CSU's Master of Finance is a highly quantitative, 30-credit program offered on campus that provides a comprehensive study of the principles, processes, and practices of modern finance including investment analysis, portfolio management, financial management, and risk management.
The program covers content required for the Chartered Finance Analyst (CFA®) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM®) exams and provides a good foundation for students who want to further their education beyond the master's program.
This degree program is designated as a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field. The STEM designation allows international students the opportunity to receive a visa extension after they have completed their degree.
Learning Objectives
Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Describe the function and structure of securities markets and financial intermediaries in a global economic environment.
- Estimate the value and equilibrium rates of return to domestic and international equity and debt claims via models of cash flow and relative value.
- Describe and analyze the use of derivative instruments in managing risks to equity, debt, and currencies in domestic and international markets.
- Describe, estimate, and interpret statistical models of financial risk, returns, volatility, and firm value.
- Explain and demonstrate the concept of arbitrage in valuing firms, financial assets, and derivative instruments.
Employment Opportunities
Finance students are prepared for a number of different careers in business.
Examples of fields in which Master of Finance graduates can find finance-related occupations include the following: commercial, mortgage, and investment banking; corporate finance; investments; portfolio management; financial analysis; securities analysis; loan analysis; risk management and insurance; stock brokerage; government banking and securities regulation; government finance; and teaching and research.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Effective Fall 2020
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FIN 600 | Financial Management | 3 |
| FIN 611 | Financial Institutions Management | 3 |
| FIN 625 | Quantitative Methods in Finance | 3 |
| FIN 655 | Investments | 3 |
| FIN 665 | Derivative Securities and Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 675 | International Finance | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Financial Modeling | ||
| Advances in Financial Technology | ||
| Enterprise Valuation | ||
| Alternative Investments | ||
| Behavioral Finance | ||
| Advanced Portfolio Management | ||
| Real Estate Finance and Investments | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |