Master of Science in Finance and Analytics

The Master of Science in Finance and Analytics (MSFA) is designed to produce graduates who have the skills to:

Interpret and analyze financial information with cutting-edge tools, and develop financial models to assist decision-making
Understand ethical standards in business and recognize and evaluate issues of ethics and integrity facing finance
Develop and strengthen skills in leadership and collaboration

The MSFA program empowers students with analytical skills and practical experience essential for careers in corporate finance, banking, consulting, and government. It fosters the development of comprehensive knowledge crucial for success in management or executive positions within the financial sector or any organization's finance leadership role. Through finance elective courses, students can tailor their studies toward corporate finance, investment management, or capital markets, delving into the intricacies of finance and honing analytical tools to build a robust foundation of financial expertise.

Program requirements encompass courses that may feature students from the MBA and other M.S. programs, led by faculty members identical to those in the MBA program and operating under the same AACSB accreditation. The online program mirrors the on-campus version in learning objectives and content, ensuring uniformity across both platforms.

Admissions

For admission information, refer to Chapter 2.

Program Outline

The MSFA curriculum consists of 36 units across seven core courses (22 units), one experiential learning course (4 units), and 8 additional units of electives. Students should plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours per unit each week on coursework outside of class. For example, a 2-unit course requires about 4 hours of study per week, while a 4-unit course requires about 8 hours.

For additional academic information policies, refer to Chapter 5.

For additional information on online programs, refer to the Online Programs Section in

Chapter 6.

For course descriptions and prerequisites for core and electives, refer to Chapter 8.

Curriculum Clusters

1. Core Corporate Finance Knowledge (3 courses)

These courses provide students with essential skills and knowledge in financial analysis, econometrics, and investment management, equipping them with the quantitative tools and analytical capabilities needed to succeed in the finance industry.

FNCE 2400 Financial Forecasting & Analysis (4 units)
FNCE 2405 Investments (4 units)
FNCE 2409 Econometrics (2 units)

2. Core Business Analytics & Data Management Knowledge (3 courses)

These courses provide students with a strong foundation in quantitative analysis, statistical modeling, and programming skills essential for conducting financial analysis in today's data-driven environment. Mastering these skills enables students to effectively analyze financial data, assess investment risks, and make informed decisions to achieve financial objectives.

ISBA 2000 Linear Algebra (2 units)
ISBA 2400 Math for Business & Analytics with R (4 units)
ISBA 2401 Data Analytics with Python(4 units)
ISBA 2402 Database Management Systems - Fundamentals of SQL (2 units)

3. Experiential Learning (choose one of the following projects)

MSFA students have two options to fulfill the program's experiential learning requirement: Practicum or Capstone, both of which carry a total of four units. Practicums span two quarters, while Capstone projects are completed within one quarter. Both options necessitate the use of real data and the application of classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. Moreover, they provide a valuable opportunity for direct engagement with leading companies and potential employers. Noteworthy organizations, such as Google, Amazon, Adobe, VMware, Cisco, Intuit, Credit Suisse, Oracle, Nuveen, Franklin Templeton Investments, and others, serve as practicum partners for the program. For further details, refer to Chapter 5.

ISBA 2700 Industry Practicum I (2 units)
ISBA 2700 Industry Practicum I (2 units)
or

ISBA 2703 Capstone Design II (4 units)

Required Workshops for Practicum & Capstone

Team Dynamics and Effective Communication (Winter quarter)
Presentation (Spring quarter)

**Titles for workshops & term it is offer is subject to change**

4. Electives (12 units)

The program offers a range of electives designed to help students build expertise in specific areas. Please note that not all electives will be available every academic year. Some examples of electives that may be offered include:

FNCE 2404 Introduction to Time Series Forecasting (2 units)
FNCE 2408 Analytics for Finance (Panel Data) (2 units)
FNCE 2423 Intro to FinTech: Innovations and Disruptions to Traditional Finance (2 units)
FNCE 2428 Alternative Investments: Partnerships and Venture Capital (2 units)**
FNCE 2431 Intro to Fixed Income (2 units)*
FNCE 2452 Corporate Financial Transactions (2 units)*
FNCE 2453 Corporate Finance (4 units)*
FNCE 2457 International Financial Management (4 units)*
FNCE 2459 Financial Markets & Institutions (2 units)*
FNCE 2460 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructuring (4 units)
FNCE 2461 Applied Portfolio Management (2 units)*
FNCE 2462 Applied Portfolio Management II (2 units)*
FNCE 2464 Real Estate Finance (4 units)*
FNCE 2465 Financial Planning & Analysis (4 units)
FNCE 2480 Emerging Company Finance (2 units)*
FNCE 2481 Emerging Company Finance II (2 units)*
FNCE 2482 Business Valuation (4 units)
FNCE 2483 Applied Time Series Analysis (2 units)
FNCE 2484 Financial Engineering (4 units)**
FNCE 2486 Behavioral Corporate Finance (2 units)*
FNCE 2489 Mathematical Finance (4 units)*
FNCE 2492 Sustainability Investing (2 units)*
MKTG 3597 Marketing Analytics (4 units)
ISBA 2407 Database Analysis, Design and Management (2 units)
ISBA 2404 Dashboards w/ Tableau (2 units)
ISBA 2412 Data Visualization (2 units)
ISBA 2413 Big Data Modeling and Analytics (4 units)

*Offered in-person only
** Offered online only

International students are required to register for an internship course if they wish to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). For further details and prerequisites, refer to Chapter 5.

IDIS 3797 Internship (1 unit)
IDIS 3798 Internship II (1 unit)

GBP Anywhere Program

The GBP Anywhere Program provides MBA and MS students with greater flexibility by allowing them to enroll in elective courses across different Graduate Business Programs, whether in-person or online.

International students may enroll in one online course per quarter as long as they are registered for a minimum of 6 units of in-person classes. This option is not available during their first quarter of attendance and does not apply to core courses required by the program. In their final quarter, international students must be enrolled in at least one on-campus course and cannot take only online courses. F-1 visa holders are also required to be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units each quarter. For the most current information, or if you have any questions or concerns about online course eligibility, registration requirements, or visa implications, please consult your academic advisor and the International Student Scholars (ISS) office.

Furthermore, MSBA students are granted the opportunity to enroll in one graduate-level course outside of their program, subject to meeting prerequisites, availability of space, and approval from the Faculty Director of the Program. These courses must be at the graduate level and chosen exclusively from within the Leavey School of Business. This option is available only once during the student's academic program, and enrollment is contingent upon approval and availability.

For additional information, refer to the GBP Anywhere Programs Section in Chapter 6.

Career Requirement

To support your career growth and professional advancement, all Online & MS graduate programs at SCU require students to meet with a career coach at least once as part of the graduation requirements. This engagement is designed to help you foster a relationship with the Graduate Business Career Management Service Team early on in your program, allowing you to take full advantage of the career resources available to you both during and after your time at SCU.

These resources include workshops, career coaching sessions, resume reviews, and career reflections. We want to ensure that you’re well-prepared for your future career and that you have the tools to navigate the job market successfully, both as a student and as an alumni. While you're enrolled, you can complete these requirements at your convenience, but they must be finished by your final quarter to be eligible for graduation.

Students will also be required to submit an updated resume to the Career Team during the practicum project.