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Finance

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Accounting & FinanceGR

General

Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Program Requirements

Graduate Business Programs
238 Elliott Hall
(248) 370-3287
OUgradbusiness@oakland.edu
http://www.oakland.edu/business/grad


Faculty Director: MSF Program
Dr. Ranadeb Chaudhuri
423 Elliott Hall
(248) 370-3200
chaudhur@oakland.edu.
 

Program Director:
Paul Trumbull
238B Elliott Hall
(248) 370-3277
trumbull@oakland.edu

Program Description

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is offered in the Department of Accounting and Finance within the School of Business Administration. Designed for students aiming to pursue careers in investments, corporate finance, risk management, credit analysis, and related areas, the MSF program emphasizes cutting-edge financial analytics and data-driven decision-making as essential tools in today's complex financial landscape. This advanced degree equips finance professionals to thrive in a dynamic corporate environment by providing deep analytical expertise, strong communication skills, and a commitment to ethical responsibility. Graduates will be capable of analyzing critical financial information, conducting data-driven analysis of economic and market trends, and offering valuable input in strategic decision-making processes.

The program plays a vital role in advancing the mission and strategic goals of the university. Specifically, it aims to:

  • Equip students with core concepts and analytical tools in finance to develop integrated, innovative strategies that address both current and emerging business challenges

  • Provide a pathway to careers in investments, corporate finance, risk management, credit analysis, and other related fields

  • Enhance students' analytical thinking, problem solving, communication, and data interpretation skills for effective real-world application

  • Offer a graduate-level curriculum that delivers superior technical and analytical knowledge, advancing beyond the foundational skills taught in undergraduate finance programs

  • Promote research and scholarship in finance, contributing to the academic reputation of the School of Business Administration and the broader university community

  • Foster partnerships with business seeking finance professionals with a strong foundation in modeling, data analytics, and strategic insight

  • Engage alumni to strengthen the program's industry relevance, professional networks, and mentorship opportunities

Admission Terms and Application Deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

Domestic Students

  • July 15 for fall semester

  • November 15 for winter semester

  • March 1 for summer semester

International Students 

  • May 1 for fall (September) admission

  • September 1 for winter (January) admission

  • January 1 for summer (May) admission

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

  1. Graduate application requirements

      

  • Applicants must meet the general admission requirements for graduate study at Oakland University

    2. Additional department application requirement

  • Recommendation for Graduate Admission form
    One recommendation must be from faculty members or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant.

  • Curriculum Vitae or Resumé

GMAT Policy​

The GMAT/GRE is not required if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • Earned a master’s degree or higher with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or has an acceptable score on the GRE, LSAT, or MCAT entrance exam

  • Earned a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 from an AACSB-accredited business school

  • Earned a bachelor’s degree in any major with an overall GPA of at least 3.2 from a regionally accredited program

  • Completed a business-related certification such as CPA, CFA, CFP or FRM

  • Has at least 3 years of relevant professional work experience and an undergraduate overall GPA of at least 2.75

  • Has completed at least 3 years of service in the US Armed Services

If an applicant does not meet any of the above criteria, it is recommended that they connect with the Graduate Business Programs Office to discuss GMAT preparation and or other options to be considered for admission.

Admission Review and Assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Finance program is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credits in an approved program of study. The curriculum for the program is as follows:

MSF Course Requirements

A. Foundation Courses (18 Credits)

A foundation course may be waived if an equivalent course was previously completed with a grade of “C” or above. The MSF student who is waived from foundation requirements must substitute graduate business electives to complete their 30-credit program. The MSF Director must approve these electives.

The following courses are required of all MSF students:

  • course Financial Accounting (3 credits)

  • course Quantitative Methods for Managers (3 credits)

  • course Financial Management ( 3 credits)

  • course Investment Analysis (3 credits)

  • course Financial Modeling (3 credits)

  • course Financial Data Analytics (3 credits)

B. Electives: (minimum of 4 courses)

  • course Managerial Accounting Systems (3 credits)

  • course Financial Analysis and Valuation (3 credits)

  • course Real Estate Investment Analysis (3 credits)

  • course Financial Institutions Management (3 credits)

  • course International Financial Management (3 credits)

  • course Deep Learning & Neural Networks in Finance (3 credits)

  • course Portfolio Management (3 credits)

  • course Fixed Income Analysis (3 credits)

  • course Derivatives and Risk Management (3 credits)

  • course Special Topics in Finance (3 credits)

  • course Business Analytics (3 credits)

  • course Practical Computing for Data Analytics (3 credits)

  • course Advanced Analytics with Python (3 credits)

C. Capstone Course (3 credits)

Required course, must be taken in last semester.

  • course Financial Strategies (3 credits)

Additional Program Information

  • In compliance with university policy, no undergraduate courses will be applied toward graduate degree requirements.

  • Students must meet the prerequisites for all MSF courses.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good Academic Standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good Academic Standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  • Holding a Graduate Assistantship

  • Receiving a fellowship or scholarship

  • Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree

  • Going on a leave of absence

  • Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements:  In accordance with the university requirements for graduate students, a grade-point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. Students, therefore, should maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Students may be dismissed if they do not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or appropriate progress toward the degree as determined by the Office of Graduate Business Programs. Any course resulting in a grade below 2.0 must be repeated.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related Program Information

Plan of Study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with the program coordinator, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.