This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The Master of Science in finance program is an online program that can be completed at a student's own pace. It can be completed in as quickly as one year or in up to ten years.
Learning Outcomes
Core Competency
- Students acquire and exhibit knowledge about fundamental financial concepts.
Business Applications
- Students acquire and exhibit knowledge about applying financial concepts in business and financial markets.
Team Work
- Students demonstrate the ability to be effective team members in a complex and diverse world.
Coursework
- Students customize their coursework to fulfill their career goals as finance professionals.
The Master of Science program in finance requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. A Graduate College major program grade-point average (GPA) and a UI cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 are required in all coursework.
With program approval, students may count up to a maximum 6 s.h. of transfer credit toward program coursework requirements. Transfer credit must be from a graduate or professional program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
The MS in finance requires the following coursework.
Core Courses
Students complete six core courses for a total of 18 s.h.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| FIN:9200 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN:9210 | Derivatives | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
If a core course is waived, it must be replaced by a course from the electives list.
Electives
Students complete four elective courses for a total of 12 s.h., including at least two courses (6 s.h.) from the first list below.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least two of these: | ||
| FIN:9150 | Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation | 3 |
| FIN:9160 | Quantitative Finance and Machine Learning | 3 |
| FIN:9230 | Real Estate Finance and Investments | 3 |
| FIN:9310 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| FIN:9350 | Wealth Management | 3 |
| Up to two of these: | ||
| FIN:9130 | Corporate Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| FIN:9140 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| BAIS:6040 | Data Programming in Python | 3 |
| BAIS:6070 | Data Science | 3 |
| BAIS:6100 | Text Analytics | 3 |
| ENTR:9200 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Please see the Part-time Master of Finance Admissions page on the Tippie College of Business website for information about admission to the MS in finance subprogram.
The Tippie Graduate Career Services team offers multiple resources to help students in their career development journey. Visit Graduate Career Services on the Tippie College of Business website for details.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Finance, MS
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| 45 s.h. of graduate level coursework must be completed; up to 6 s.h. of graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a | ||
| A Graduate College major program GPA and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required in all coursework. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Any Semester | ||
| Meet with your Career Services Coach and Professional Director. | ||
| Attend Career Services sessions offered. | ||
| Apply to and secure a summer internship or arrange a summer research project. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fall | ||
| BAIS:9100 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| FIN:9220 | Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN:9400 | Professional Development and Business Acumen b | 1 |
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8170 | International Economic Environment of the Firm | 3 |
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| Arrange for Career Services to review updated resume, then upload to Handshake. | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| FIN:9150 | Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation | 2 |
| FIN:9200 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9400 | Professional Development and Business Acumen b | 1 |
| FIN:8130 | Business Communication c | 1 |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective or experiential elective d, e | 3 | |
| Complete end of semester employment placement survey as directed by Career Services. | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| Internship: complete a summer internship f | ||
| Research: complete a summer research project f | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FIN:9210 | Derivatives | 3 |
| FIN:8130 | Business Communication c | 1 |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective or experiential elective d, e | 3 | |
| Complete end of semester employment placement survey as directed by Career Services. | ||
| Meet with your Career Services Coach and Professional Director. | ||
| Attend Career Services sessions offered. | ||
| Verify completion of all degree requirements with program administrator. | ||
| Apply to and secure post-graduation employment. | ||
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- a
- Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
- b
- FIN:9400 is taken during both fall and spring of the first year for a total of 2 s.h.
- c
- FIN:8130 is taken during both first year spring and second year fall for a total of 2 s.h.
- d
- Choose electives from a pre-approved list or with departmental approval.
- e
- Spring experiential electives: FIN:9225, FIN:9391, or FIN:9250 (must also take FIN:9260 in fall). Fall experiential electives: FIN:9225, FIN:9391, FIN:9390, FIN:9260 (must have taken FIN:9250 in spring).
- f
- Apply to and secure a summer internship or arrange a summer research project.