Financial Analytics (MS)

Degree Requirements

The MSFA program consists of 8 core courses and 2 elective courses for a total of 30 semester hours for qualified students. Enrolled students will also take a no-credit introductory, online module covering financial mathematics. Students without the waivable pre-requisite courses and/or sufficient English language skills may be required to enroll in up to an additional 12 semester hours of waivable pre-requisite courses. 

Waivable Prerequisite Courses

0-12 semester hours

BUS 600AAccounting & Finance3
BUS 600BEconomics3
BUS 600CStatistics3
BUS 500JBusiness Communications3
Total Semester Hours12

Total Program: 30 semester hours

Core Courses

24 semester hours

FIN 500Mathematics for Economics and Finance0
BUS 525Economics of the Firm3
BUS 530Financial Management3
FIN 541Financial Statement Analysis3
BUS 531Investment and Portfolio Analysis3
FIN 542Security Analysis and Valuation3
FIN 532Derivatives3
FIN 570Econometrics in Finance3
FIN 543Financial Analytics3
Total Semester Hours24

Elective Courses - choose 2

6 semester hours

FIN 544Risk Management3
BUS 532Management of Financial Institutions3
BUS 536International Financial Management3

*Online module to be completed within the first 2 weeks of beginning the program 

Master of Science in Financial Analytics 4+1 Program 

The 4+1 MS Financial Analytics program will help undergraduate students obtain a broad understanding of the functional areas of finance and the analytical techniques used in the finance industry. During the senior year as an undergraduate student, approved 4+1 MS Financial Analytics students majoring in accounting, business administration, or economics will begin taking graduate MS Financial Analytics courses which will count toward both degrees, thereby providing an accelerated path to completion. 

Minimum Requirements to Apply to Participate in the 4+1 MS Financial Analytics Program: 

  • Must be a current undergraduate student majoring in accounting, business administration, or economics with a 2.5 GPA.
  • Must earn grades of C or better in each of the following courses: 
  • ACCT 203 Financial and Managerial Accounting or ACCT 201 Fundamentals of Accounting I & ACCT 202 Fundamentals of Accounting II
  • BUS 270 Statistics or MGMT 388 Statistics
  • BUS 330 Business Finance
  • ECON 228 Economic Theories & Issues or ECON 220 Economic Analysis I & ECON 221 Economic Analysis II
  • Students must complete a minimum of 88 semester hours. ​
  • Students must complete the Application for Graduation process for the bachelor's undergraduate degree prior to applying for the 4+1 MS Financial Analytics.

How to Prepare to Meet Requirements to Apply to be a 4+1 Student:  

  • Students can meet with their Academic Advisor as early as the first semester to review undergraduate and graduate degree curriculum and the 4+1 MS Financial Analytics pathway requirements. 
  • Students interested in this program need to work closely with their Academic Advisor to develop a specific educational plan and must meet with their Academic Advisor each semester. 

Requirements of Approved 4+1 Program Students: 

  • No undergraduate courses may be used to satisfy MS Financial Analytics graduate level courses. 
  • Students may take remaining GE and major requirements concurrently as a 4+1 student. 
  • Students must retain a 2.5 GPA overall and in the major. 
  • Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in MS Financial Analytics courses. 
  • A maximum of 15 semester hours of MS Financial Analytics courses may be taken. 
  • Approved 4+1 students must complete FIN 500 for 0 units within the first 2 weeks of their first session. 
  • MS Financial Analytics 4+1 course options may include up to 5 of the below: 

FIN 425 Economics of the Firm   ................................... can be used to satisfy bachelor’s degree applicable elective credit 

MBA 430 Financial Management ................................ can be used to satisfy BUS 331 Managerial Finance 

FIN 431 Invest & Portfolio Analysis  ................ can be used to satisfy BUS 431 Investments: Security Anal & Portfolio Mgmt 

FIN 432 Management of Financial Institutions .......... can be used to satisfy BUS 432 Financial Institutions  

FIN 436 International Financial Management ........... can be used to satisfy BUS 436 International Finance  

FIN 441 Financial Statement Analysis  ........................ can be used to satisfy bachelor’s degree applicable elective units 

  • Tuition costs during the period of enrollment as a 4+1 undergraduate student will correspond with undergraduate rates and undergraduate financial aid eligibility rules. 
  • Once registered in all degree requirements for the bachelor’s degree, the 4+1 student cannot register for additional graduate courses until after the bachelor’s degree is posted (conferred) and the student’s record is leveled up to a graduate student in the MS Financial Analytics degree. 
  • Once record changes from an undergraduate to graduate student, graduate tuition rates and graduate financial aid rules will be applicable and student must follow the current catalog year.