Finance, MS

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 MS in finance (on-campus) is not accepting new applicants at this time.

The Master of Science in finance program is a three-semester, STEM-designated program. Students have the opportunity to enroll in a combined degree program with the MS in business analytics program, and current University of Iowa undergraduate students may apply to a combined undergraduate degree/MS graduate degree program. For more information, see Combined Programs in this section of the catalog.

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.

Communication

Students effectively communicate finance solutions to business problems.

Team Work

Students demonstrate the ability to be effective team members in a complex and diverse world.

The Master of Science program in finance requires a minimum of 45 s.h. of graduate credit. A Graduate College major program grade-point average (GPA) and a UI cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required in all coursework.

The MS in finance requires the following coursework.

Core Courses

Students should consult their academic advisor about the possibility of waiving a core course if they have a major GPA of at least 3.30 in the subject area (consult advisor) or have passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA, Level 1) Examination.

Course List
Course #	Title	Hours
FIN:8130	Business Communication (taken spring and fall semesters for 1 s.h. each)	2
FIN:9150	Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation	2
FIN:9200	Portfolio Management	3
FIN:9210	Derivatives	3
FIN:9220	Fixed Income Securities	3
FIN:9300	Corporate Finance	3
FIN:9400	Professional Development and Business Acumen (taken fall and spring semesters for 1 s.h. each)	2
BAIS:9100	Data and Decisions	3
MBA:8140	Corporate Financial Reporting	3
MBA:8170	International Economic Environment of the Firm	3
MBA:8180	Managerial Finance	3

Electives

Elective credit varies for students. Students complete the remainder of the required 45 s.h. with elective courses and should consult their advisor.

Course List
Course #	Title	Hours
All students must complete one experiential elective option from these:
FIN:9225	Applied Fixed Income Analysis - Hart Fund	3
FIN:9250 & FIN:9260	Applied Securities Analysis - Henry Fund I-II	6
FIN:9390	Applied Financial Analysis: Industry Project	3
FIN:9391	Thesis in Finance - Master of Science in Finance	arr.
Any of these:
FIN:4030	Securities Industry Essentials Exam Prep	1
FIN:9001	Directed Readings in Finance - Master of Science in Finance	arr.
FIN:9140	Enterprise Risk Management	3
FIN:9160	Quantitative Finance and Deep Learning	3
FIN:9230	Real Estate Finance and Investments	3
FIN:9240	International Finance	3
FIN:9290	Alternative Investments and Portfolio Strategies	2-3
FIN:9310	Corporate Financial Strategy	3
FIN:9330	Investment Banking	3
FIN:9350	Wealth Management	3
ACCT:9040	Financial Statement Analysis and Forecasting	3
ACCT:9050	Taxes and Business Strategy	3
ACCT:9120	Design and Use of Cost Management Systems	3
ACCT:9130	Financial Reporting: Theory and Practice	3
BAIS:6040	Data Programming in Python	3
BAIS:6050	Data Management	3
BAIS:6060	Data Analysis With R	3
BAIS:6070	Data Science	3
BAIS:6140	Visual Analytics	3
BAIS:9110	Advanced Analytics	3
BAIS:9210	Data Modeling and Automation	3
CS:4400	Database Systems	3
CS:5110	Introduction to Informatics	3
ECON:4800	Econometric Analysis: Advanced Causal Inference With Data	3
ECON:5800	Econometrics	3
ISE:6760	Pattern Recognition for Financial Data	3
ISE:6780	Financial Engineering and Optimization	3
MATH:4250	Introduction to Financial Mathematics	3
STAT:4100	Statistical Inference I	3
STAT:4101	Statistical Inference II	3
Additional elective credit possible for courses in analytics, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, statistics, or actuarial science (e.g., quantitative/technical) with advisor approval

MS/JD

The combined Master of Science in finance/Juris Doctor program allows students to pursue two degrees simultaneously, earning both more quickly than they would if the degrees were pursued separately. The Department of Finance collaborates with the College of Law to offer the combined program.

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined program. For more information, see the Juris Doctor, JD (College of Law) in the catalog.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Applicants must:

have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university, or have earned an equivalent degree from another country;
submit unofficial transcripts with their application and official transcripts for admission;
have earned a minimum grade-point average of at least 3.00 or the international equivalent;
submit a current résumé that includes information about employment (if applicable), education, extracurricular activities, and community involvement; and
submit a statement of purpose with a maximum length of 500 words.

Application deadlines are as follows.

Priority deadline: Dec. 15
International student deadline: March 15
Domestic student deadline: June 15

The MS in finance program has articulation agreements with Central College, Coe College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, and the University of Northern Iowa that permit conditional graduate admission pending all application requirements are met upon completion of the undergraduate degree.

Visit the MS in finance Admissions website for full admission details.

General Catalog