The Master of Science in Finance program provides students with the real-world skills necessary to succeed as finance professionals. Students develop a deep understanding of modern financial markets along with the instruments and tools used in the industry. In addition to acquiring a conceptual foundation, students learn to develop strategic financial objectives, improve investment decisions, design financial instruments, manage corporate risk and seize new business opportunities.
Program Features
Through the MS in Finance program, students will develop skills in:
- Financial decision-making techniques and strategies.
- Creating and developing solutions to complex financial problems.
- Designing, using and evaluating financial tools and instruments.
- Developing proposals for profitability and productivity.
- Outlining and identifying strategic financial objectives.
- Risk analysis.
The MS in Finance program is offered at DePaul’s Loop Campus, in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, allowing students to learn in the setting in which they will be working. Students will be encouraged to complete an internship and participate in extracurricular activities and seminars around Chicago.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Introductory Requirements (waived with applicable prior credit): Candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in principles of financial accounting, economics, and statistics prior to enrollment in the program. Students who have not demonstrated these competencies through previous coursework are required to achieve these competencies prior to registration for the core classes. | |
| Degree Requirements | 48 |
| Total hours required | 48 |
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire both knowledge and skills that are broad, deep, and necessary to fulfill their professional goals.
- Use analytical and decision-making skills to solve problems encountered by business and investors.
- Apply financial theory to solve a variety of problems in investment management, risk management, and in corporate finance.
- Produce a coherent written statement of the analysis of a complex business issue.
- Understand and solve problems encountered by a multinational business.
- Develop the foundation to think about and address ethical issues in the context of financial markets and institutions.
Degree Requirements
Course Requirements
The MS in Finance program requires a minimum of 48 credit hours subject to the prerequisite requirement.
Prerequisites for the MSF Program
Students complete the Master of Science in Finance by taking six core courses and six elective courses in addition to the program prerequisites.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in principles of financial accounting, economics, and statistics prior to enrollment in the program. Students who have not demonstrated these competencies through previous coursework are required to achieve these competencies prior to registration for the core courses.
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FIN 555 | FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| FIN 617 | TOOLS OF FINANCIAL ANALYTICS | 4 |
| FIN 523 | INVESTMENT ANALYSIS | 4 |
| FIN 524 | FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS | 4 |
| FIN 553 | ADVANCED CORPORATE FINANCE | 4 |
| FIN 662 | DERIVATIVES VALUATION | 4 |
Elective Requirement
Six elective courses are required. At least three of these required electives must be Finance courses. The other three required elective courses are considered free electives and may be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- another finance course
- a graduate course in Accounting, Computer Science (CDM), Data Science (CDM), Data Analytics (Management), Economics, Mathematics, or Real Estate (other disciplines or courses may be considered but require the permission of the faculty program director). The following classes are recommended:
Course List Course Title Quarter Hours Courses in Accounting INTRODUCTION TO FRAUD EXAMINATION ADVANCED IT AUDITING FORENSIC AND INVESTIGATIVE ACCOUNTING FORENSIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS AND VALUATION Courses in Computational Methods INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING PYTHON PROGRAMMING MONTE CARLO ALGORITHMS Courses in Data Science TIME SERIES ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING FUNDAMENTALS OF DATA SCIENCE DATA VISUALIZATION Courses in Economics GAME THEORY AND STRATEGY BUSINESS STRATEGY STRATEGY AND ANTITRUST BUSINESS MODELS AND INNOVATION STRATEGY THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH Courses in Real Estate REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND FINANCE REAL ESTATE CAPITAL MARKETS AND FINANCE ADVANCED REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS WITH ARGUS INSTITUTIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of the college residency requirement.
- Satisfactory completion of the 6 required courses and 6 elective courses.
- All courses for credit toward the degree must be completed within six calendar years after the candidate’s first term of enrollment in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. After a lapse of six years, a course is expired. An expired course is not acceptable for the purpose of satisfaction of degree requirements and is not applicable to the degree without the written approval of the director of the program and the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.