The advanced study in the M.S. in Finance program provides the tools and skills to prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including investment and commercial banking, asset and wealth management, insurance, trading, and corporate finance and treasury functions. Small M.S. in Finance classes, as well as courses taken with MBA students, maximize interaction and learning throughout the program. Graduate Certificates of Study that reflect the current demands of the job market offer the flexibility to tailor students’ learning experience to their career goals.
Check departmental information for additional requirements.
Master of Science in Finance Learning Competencies
The NIU Master of Science in Finance program develops and fosters the following core competencies for its graduate students.
Graduates will be able to understand and quantify risk.
Graduates will compare derivative markets and the use and pricing of various derivatives.
Graduates will assess various risk mitigation techniques and be able to analyze situations and make recommendations regarding risk mitigation.
Graduates will explain regulatory requirements for risk mitigation in various situations.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants must have a minimum 3.00 overall grade point average (GPA), based on a 4.00 system, in their baccalaureate program or must have completed 15 or more semester hours of graduate work at an AACSB-accredited institution with a GPA of 3.20 or higher. Applicants whose GPA is below the required level may be recommended for admission if they satisfy one of the following criteria: (1) Exceptional performance on required graduate-level admission tests (GRE or GMAT); or (2) Presentation of other relevant evidence acceptable to the department.
Application for Admission
Admission to the graduate program in finance is competitive and limited to candidates who demonstrate high promise of success in a graduate finance program. Applicants must submit the following materials:
2 or more professional or academic letters of recommendation,
a resume,
a statement of purpose,
One of the following official test scores: GRE, GMAT, or proctored Finance Department entrance exam. Applicants may also meet this requirement with one of the following: an earned baccalaureate degree from an AACSB-accredited institution; a passing score on a leading industry professional certification (e.g., CFA level 1 or higher, FRM part 1, CFP, CAIAI level 1 or higher, CPA, etc.); or significant and industry-relevant post-baccalaureate work experience (minimum of two years).
Students with insufficient relevant experience in specific business disciplines may need to complete additional Phase One courses.
Early Admission
Senior students in their final term of undergraduate enrollment at NIU may apply for early admission to the Master of Science in Finance program. Students who apply for and receive early admission may enroll in up to six hours of graduate credit, with department consent, during their final semester in the undergraduate program. The NIU Graduate School requirements for “Early Admission of NIU Undergraduates” also apply.
Requirements
Students seeking the M.S. in Finance degree must complete 18 semester hours of required course work along with 12 semester hours of electives.
To be selected from the following courses or from among relevant graduate offerings elsewhere in the university with approval of the academic program coordinator.
To be selected from the following courses or from among relevant graduate offerings elsewhere in the university with approval of the academic program coordinator.
This program leads to both the B.S. in Finance and M.S. in Finance degrees. Students who want to complete this program must identify themselves to the Department of Finance as majors who will complete the accelerated program. The program is open to all undergraduates who major in Finance and have at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.00. Students who have met these standards in their B.S. in Finance degree program must also apply for admission to the M.S. in Finance program under the special provisions of this program and meet the application deadline. To qualify for this program, applicants must have a B or higher in FINA 320 and UBUS 223 and participate in an oral interview with the department chair or designated representative of the M.S. in Finance program. Admission will be on a competitive basis.
Students must complete all the business core requirements for the B.S. in Finance degree program as well as all general education requirements, FINA 330, FINA 340, FINA 350, and FINA 395, prior to their taking classes in the M.S. in Finance program. Once admitted into the B.S. in Finance/M.S. in Finance program and having completed all course requirements for entry, students will start taking classes in the M.S. in Finance program (up to 15 semester hours) which will also count toward 15 semester hours in the undergraduate degree. Upon receiving their undergraduate degree, students will then follow the standard timetable for receiving a M.S. in Finance.
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