Degree: Master of Finance (MFin)
Program Overview
The Master of Finance program trains students to make immediate and skilled contributions in corporation finance, financial modeling, valuation, derivatives applications, risk management, and financial econometrics. Through case studies, real life projects, corporate presentations, field trips and internships, finance students acquire a solid foundation in finance while applying key concepts and theories in and out of class. Increasingly, leaders must be equipped to work with diverse populations locally and around the world. Bringing diverse voices together into one community inspires innovation and creative problem solving for today’s evolving market. As a Weatherhead finance master’s degree student, students will engage with peers from all over the globe, an experience that will expand students’ ability to relate to people from all cultures and prepare students to lead in a global business environment.
The Master of Finance program organizes city treks across the U.S. to meet with potential employers. These treks provide students with the opportunity to visit and learn about various firms, and to meet and form relationships with leaders in the field. The Master of Finance program hosts several seminars a year led by industry experts. These seminars introduce students to a variety of sectors in finance and gives them the opportunity to network with top-finance professionals. Master of Finance students are also invited to regular academic seminars that the Banking and Finance department hosts. These seminars are held regularly, and given by top-academic researchers in finance. These seminars provide students information about what is currently happening at the cutting edge of financial research that may have many applications in practice. The Master of Finance program has a dedicated director to assist students in finding internships and jobs, and to help build relationships.
For more information visit the website or contact Marybeth Keeler, associate director, at 216.368.3688.
Learning Outcomes
- Students are competent analytical problem solvers.
- Students are skilled at solving unstructured problems.
- Students demonstrate effective teamwork.
Program Requirements
The Master of Finance degree is a rigorous program designed to equip students to meet the needs of financial sector companies in today's intense and competitive business climate. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to make immediate contributions to careers in corporate finance, investment banking, equity research, investment management, risk management and corporate consulting, or to pursue higher studies.
The program's 30 credit hours can be completed in as little as two semesters, or students can stay longer to work toward an additional nine-credit-hour departmental certification in a specialization track—corporate financial analytics, corporate finance, risk management analytics or financial big data analytics.
Curriculum
The 30-credit-hour Master of Finance program is a two-semester, full-time curriculum.
The curriculum is comprised of the following components:
Core Courses
The core courses provide students with the tools and techniques that build a strong foundation in finance.
Before the first semester begins, all entering Master of Finance students must take FNCE 401, which is the mandatory preparatory/refresher course.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
FNCE 401 | Financial Orientation | 1.5 |
FNCE 404 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
FNCE 421 | Corporate Financial Analysis | 3 |
FNCE 429 | Investment Management | 3 |
FNCE 430 | Derivatives and Risk Management | 3 |
FNCE 435 | Empirical Finance | 3 |
FNCE 436A | Individual, Team and Career Development | .75 |
FNCE 436B | Individual, Team and Career Development | .75 |
Total Hours | 18 |
Track Electives
Track elective courses develop expertise in a particular track: corporate financial analytics, corporate finance, risk management analytics or financial big data analytics. Enrollment in elective courses may be contingent upon appropriate performance in the program.
Corporate Financial Analytics Track (STEM Eligible)
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
FNCE 428 | Financial Strategy and Value Creation | 3 |
or FNCE 480 | Global Banking & Capital Markets |
FNCE 432 | Corporate Risk Management | 3 |
FNCE 434 | Financial Analytics and Banking | 3 |
or FNCE 460 | Investment Strategies |
FNCE 491 | Python Programming w Appl in Finance | 3 |
FNCE 493 | Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and Cryptoventures | 3 |
STAT 425 | Data Analysis and Linear Models | 3 |
or STAT 426 | Multivariate Analysis and Data Mining |
Corporate Finance Track
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
FNCE 403 | Corporate Financial Technology | 3 |
FNCE 428 | Financial Strategy and Value Creation | 3 |
FNCE 440 | Financial Decisions Modeling and Analytics | 3 |
FNCE 450 | Mergers and Acquisitions | 3 |
FNCE 480 | Global Banking & Capital Markets | 3 |
FNCE 444 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
Risk Management Analytics Track (STEM Eligible)
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
FNCE 403 | Corporate Financial Technology | 3 |
FNCE 431 | Fixed Income Markets and Their Derivatives | 3 |
FNCE 432 | Corporate Risk Management | 3 |
FNCE 433 | Quantitative Risk Modeling | 3 |
FNCE 434 | Financial Analytics and Banking | 3 |
FNCE 440 | Financial Decisions Modeling and Analytics | 3 |
FNCE 491 | Python Programming w Appl in Finance | 3 |
Financial Big Data Analytics Track (STEM Eligible)
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
FNCE 431 | Fixed Income Markets and Their Derivatives | 3 |
FNCE 433 | Quantitative Risk Modeling | 3 |
FNCE 460 | Investment Strategies | 3 |
FNCE 470 | Financial Models Using Big Data | 3 |
FNCE 471 | Applications in Financial Big Data | 3 |
FNCE 493 | Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and Cryptoventures | 3 |
FNCE 494 | Artificial Intelligence for Financial Modeling | 3 |
Other appropriate electives as approved by the program faculty director.