To future-proof your career, choose a qualification that’s as versatile as it is lucrative, like the Master of Science (MS) in Finance from Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business. This program has been designed to accelerate careers not only in the timeless fields of finance, wealth management, investment banking and corporate financial planning, but also computational finance, securities, risk analysis and many others sectors of the 21st century.
The best part? With a business degree, preparation requires only one year of study, making this accelerated 30 credit hour program a suitable choice for those looking to quickly impress employers and secure the leadership role they desire. Those with more specific career goals in mind will be happy to know that there are three specializations to choose from: corporate financial planning and analysis, securities and markets, or data analytics in finance.
One of the three will be paired with a strategically curated line of required courses. The basics are covered in the financial management course, which teaches the correct use of quantitative methods. “It leverages case studies from the Harvard Business Review to illustrate contemporary finance practice,” explains Dr. David Burnie, professor of finance and head of the MS in Finance program.
“This course introduces the Bloomberg Terminal and select add-ons for Microsoft Excel financial modeling to expand the analysis of real-world business scenarios. For example, one case explores how a Monte Carlo simulation provides insight into the trade-off theory of capital structure. Another case explores an initial public offering for the Snap company, with financial modeling to establish the theoretical value of Snap Inc.”
Dr. David Burnie’s research covers debt valuation, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, rights, options, dividend reinvestment plans, buybacks and more. Source: Western Michigan University
Meanwhile, the Global Financial Markets and Institutions course covers contemporary issues in money, capital and foreign exchange markets, multinational financial management, financial instruments and intermediaries in a global context. The Corporate Financial Restructuring course teaches students the quantitative analysis and evaluation of the financial aspects of various corporate restructuring strategies such as bankruptcy reorganizations, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, breakups, and mergers and acquisitions.
The remainder of the program includes structured topics in Financial Strategy, Financial Operations, Financial Econometrics and Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Equity Analysis, Fixed Income Analysis, Derivatives and Risk Management, and Financial Data Analysis.
“Courses in the program are designed to focus on particular aspects of finance rather than every course attempting to cover finance from a broad perspective,” says Dr. Burnie. “They build on each other and provide students with in-depth knowledge of financial applications and practices.”
Industry insights are included throughout the program, as is access to state-of-the-art facilities designed to give students a competitive edge. For example, MS in Finance courses are taught in the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room, which emulates a Wall Street trading environment. Here, students are taught to use the Bloomberg terminal to research market movements in real time and immerse themselves in the same technology used by investment professionals. In the Sanford Center for Financial Planning and Wellness, students make use of resources and programs related to both financial literacy and personal financial planning.
The MS in Finance is STEM designated, meaning it can provide international students with up to 24 additional months of professional training in the United States. Source: Western Michigan University
Students have access to databases such as Compustat, Center for Research in Security Prices, and ExecuComp, all available through Wharton Research Data Services. They will also be able to explore Refinitiv sources for M&A data.
These and others have been put in place to ensure MS Finance graduates enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence. “Our students will be prepared for jobs in corporate finance, investment banking, and a variety of areas within firms and consultancies that require financial data management and analysis,” says Dr. Burnie.
The professor regularly browses online vacancies to find good offers for his students. Recently, he has come across several listed by big names. Crédit Agricole CIB was looking for a Leverage Finance Associate. Stryker Corporation needed a finance specialist and Eaton Corporation was hiring a Lead Pricing Analyst.
Dr. Burnie also discovered that JP Morgan’s Public Finance group was looking for an Associate to join its Debt Capital Markets team. Applicants need a background in municipal finance, municipal banking or financial advisory, all of which MS in Finance students gain a solid foundation in during their Fixed Income Analysis course.
Indeed, all finance-related assignments reaffirmed the high demand for quantitative skills provided by this MS in Finance, a valuable skill for both domestic and international students. Because this dynamic program is STEM designated, it can provide international students with up to 24 additional months of professional education in the United States.
So what are you waiting for? Earn a versatile qualification and increase your earning potential at Haworth College of Business today. Click here to apply.
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