M.S.F. requirements

The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business master of science in finance (M.S.F.) meets the standards set by the field of finance and the primary accrediting body for business education, AACSB International, for a master's degree in a specialized field.

The M.S.F. curriculum will provide the student with a solid foundation for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) level one exam and will prepare them for a variety of financial roles.

Contact an advisor if you have questions or need more information.

Admission requirements

Admission to the M.S.F. program is contingent upon admission to the Wayne State University Graduate School. In addition, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. GMAT
   • The GMAT requirement can be waived, if you meet any of the following criteria:
     • An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) entrance exam.
     • GPA of 3.3 or higher from an AACSB-accredited business program.
     • GPA of 3.3 or higher from a regionally accredited university in any major.
     • A minimum 3.0 GPA and at least three years of relevant professional experience that shows increased responsibility over that period.
     • You have passed level one of the CFA exams.
     • GPA of 3.0 or higher in a major in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics.
2. Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75, with a 3.0 major GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
3. Submit a copy of your professional resume (should include start and end dates for each position held).
4. Three letters of recommendation from professors or employers.

Curriculum

The curriculum comprises 30 credit hours, including 21 credits of required core courses and 9 credit hours of elective courses, allowing students to customize the program to their interests. Previous coursework will be thoroughly reviewed to determine eligibility for course waivers. Students may be required to complete additional foundation courses.

Business Foundation Courses (13 credits)

• BA 6000        Introduction to Accounting and Financial Reporting (3)
• BA 6005        Basics of Financial Management (3)
• MAT 2010     Calculus I (4)
• BA 2300        Quantitative Methods I: Probability and Statistical Inference (3)

Required Core Courses (21 credits)

• ACC 7100     Financial Accounting for Decision Making (3)
• BA 7020        Corporate Financial Management (3)
• FIN 7000       Applied Financial Analysis (3)
• FIN 7025       Quantitative Methods in Finance (3)
• FIN 7035       Data Analytics in Finance (3)
• FIN 7090       Money and Capital Markets (3)
• FIN 7230       Investment Policies (3)

Elective Courses (9 credits)

• FIN 7030       Fixed Income Securities (3)
• FIN 7040       Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Finance (3)
• FIN 7220       Advanced Managerial Finance (3)
• FIN 7250       Financial Technology (3)
• FIN 7229       Corporate Valuation: Technique, Models and Strategic Application (3)
• FIN 7280       Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital (3)
• FIN 7340       Futures and Options (3)
• FIN 7870       International Finance (3)   
• FIN 7890       Internship in Finance (3)
• FIN 7900       Mergers and Acquisitions (3)
• FIN 7990       Portfolio Management (3)

Graduation requirements

The M.S.F. program requires a total of 30 credit hours. Up to six transfer credits from previous equivalent graduate coursework can be applied to the degree if those credits have not been counted toward a degree and are equivalent substitutes.

Students can pursue the M.S.F. full-time or part-time, but all students must complete the program within six years.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for graduation. A maximum of two courses in which a C grade has been received may be used to meet graduation requirements, provided this is offset by sufficient A grades to maintain the required 3.0 average.