Bachelor of Arts/Master of Science in Finance, BA/MSF

Overview

In the Clark Graduate School of Management master’s in Finance program, you integrate an understanding of the complexities of management - such as making decisions without complete information, ethical issues - with strong finance and quantitative skills. The degree benefits you no matter where you are in your career and prepares you for positions in banking, investment management, trading, insurance and corporate finance. 

Departmental eligibility requirements

The MSF program is open to students from any undergraduate major, however, prerequisite courses are required.

For students that enrolled at Clark prior to Fall 2018:

Prospective MSF students need to have completed ECON 010  , ECON 160   /PSYC 105   (or comparable statistics course), and MATH 120  , with a grade of B- or higher prior to the start of their senior year (students can be enrolled in these courses in the semester that they are applying or can take them in the summer before their senior year). AP credit may count towards the Math prerequisite requirement. However, Clark’s M.S.F. degree is a very quantitative-based program, and students are encouraged to take some quantitative courses during their undergraduate years to help them prepare if they have AP credit for the math prerequisite.

For students that enrolled at Clark in Fall 2018 or later:

Prospective MSF students must successfully complete the following prerequisites by the end of the second semester of their junior year:

• Must receive a B+ or better in ECON 010  or 011  
• Must receive a B+ or better in one of the following: MATH 120  , MATH 121  , MATH 124  , or MATH 125  
• Must receive a B+ or better in ECON 160  or MATH 217  

Students are required to meet with the MS in Finance Accelerated Degree Program adviser as a formal part of the admissions process. This meeting is intended to assist prospective students in assessing the appropriateness of the degree to their professional aspirations. The student applies to the MS program by completing the Online Application no later than May 1 of the junior year. Please note that application deadlines differ for students who are graduating off cycle (either a semester early or late) or who have advanced standing; such students should contact Graduate Admissions for alternative dates.

Program of Study

The Accelerated BA/MSF program requires 10 graduate course units and an internship.  Three courses are taken in the senior year and the remaining in the graduate year.

Senior Year

Graduate courses students MUST take in the senior year include:

• ACCT 4101 - Foundations of Financial Accounting   (1 unit - Fall)
• FIN 5401 - Investments   (1 unit - Fall)
• FIN 5201 - Case Studies in Corporate Finance   (1 unit - Spring)

Summer following senior year

Every Accelerated Degree MSF student is required to complete an internship prior to the completion of the graduate degree. Internships completed as an undergraduate cannot fulfill the MSF internship requirement. MSF students are encouraged to complete their internship requirement in the summer between their senior year and fifth year.

Graduate Year

Students then take the remaining units for the MSF degree in their 5th year.

•  FIN 5203 - Investment Strategies  (1 unit - Fall)
• FIN 5208 - Fixed-Income Securities  s (1 unit - Spring)
• Elective or Experiential Learning Requirement Course (1 unit - Fall)
• FIN 5216 - Computational Finance   (1 unit - Spring)
• FIN 5309 - Financial Econometrics   (1 unit - Fall)
• FIN 5310 - Case Studies in Derivatives   (1 unit-Fall)
• Elective or Experiential Learning Requirement Course (1 unit - Spring)

A graduate internship is also required in addition to a student’s 10 units.  Internships completed at the undergraduate level do not meet this requirement.  No academic credit is awarded for the internship requirement.

For more information on the MSF program, the Experiential Learning Requirement, and elective options, students should visit the MSF program description page.

Fees

Students will pay a one-time program fee of $1,000 in the first semester of graduate study.  Students also pay a $40 activity fee in the fall and spring semesters as well as a one-time enrollment fee of $100. 

Students are responsible for paying for housing, food, books, and other personal items.

Students in the Accelerated Degree Program are allowed one year of non-residency status after the fifth year presumably to complete research and the master’s thesis. Please note there is a $200 fee (per semester) associated with the non-residency status registration.

Program Advisor

Students are required to meet with the designated degree advisor and have them sign the Accelerated Degree Program Advisor Form.  The signed form confirms the student and program advisor have discussed the requirements of the program.  This form is also available on the Graduate Admissions website. 

The designated program advisor is:
Laura Burgess
Graduate School of Management
508-793-7744
Lburgess@clarku.edu

Any students considering applying to the Accelerated Degree Program should read and understand the Accelerated Degree Program Policies and Procedures.