Brandeis International Business School

Core Curriculum

Earning your Master of Science in Finance Degree

student studying outside

If you have a solid financial and quantitative skill set and looking for a rigorous master's program in finance that will place you on an accelerated path to graduation, the International Business School MSF program is a perfect fit.

Key Elements

  • Immerse yourself in essential theories, concepts and current industry examples—with direct ties to topics on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.
  • The MSF program is part of the CFA Institute University Recognition Program, which recognizes curricula that incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), which positions students well to sit for the CFA exams.

Curriculum and Timeline

The MSF program is nine or 16 months in length and requires 24 core credits. Students with work experience or an undergraduate degree in finance can complete the fast-track nine-month program. Students without a finance background, must enroll in the 16-month MSF program and will have the ability to select a concentration or build their own concentration.

Sample Course Plan: 9-Month

Fall (15-19 credits)

  • Fin 204a: Corporate Finance (4 credits)
  • Fin 205a: Investments and Portfolio Management (4 credits)
  • FIN 212a: Financial Accounting and Analysis (4 credits) OR FIN 213a: Intermediate Financial Accounting (4 credits)
  • Fin 217f: Corporate Financial Modeling (2 credits)
  • Bus 224g: Launching Your Global Career (1 credit)
  • Elective credits (2-4 credits)

Spring (15-19 credits)

  • Fin 261a: Fixed Income Securities (4 credits)
  • Fin 270a: Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
  • Work Practicum Field Project (4 credits)
  • FIN 219g: Financial Modeling Bootcamp (1 credit)
  • Elective credits (2-6 credits)

Please note that the 9-month program begins in Fall 2024. Applications are now open.

Sample Course Plan: 16-Month

Fall 1 (15-17 credits)

  • FIN 203a: Financial Management (4 credits)
  • FIN 204a: Corporate Finance Theory & Practice (4 credits)
  • FIN 217f: Corporate Finance Modeling (2 credits)
  • FIN 212a: Financial Accounting and Analysis (4 credits) OR FIN 213a: Intermediate Financial Accounting (4 credits)
  • BUS 224g: Launching Your Global Career (1 credit)
  • FIN 215f: Python and Applications to Finance (2 credits)*

*Required only for students pursuing the FinTech concentration

Spring 1 (17 credits)

  • FIN 205a: Investments and Portfolio Management (4 credits)
  • FIN 270a: Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
  • FIN 2197g: Financial Modeling Bootcamp (1 credit)
  • Concentration or general electives (8 credits)

Summer (4 credits)

Practicum (choose only one):

  • FIN 292a: Internship (4 credits)
  • FIN 293a: Field Project in Finance (4 credits)
  • FIN 294a: Directed Research (4 credits)

Fall 2 (8-10 credits)

  • FIN 261a: Fixed Income Securities (4 credits)
  • Concentration or general electives (4-6 credits)
Concentrations and Electives

The 16-month MSF program requires 18 elective credits. MSF students are encouraged to use these elective credits to complete one of five concentrations. MSF students who do not concentrate in any of the four pre-designed concentrations can choose to build their own "Concentration" from a selection of advanced offerings in finance. Please note that students must enroll in the 16-month MSF program to select a concentration.