Business Administration, Economics Concentration, Finance & Investment Management, Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined Program

Program Coordinator: Dr. Stephen Horan

This combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program is designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to complete both degree programs in under 5 years. A student will earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration (BSBA) in Economics and a Master of Science (MS) in Finance & Investment Management (MSF).

BS of Business Administration students must apply for admission to the 4+1 B.S. Economics/MS Finance program. Six (6) hours of courses taken at the 500-level will apply towards both degrees. Upon completion of the BS degree, students have the option to apply to the graduate school and continue progress towards the MSF degree.

Requirements

Completion of all degree requirements for both the BSBA in Economics and the MSF with six credits of graduate-level courses that will count towards the finance concentration electives.

Program Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

Admission to the Cameron School of Business as an economics concentration student
Minimum GPA: 3.2
Completion of the BS/MS Program in Business Administration, Economics Concentration, Finance & Investment Management Undergraduate Request to Enroll in Graduate Course(s)
Cover letter and resume

Rationale for Proposed Program

This program is an opportunity for students who excel in economics and finance to pursue a specialized master’s program linked to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The CFA Program is known for its rigor, and is described by The Economist this way:*

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification is roughly equivalent to a specialized postgraduate finance degree, including a mixture of economics, ethics, law and accountancy. It is much liked by employers in financial services. Whereas there are tens of thousands of finance degrees available around the world, ranging from the excellent to the worthless, there is only one CFA, managed and examined by an American association of financial professionals, the CFA Institute. It used to be just an American qualification. But explosive growth (see chart) has made it, in effect, a global currency.

The combined program will benefit students by:

Allowing 6 graduate credits to satisfy undergraduate concentration electives
Giving accepted students preference for departmental CFA Exam scholarships

*The Economist, 24 Feb 2005 http://www.economist.com/node/3690585

Curriculum

Students may count up to six (6) credits of 500-level finance courses towards the 400-level economics concentration electives. The courses available are:

FIN 532 - Economics for Financial Professionals Credit Hours: 3
FIN 533 - Derivatives & Risk Management Credit Hours: 3 (replaces FIN 433)
FIN 540 - Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning Credit Hours: 3 (replaces FIN 440)

Timeline

Once students are admitted to the CSB and eligible to take their 400-level finance electives, they can apply for admission into the 4+1 program. Admission to the 4+1 program does not guarantee admission to the MSF program upon completion of the BS in Business Administration.
With the help of the MSF Director, students can select up to six (6) credits of 500-level finance classes to substitute for their 400-level finance electives.
Students who successfully complete the two (2) 500-level electives and all remaining BSBA degree requirements are awarded the BS in Business Administration with an Economics Concentration.
In the final semester of their BS program, students apply to the MSF program. If admitted to the MSF, the six (6) credits earned at the 500-level will count towards the degree requirements of the MS Finance & Investment Management degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many classes will students need to complete to earn the MSF?

A: Students must complete the full thirty (30) credits of MSF courses, but six of those credits can be earned before they begin the program.

Q: Can students be admitted to the MSF program upon graduation from the BSBA if they earn Cs in their 500-level electives?

A: Graduate applications will be evaluated based on our existing admissions criteria. A student who meets the criteria can be admitted to the MSF program. Courses at the 500-level that earned a grade of C will not count towards the MSF degree requirements and must be replaced or retaken after advising by the MSF Director.

Q: For double concentration students in economics and finance, what double dipping is allowed?

A: Students with double concentrations will have to choose the finance version of the 4+1 or the economics version of the 4+1, but cannot do both simultaneously.