Master of Science in Finance

The goals of the Masters of Science in Finance program are to provide graduates with…..

1. the skills to apply appropriate principles of valuation for major financial assets and securities,
2. the ability to engage in research and evaluate if investment and financial policies maximize firm value,
3. the knowledge to evaluate financial risk in the energy industry and devise risk management strategies, and
4. the ability to understand the trade-off between risk and return in investment management.

Over the last decade, finance professionals have faced an increasingly complex and technical world with the advent of a tremendous number of new "exotic" securities, the explosion in the options and futures markets!, the increase in financial globalization, and the increased volatility in equity and currency markets. This has generated a demand for a focused, intensive course of study in the technical aspects of security valuation, trading strategies, hedging, and corporate reorganization. This demand has given rise to the Master of Science in Finance Program at the C.T. Bauer College of Business.

The program provides students with a focused, technical concentration in the finance area to help graduates deal with the increasingly complex world of Finance. The Masters of Science in Finance is a fully accredited graduate program in the UH Bauer College of Business. The program's objective is to provide participants with a focused course of study that will enhance their understanding of the principles and practice of finance. This will enable participants to deal more readily with the increasingly complex concepts and body of knowledge faced by finance professionals. The program would be particularly relevant to those working in, or planning to work in the following areas.

• Commercial and retail banking
• Investment banking
• Security analysis and brokerage
• Corporate finance, venture capital and corporate restructuring
• Security trading and risk management
• Financial consulting

The program consists of thirty-six hours of graduate study in the areas of Finance, Accounting, Statistics and Economics. Students are required to take twelve hours in foundation courses (Accounting, Economics, Statistics and Finance), twelve hours of required advanced finance courses, and twelve hours of finance or related area electives.

In order to better service the educational needs of the Houston community, the Bauer College of Business has assembled a nationally renowned faculty in Finance. The current members of the faculty have over forty years of full-time experience as faculty at the top ten finance departments. Indeed, recent rankings place the UH finance faculty sixteenth in the nation and second in the State of Texas.

Our knowledge of what "works" at the top business schools in this country is being brought to bear on the task of providing the Houston community with the opportunity for training and advanced certification in Finance commensurate with the fourth largest city in the United States.

The Finance Department is in the process of developing a number of programs aimed at satisfying the demand for executive programs in the area of Finance. The Department is engaged in a partnership with the Houston Society of Financial Analysts to provide CFA review programs through the UH Bauer College of Business. The Finance Department is also planning a series of courses leading to a Certification in Finance developed in the College's Center for Executive Development (CED). This program will be designed for Finance professionals already holding an MBA degree, but who want additional focus in the Finance area. The faculty in the Finance Department can also arrange for specialized courses. As you scan the details on course offerings and requirements for the MS in Finance Program, keep in mind that the Bauer College of Business is focused on the working professional. Graduate level programs in Finance at UH are developed to provide a stimulating academic environment where theory and practice meet.