Finance, M.S.

Learning Objectives

Students completing the Master of Science in Finance degree will:

• be prepared to become successful professionals in the field of finance and/or add value to existing finance professionals by expanding and updating their core base of technical knowledge, competency and skills.
• be provided with the analytical skills necessary to make effective business decisions.
• develop professional written communication skills.

The M.S. program in finance is designed for students who desire an opportunity for in-depth study of the sophisticated analytical techniques and market transactions that drive financial innovation. Curriculum options for corporate finance and investments and portfolio management are designed for students with an undergraduate degree in business administration, an M.B.A., or undergraduate or graduate degrees in other disciplines. The risk management option is designed for students with strong quantitative backgrounds, typically with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, statistics, the physical sciences, and engineering.

Foundation Courses

To determine if a student will need to take any foundation courses , a transcript evaluation is conducted at the time of application to see if a student has successfully completed courses in accounting, managerial economics, statistical analysis, and basic calculus. Normally, foundation courses must be completed before enrollment in required courses or electives.

Foundation Waiver Policy

Normally, admitted students requiring foundation courses will enroll in those courses at The University of Tulsa. However, any of the following may qualify a student for a foundation course waiver:

• Completion, with a grade of B or higher, of a course or courses covering comparable material within the past six years from an AACSB accredited business program or as part of a four-year bachelor’s degree in business administration.
• Additional coursework, with a grade of B or higher, in the subject area, beyond the principles or introductory courses covering the comparable material.
• Extensive career experience using the subject matter that builds on prior coursework in the subject area.
• A successful score on the proficiency exam for the subject.

Foundation course requirements may be satisfied in different ways:

• Traditional classroom courses,
• Online courses, or
• Passing a proficiency exam after preparation with non-credit short courses or self-study following TU-prepared material.

Satisfactory Progress

Candidates for the M. S. degree in finance are expected to complete the program in a timely manner. All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years from the date of enrollment in the program. Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be dismissed from the program.

Applied Option

Student who elect the applied option are required to apply business principles in an actual business environment through a formal Collins College of Business internship, following the College’s Guidelines for Administration of Student Internship Programs.

To earn the applied option, the student must:

• Complete all requirements for the M.S. in finance.
• Complete an additional one-semester internship course – BUS 7021 Business Applications  – which is graded Pass/Fail and in which satisfactory performance in the internship is required for a passing score. Students may enroll in BUS 7021  for only one semester.
• Secure the internship with approved of the faculty member guiding the internship, the Director of the School of Finance, Operations Management and International Business, and the Director of Graduate Business Programs.

Curriculum

All candidates for the M.S. degree in finance must complete the foundation courses  and 36 semester hours of advanced study. A thesis is not required, but is an option for the degree. A minimum of 27 credit hours must be completed in advanced (7000-level) courses reserved exclusively for graduate students.