MSF Degree Requirements

MSF Curriculum

The MSF degree requires students to complete 48 credits of the required courses. Students with very strong backgrounds in a particular subject area can petition to waive a required course and replace it with an elective, as approved by the program director. All courses are four-credit and full semester long (14 weeks). Summer term is mandatory for MSF candidates, and all the four-credit courses are a full semester (12 weeks).

Students must successfully complete the following course and program requirements to be eligible for the Master of Science in Finance degree.

Program Requirements

• Achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the time of graduation.

Course Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled to be eligible for graduation: 48 credits in required courses

Additional Requirements for Specific Degree Programs

BSF/Master of Science in Finance

The Master of Science in Finance degree can also be combined with a Bachelor's degree through GWSB's new 4+1 Program, which allows students to complete both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in five years. Learn more about this degree program.

• MSF Program Prerequisites: Advanced Mathematics (6 credits, 3 of which must be calculus), Microeconomics (3 credits), Macroeconomics (3 credits) Financial Accounting (3 credits), Managerial Finance (3 credits), Statistics (3 credits)
• Students who are admitted to the BSF program and have completed 75 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better may apply for admission to the BSF/MSF 4+1 Program. In evaluating applications to this degree, special attention will be given to grades in Accounting and Finance courses.
• Upon acceptance, students are eligible to register in MSF graduate courses. A max of 12 credit hours of graduate level courses may count towards the BSF degree. The BSF degree is awarded after the successful completion of the undergraduate requirements. The MSF degree is awarded separately upon the successful completion of the graduate requirements.

For students pursuing a BSF and a Master of Science in Finance dual degree program, all requirements for both degrees must be fulfilled. Twelve credits of graduate coursework may be shared between the BSF and the Master of Science in Finance course requirements. Those twelve shared credits must be comprised of the following courses:

FINA 6271 | Financial Modeling and Econometrics | 4 Credits

FINA 6274 | Corporate Financial Management and Modeling | 4 Credits

FINA 6276 | Financial Engineering and Derivative Securities | 4 Credits

MBA/Master of Science in Finance

For students pursuing a MBA and a Master of Science in Finance Joint degree program, all requirements for both degrees must be fulfilled. Applicants must apply to both programs simultaneously, meet the admission standards of both programs and be admitted to both programs in order to be eligible for the joint degree. Applicants are considered for Fall entry only. Admission standards are high for both the MBA and the MSF. The joint program is rigorous and intensive, particularly if completed within the two-year option. If admitted to both programs, students would complete the MBA core during the 1st year. This would satisfy MSF prerequisite requirements in calculus, economics, financial accounting, managerial finance, and statistics. Existing students interested in the joint degree will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA)/Master of Science in Finance (MSF) joint degree program is a unique opportunity to deepen your education in the fields of finance and business by combining the finest of both programs. With today’s job market, the demand is shifting towards having a quantitative background with an ability to understand markets, policies, and strategies.