Finance MS
Total Semester Credit Hours = 30
The objective of the Master of Science in Finance degree program is to prepare students for professional finance careers in the corporate, not-for-profit or governmental sectors. It is flexible enough to accommodate applicants with an undergraduate degree in any discipline who demonstrate the potential for success in the graduate study of finance as indicated by prior academic achievement, a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and other relevant factors. Students entering the MS Finance program are expected to have a background equivalent to that of students graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in finance from The University of Texas at Tyler, or to obtain such background through specified prerequisite coursework.
Program Outcomes
Upon Successful completion of the MS Finance Program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate tradeoffs between risks and returns using appropriate quantitative measures
- Value financial and real assets using a variety of appropriate quantitative methods
- Provide sound financial recommendations for corporate financial management and personal wealth management
- Communicate results and recommendations in a fashion suited for audiences with varying levels of sophistication
Admissions
Option #1 | Admission without Committee Review: GMAT Waiver
Meets any one of the following:
- Graduated from an AACSB-accredited business program within three years of expected entrance into the graduate program with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in their major and overall;
- Graduated from an AACSB-accredited business program within three years of expected entrance into the graduate program with a minimum GPA of 3.4 in their major and 3.0 overall;
- Graduated from an accredited college or university with an earned bachelor's degree and holds a current recognized professional finance credential or license (e.g., Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst);
Option #2 | Admission without Committee Review: GMAT Condition
Graduated from an AACSB-accredited business program and meets one of the following formula conditions:
- (Overall GPA x 200) + GMAT = 1100
- (Major GPA x 200) + GMAT = 1100
Option #3 | Admission with Committee Review
Applicants who require Committee review are considered for admission using the following factors, with no single factor used as the primary criterion for making admission decisions.
- Undergraduate and graduate GPA (overall, major, and last 60 hours) and program accreditation status of the applicant's degree granting institution;
- Score on the GMAT (including separate scores on the verbal and quantitative portions);
- Applicant's professional work experience and professional certification/licensure; and
- Letters of reference and personal statement provided by the applicant; and
- Interview with the Admissions Committee.
4+1 Option
The 4+1 option allows academically qualified students to complete both the BBA, with a major in finance, and the MS in Finance degree in only 141 semester credit hours. This is made possible by counting up to three of the courses required in the MS to also meet the requirements of the BBA. More specifically, a student pursuing the 4+1 option can take the following courses which will count for the MSF program as well as substitute the indicated required courses in the BBA-Finance program.
By considering the totality of the applicant's circumstances, including the factors listed above, the Admission Committee will evaluate an applicant's readiness to successfully complete the MS Finance program. Depending on the judgment of the committee, the decision may be to grant admission or provisional admission, or to deny admission. The decision of the committee is final.
International students
An applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate a sufficient level of skill in the English language to ensure success in graduate studies. Applicants are expected to submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS or 105 on the Duolingo, or to achieve a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79. Further, when the TOEFL iBT is taken, sectional scores of at least 22 on the writing section, 21 on the speaking section, 20 on the reading section, and 16 on the listening section are preferred.
An applicant holding either a bachelor's or a master's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university is not required to submit a TOEFL iBT, Duolingo or IELTS score for admission purposes. Any other waivers of the score requirements must be recommended by the applicant's Graduate Advisor and approved by the Admissions Committee.
Graduation Requirements
The MS Finance is a non-thesis program. The minimum number of semester hours required for the MS Finance degree, excluding prerequisite coursework, is 30. The student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (4.0 basis) in all graduate coursework, and in all required finance graduate courses. A graduate student receiving a grade below “C” in a graduate course will be dismissed from the program, as will a student receiving more than two “C’s” during their graduate program of study.
Students with an undergraduate degree in finance typically qualify for waiver of the prerequisite requirements and are expected to complete the program in the minimum of 30 hours. Students with an undergraduate degree in an area outside of finance may be required to complete up to 6 credit hours of prerequisite courses or their equivalents.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses (24 hours)
Prerequisite Courses (6 hours)
| MATH 1324 | Mathematics for Business and Economics I [TCCN: MATH 1324] | |
| GENB 2300 | Business Statistics [TCCN: BUSI 2305] | |
Electives (6 hours - select any two)
Thesis Option (6 hours - replaces electives above)
Students choosing the thesis option must submit a standard master’s quality thesis involving original research and satisfactorily defend the thesis. Students choosing the thesis option must complete
FINA 5395 Thesis I and
FINA 5396 Thesis II in addition to the 24 hours of required coursework.