Upon graduation, students with a finance emphasis have taken positions with retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and financial service firms as corporate financial, treasury, and security analysts. Within the financial services industry, they have found positions in investment banking, asset management, and commercial banking firms. Here is a partial list of the positions our students accepted recently:

• business development manager
• commercial lender
• corporate analyst
• investment banker
• long-range planning & investment analyst
• management consultant
• planning & budgeting analyst
• portfolio manager
• research analyst
• securities analyst
• financial analyst
• treasury staff

Recommendations for a Finance Emphasis
It is recommended that at least 12 elective credits with the FINA course designation be completed for a finance emphasis. To fulfill unique career objectives, students interested in specializing in a particular aspect of finance can use the following guides for their course selection decisions in one of four areas:
(i) corporate finance and investment banking, (ii) security analysis and portfolio management, (iii) banking, and (iv) risk management.

Corporate finance and investment banking coursework provides a structured way for managers, investment bankers, commercial bankers, board members, consultants, and entrepreneurs to consider the ramifications of three broad firm-wide decisions: investment, financing, and payout. Additionally, it introduces them to a rigorous and disciplined approach for analyzing and making a number of related decisions regarding (1) the allocation of scarce corporate resources among competing uses, (2) security issuance and the choice between (public and private) debt and equity, (3) the use of hybrid securities, (4) the choice between dividends and share repurchases, and (5) the decision to engage in mergers, restructuring, and/or corporate diversification. The following courses are recommended for a finance emphasis: corporate finance and investment banking.

 

These 8 credits:
FINA 6241	Corporate Finance Analysis and Decisions (4 credits)
FINA 6242	Advanced Corporate Finance Analysis and Decisions (4 credits)

 

At least 4 credits from:
FINA 6121	Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging (2 credits)
FINA 6322	Introductory Financial Modeling (2 credits)
FINA 6323	Advanced Financial Modeling (2 credits)
FINA 6324	Securitization Markets (2 Credits)
FINA 6621	International Financial Management (2 credits)
FINA 6522	Introduction to Derivatives and Financial Risk Management (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6622)

Security analysis and portfolio management is appropriate for students with career interests as equity or credit analysts for buy-side and sell-side firms and for private equity firms and, eventually, as portfolio managers for investment management firms. The coursework covers the development and application of the analytical frameworks and modeling skills for valuing debt, equity and derivative securities and for designing and measuring the performance of investment portfolios. The following courses are recommended for a finance emphasis: security analysis and portfolio management.

 

These 8 credits:
FINA 6121	Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging (2 credits)
FINA 6321	Portfolio Analysis and Management (2 credits)
FINA 6322	Financial Modeling (2 credits)
FINA 6323	Advanced Financial Modeling (2 credits)

 

And at least 4 credits from:
FINA 6241	Corporate Finance Analysis and Decisions (4 credits)
FINA 6522	Introduction to Derivatives and Financial Risk Management (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6622)
FINA 6529	Advanced Topics in Fixed Income and Derivatives (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6541)
FINA 6324	Securitization Markets (2 credits)
FINA 6621	International Financial Management (2 credits)

Banking is a relevant course of study for students who seek positions within the banking sector in such areas as credit analysis, consumer and business lending, private banking, foreign exchange and risk management services, and general management. The key topics covered in the recommended coursework include the behavior of interest rates and how they affect bank activities and profits, credit risk and lending decisions, liquidity and funding risk, regulatory requirements, and how securitization, risk management, and bank capital can help in dealing with these issues. Related topics that are covered include economic policy, international risks, and corporate finance. The following courses are recommended for a finance emphasis: banking.

 

These 8 credits:
FINA 6121	Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging (2 credits)
FINA 6122	Financial Management of Depository Institutions (2 credits)
FINA 6324	Securitization Markets (2 credits)
FINA 6522	Introduction to Derivatives and Financial Risk Management (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6622)

 

And at least 4 credits from:
FINA 6241	Corporate Finance Analysis and Decisions (4 credits)
FINA 6341	World Economy (4 credits)
FINA 6529	Advanced Topics in Fixed Income and Derivatives (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6541)
FINA 6621	International Financial Management (2 credits)

Risk management involves identifying and quantifying the risks facing an organization, and then taking appropriate actions to mitigate the magnitude and likelihood of these risks, consistent with the objectives of the organization. It is appropriate for students aspiring to professions in such areas as quantitative risk analysis, structured finance, and credit risk modeling and analytics. Key topics presented in the coursework include the pricing and hedging of derivative securities, such as interest rate and foreign exchange swaps, options and futures, and the repackaging, securitization and selling of assets (e.g., credit card receivables and mortgage backed securities). The following courses are recommended for a finance emphasis: risk management.

 

These 8 credits:
FINA 6121	Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging (2 credits)
FINA 6324	Securitization Markets (2 credits)
FINA 6522	Introduction to Derivatives and Financial Risk Management (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6622)
FINA 6529	Advanced Topics in Fixed Income and Derivatives (2 credits) (formerly FINA 6541)

 

And at least 4 credits from:
FINA 6122	Financial Management of Depository Institutions (2 credits)
FINA 6341	World Economy (4 credits)
FINA 6621	International Financial Management (2 credits)

Additionally, we recommend that students pursuing a finance emphasis also consider incorporating interdisciplinary courses to obtain a well-rounded business foundation. The following courses are suggested as complementary to a finance emphasis.

 

ACCT 6100	Financial Statement Analysis (4 credits)
ACCT 6160	Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions, and Derivatives (2 credits)
ENTR 6023	Financing Business Ventures (4 credits)
ENTR 6037	Corporate Venturing (4 Credits)
IDSC 6421	Financial Information Systems and Technologies (2 credits)
MGMT 6004	Negotiation Strategies (2 credits)
MGMT 6031	Industry Analysis and Competitive Strategy (4 credits)
MGMT 6085	Corporate Strategy (4 credits)
MKTG 6075	Pricing Strategy (4 credits)
MKTG 6088	Strategic Marketing (2 credits)
SCO 6056	Managing Supply Chain Operations (4 credits)
SCO 6065	Strategic Supply Chain Management (2 credits)

 

Students should keep in mind that not all courses listed above are offered every semester. Students should check One Stop and/or the Class Schedule page to verify each semester's course offerings as well as the professors assigned to those courses.

Brief course descriptions and a tentative list of when the course is being offered can be found on the Courses page.

Department Advisor

Helen Moser
Senior Lecturer
612-626-7250
moser092@umn.edu

MBA Student Affairs Advisor

Christina Holdvogt
Associate Director of Student Affairs
612-625-7582
choldvog@umn.edu

MBA Admissions Advisor

Peter Woxland
Associate Director of Admissions & Recruiting
612-626-0727
woxla005@umn.edu

Christina Holdvogt
Registrar and Advising Manager
612-626-0010
choldvog@umn.edu

Peter Woxland
Registrar and Advising Manager
612-626-0727
woxla005@umn.edu

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