Master of Science in Finance

Master of Science in Finance

Manderson's one-year program for Master of Science in Finance equips students with the skills to make sense of financial markets. The course of study is designed to provide insight into the following topics: the importance of financial intermediaries and of the markets in which they participate, the valuation of specialized financial assets and how they are managed in a portfolio, the determination and behavior of interest rates and rates of return on assets. By empowering students with advanced expertise in investments, banking, corporate finance and financial engineering, Manderson graduates master all competitive markets.


SPECIALIZATIONS

Financial Policy

Home to the highly rigorous Master of Science in Finance, the Financial Policy specialization prepares students for roles as decision makers and policy drafters, legislators and experts. The general course sequence is as follows.


Financial Risk Strategy

The Master of Science in Finance prepares students to excel in the highly competitive world of investment markets. The general course sequence is as follows.


Real Estate

Interdisciplinary courses covering asset and portfolio analysis, banking, quantitative methods, and economics support the real estate track, which is structured to encourage analytical thinking, creative problem solving and strategic decision making.

Prerequisites

We welcome applications from all undergraduate majors and all work experience levels. We seek to admit a diverse group of students with unique backgrounds, experiences, and goals. As such, there are no specific class prerequisites for the Manderson programs. Our prerequisites are few but our expectations are many, including a dedication to excellence, a rigorous pursuit of goals, an innovative mind, and a resolve to be at the forefront of what is current and relevant to the modern enterprise.


Work Experience

Experience is important to the dynamic of Manderson’s learning environment. Typically more than 60% of each entering class has significant prior work experience. The program also has a niche group of approximately 40% high achieving students with little or no prior work experience. No matter your prior work experience, Manderson gives you experience for the future.


Application

Online Application.


Statement of Purpose/Intent Essay

You have the option to electronically submit your essay after finishing your online application. This is the most efficient means of submitting your essay. Statements of purpose turned in digitally must be submitted to the graduate application center.


Official GMAT or GRE Scores

Manderson programs accept either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants should take either exam and request that scores be submitted electronically to The University of Alabama, which may be done immediately following the completion of the exam. We accept only official score reports from ETS or Pearson VUE that are less than five years old. Official scores must be received before we can evaluate your application.


Official Undergraduate Transcripts

The Graduate School office requires two official transcripts from each undergraduate institution that you have attended. Even if you were/are a UA undergraduate, you still must submit two official transcripts before your file can be reviewed. The registrar should sign across the seal on the back of each transcript envelope.


Fees

A fee of $250.00 will be imposed on each graduate course taken. A business school technology fee is assessed at the rate of $11 per credit hour. Other fees (parking, student health services, housing, etc.) are not included in this estimate.

Students enrolled in the Enterprise Consulting concentration are required to register for a class offered in the interim term (the three-week period between spring semester and the summer internship).


Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9–15 hours per regular semester. An overload fee is assessed for each credit hour in excess of the full-time tuition schedule.



Scholarships

All admission candidates are automatically considered for all available awards, with award decisions based on the merits of each application. No additional forms or applications are required. Students whose applications are received by the early admission application deadline of January 5, or no later than the February 15 priority admission deadline, have the greatest chance of receiving financial assistance through the Manderson program. Manderson consistently awards at least 50 percent of our students with some type of scholarship, assistantship or fellowship.