Business Administration and Finance and Investment Management, MBA/MSF Dual Degrees

Specific Objectives

Graduates of the program should be able to achieve the program objectives of both the MBA program and the MSF program.

For the MBA program, graduates should be able to:

• Apply theory, knowledge, and skills from the fundamental business disciplines to business practice.
• Effectively research and report information in a written document.
• Solve complex problems or propose meaningful solutions.
• Understand the importance of ethics and corporate social responsibility in the context of business.

For the MSF program, graduates 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 dual degree program must submit an application and application fees for consideration to both programs. Students must be successfully admitted to both degree programs, in accordance with their individual standards and requirements. Applicants are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

• An application for graduate admission.
• Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate).
• Two online recommendations including one from an employer or supervisor who can comment on the applicant’s work experience and potential for successful completion of a master’s program.
• Applicant’s resume and cover letter. 
• Two years of professional work experience is required.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in undergraduate work. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 must demonstrate professional experience/advancement that shows progression since graduation and indicates how they will contribute to the program.

• 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.

• A minimum score of 79 on the internet-based TOEFL iBT test or 6.5 on IELTS test is required for non-native English speakers only, unless applicant earned their baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited US institution. Scores are good for two years from the date the test is administered.
• 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 (57 total credit hours)

• Thirty-six credit hours of approved graduate credit must be satisfactorily completed for the MBA degree, and 30 credit hours of approved graduate credit must be satisfactorily completed for the MSF degree, with a maximum of 9 credit hours counting for both degrees, for a total number of credit hours of 57 credit hours.
• Each student must successfully complete an integrative written analysis project in MBA 558 - Strategic Management.
• Each student must complete the approved course of study within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.
• Courses requested for transfer are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Generally, no more than 3 credits from non-AACSB accredited universities will be accepted, and no more than 9 credits from AACSB accredited universities will be accepted. The Graduate Associate Dean determines how the courses, if any, will be transferred and will request recommendations from the faculty who teach within the disciplines being requested.
• After admittance, students who wish to complete a course offered by another graduate program at UNCW must have the course approved by the MBA Director before enrolling.

Required Courses

To participate in the dual-degree program, a student can first enroll in either the MBA or the MSF program and then complete the second degree. The courses from the MSF that count towards the MBA are FIN 536 Corporate Finance and any two 500-level FIN classes, which count as MBA electives towards the finance specialization in the MBA program.

• 
  The courses required for the MSF are:
   

• FIN 501 - Ethics in the Financial Marketplace Credit Hours: 2
• FIN 502 - Ethics in Decision Making Credit Hours: 1
• FIN 530 - Equity Investments Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 531 - Alternative Investments Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 532 - Economics for Financial Professionals Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 534 - Fixed Income Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 536 - Corporate Finance Credit Hours: 3 (replaces MBA 532 - Corporate Finance int he MBA curriculum)
• FIN 538 - Financial Reporting and Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 540 - Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning Credit Hours: 3
• FIN 580 - Quantitative Investment Analysis Credit Hours: 3

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  The remaining courses for the MBA are:
   

• MBA 504 - Business Law Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 508 - Accounting Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 514 - Information Analysis and Management Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 515 - Business Analytics Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 516 - Operations Management Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 530 - Economics Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 542 - Marketing Credit Hours: 3
• MBA 558 - Strategic Management Credit Hours: 3 (capstone project)
• MBA 562 - Management Credit Hours: 3