MS in Finance
Overview
Finance plays a central role in the operation of our economy and is at the heart of the resource allocation system. Individuals often come into contact with financial instruments (money, stocks, bonds, etc.) and need to understand how the financial system functions in order to better plan and enjoy their lives. In business firms, financial management has increasingly focused on managerial decisions regarding the choice of assets and liabilities, with the goal of obtaining the highest return for an acceptable level of risk. Moreover, forces such as inflation, the globalization of business, and advancements in computer technology have increased the importance of the finance decision-making process for both individuals and businesses.
The curriculum in finance is designed to enable students to understand the financial marketplace and to make rational decisions within a complex world economy.
Curriculum
Prerequisite Courses
May be waived with prior undergraduate or graduate coursework
- ACCT 5001 - Financial and Managerial Accounting
- ECON 5001 - Managerial Economics
- FIN 5001 - Financial Analysis and Strategy
- STAT 5001 Quantitative Methods for Business
Required Courses
Choose six or seven of the following Finance Electives:
- FIN 5101 - Fixed Income Analysis
- FIN 5102 - Management of Financial Institutions
- Fin 5104 - Advanced Corporate Finance
- FIN 5108 - Derivatives
- FIN 5109 - Investments
- FIN 5156 - Financing New Growth Companies
- FIN 5501 - International Financial Markets
- FIN 5502 - International Financial Management
- FIN 5182 - Independent Study
- FIN 5190 - Special Topics*
* Recent Special Topics courses have included Portfolio Analysis, Hedge Funds, Turnaround Management, Interest Rate Derivatives, and Financial Econometrics
For more detail on a course, see Graduate Course Descriptions-- Finance
Business Electives
Choose three or four 5000-level Business Electives from the following departments:
- Accounting
- Economics
- Statistics
Electives from outside these departments may be taken with the approval of the MS Advisor in Finance.
Total credits for MS in Finance is 30 to 42 depending on prerequisites.
Learning goals
The four main learning goals for students in the MS in Finance program will be to:
1. Understand basic asset pricing models and apply to development of investment strategies.
2. Understand the pricing of derivative securities and apply to strategies for speculation or risk management.
3. Understand the valuation of default free bonds and apply to investment strategies.
4. Apply asset pricing framework to corporate financial decisions.
Specific learning objectives include:
1. Understand basic asset pricing models and apply to development of investment strategies.
a. Recognize operation and microstructure issues of securities markets.
b. Interpret basic tenants of modern portfolio theory.
c. Recognize various asset pricing models.
d. Apply the principles of asset valuation for equity.
2. Understand the pricing of derivative securities and apply strategies for speculation or risk management.
a. Apply the basic pricing concepts underlying forward, futures, swap and options contracts.
b. Recognize various trading strategies involved with interest rate, currency, and stock derivatives.
3. Understand the valuation of default free bonds and apply to investment strategies.
a. Recognize basics of bond valuation and duration as a measure of price sensitivity.
b. Interpret term structure models and applications.
c. Recognize the role of repo markets and arbitrage in the bond markets.
d. Apply and interpret modeling of callable bonds and mortgage backed securities.
4. Apply asset pricing frameworks to corporate financial decisions.
a. Interpret advanced cost of capital topics.
b. Apply advanced capital budgeting techniques.
c. Interpret firm valuation.
d. Identify and interpret valuation of real options.
Advisor
Dr. Lalitha Naveen
Tel: (215) 204-6435
lnaveen@temple.edu
Note: Please send any questions about admissions or your application status to foxinfo@temple.edu or check your status online at Apply Yourself