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:
- 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.
- The GMAT requirement can be waived, if you meet any of the following criteria:
- Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75, with a 3.0 major GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Submit a copy of your professional resume (should include start and end dates for each position held).
- 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.