Portland-State-University 2023-2024 Bulletin

Finance M.S. (MSF)

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is an accelerated program that provides students the skills and knowledge required to start or advance a career in finance. Focus areas include Corporate Finance, Traditional and Impact Investing.  The curriculum is designed to develop forward-thinking professionals with sharp analytic minds, effective communication skills, and the necessary vision to apply financial analysis skills in a wide variety of business situations. Business and non-business students will benefit from the depth and integration of the curriculum. 

Students may take courses on a full-time or part-time schedule. Full-time students can complete the program in one year and part-time students can complete it in two years. Most classes are in the evening. 

Degree Prerequisite Requirements

All applicants need to complete the following introductory coursework prior to admission: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting and Statistics. Applicants are also expected to be proficient in computer applications and spreadsheet skills. 

    See website for details.

    Core

    Actg 550Advanced Financial Reporting

    4
    Actg 553Financial Statement Analysis

    4
    BA 522Communications for Leaders

    1
    BTA 519Managerial Analytics

    2
    Fin 531Financial Institutions

    2
    Fin 551Managerial Finance

    4
    Fin 552Investments

    4
    Fin 553Valuation Modeling

    2
    Fin 565Applied Financial Decisions

    2
    Fin 578Emerging Topics: FinTech

    2
    Mgmt 511Foundations of Strategy

    2
    M.S. in Finance students must take the 2-credit offerings of the BTA 519, Fin 553, Fin 565, and Fin 578 courses.

    Total Credit Hours: 29

    Electives

    Choose one Option of the four available to earn 16 elective credits. Other courses can qualify as elective credit if pre-approved by the Academic Director.

    Option 1

    Choose 16 credits  total  from this list of approved electives or from the Graduate Certificate in Business Blockchain or the Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Analytics or the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment in Finance. Subject to prerequisite completion.
    Fin 504Internship

    2
    Fin 555Quantitative Finance Methods

    4
    Fin 573Student Managed Stock Fund

    2
    Fin 574Portfolio Management: Issues and Performance Assessment

    2
    Fin 575Impact Ventures

    2
    Fin 577Derivatives and Financial Market Securities

    2
    Fin 579Case Competitions

    2
    GSCM 575Machine Learning in Business

    4
    Mgmt 514Integrated Strategy

    2
    Mgmt 533Alliances and Acquisitions

    4

    Option 2

    Complete the Graduate Certificate in Business Blockchain.  If you choose this option, you must apply for the Graduate Certificate in Business Blockchain at least three terms before completing your MSF program.  Apply at apply.pdx.edu (subject to prerequisite completion).  To make the application more streamlined, be sure to select "yes" under the prompt asking if you are already admitted to a graduate business program. You must also apply to graduate from both the Graduate Certificate in Business Blockchain certificate and the MSF program.

    Option 3

    Complete the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment and Finance.  If you choose this option, you must apply for the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment and Finance at least three terms before completing your MSF program.   Apply at apply.pdx.edu (subject to prerequisite completion).  To make the application more streamlined, be sure to select "yes" under the prompt asking if you are already admitted to a graduate business program.  You must also apply to graduate from both the Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Investment and Finance and the MSF program.
    Actg 550 shared with MSF core

    Option 4

    Complete the Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Analytics.  If you choose this option, you must apply for the Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Analytics at least three terms before completing your MSF program.  Apply at apply.pdx.edu (subject to prerequisite completion).  To make the application more streamlined, be sure to select "yes" under the prompt asking if you are already admitted to a graduate business program.  You must also apply to graduate from both the Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Analytics and the MSF program.

    Total Credit Hours: 16

    Total Credit Hours: 45

    Shared Master's Credits

     

    Admitted students in good standing may apply to use shared master's credits between the MSF, and the MBA, MSGSCM, and select other Graduate Programs. For details contact the Academic Advising Team.