied Econometrics (ECON 5340). The student selects the remaining courses depending on his or her career plan from electives in economics, business, statistics, accounting, and finance. The student may elect to take 26 hours of course work and write a Plan A thesis, or take 30 hours of course work and write a shorter paper based on work done in Finance 5320 or 5400, the Plan B option. A total of at least 21 credit hours of course work at the 5000 level is required for UW's master's in finance. Additionally, at least 21 hours must be 5000 or 4000 level course work in finance and economics. The master's in finance is flexible, providing several course options. One can select courses from a variety of fields and achieve broader exposure, or limit course selections to a smaller number of fields and achieve a higher degree of competence in particular specialties. During the third semester (or the summer session for those completing the degree in one year) the finance masters student selects a major professor for direction with the Plan B or Plan A master's thesis. A committee, selected by the student and the major professor, directs a research project. A favorable report from the committee completes the degree requirements. Most students complete all requirements within one to two years.