Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Finance and Investment Management, M.S.


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Graduate Coordinator: Dr. William (Bill) Sackley  

The Cameron School of Business offers a program of study leading to a Master of Science in Finance and Investment Management (MSF) degree for qualified holders of a bachelor’s degree in business from a regionally accredited college or university. The overall objective of the program is to prepare students for careers in financial services or investment management. Additionally, upon completion of this degree, graduates may elect to sit for Level I or II of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) Exam, but are not required to do so.

Specific Objectives


Graduates of the program should be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, and corporate finance as they relate to investment management.
  • Determine market values of equity, fixed-income, derivative, and alternative investments using advanced investment tools.
  • Apply the highest ethical standards to investment management consistent with the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

Admission Requirements


Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in finance and investment management are required to submit the following to the Graduate School.

  1. An application for graduate admission.
  2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate).
  3. Two online recommendations including one from an employer or supervisor who can comment on the applicant’s potential for successful completion of a master’s degree.
  4. Applicant’s resume and cover letter.
  5. GMAT or GRE score required. Official test scores should be sent to the Graduate School no less than four weeks prior to the published program deadline. Test scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered. The GRE or GMAT may possibly be waived based on work experience and academic background.
  6. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in business demonstrating a strong overall undergraduate academic record. Satisfactory scores on the GMAT or GRE are required, but waiver request available based on work experience and academic background. Admission decisions are based on several factors and other indicators of success may be considered for admission.

Applicants without a bachelor’s degree in business - admission into the program will be provisional upon successful completion of a basic core of business coursework. The basic core of business coursework may be completed at any regionally accredited institution. The basic core of business coursework includes three credit hours each of Statistics or Quantitative Methods, Microeconomics, Financial Accounting, and Corporate Finance. These courses may be waived with significant, relevant work experience in finance.

Degree Requirements (30 total credit hours)


  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework is required for the Master of Science in Finance and Investment Management.
  2. Each student must successfully complete a written and oral comprehensive ethics case analysis in the final semester of enrollment in coursework. (FIN 502 - Ethics in Decision Making  serves as the capstone course in the MSF program.)
  3. Each student must complete the approved course of study within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.

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