

The Online Master of Science in Finance
Business may run on numbers, but it relies on people who can build and analyze sophisticated models to translate financial figures into bold insights and innovative strategies. The finance professionals who have a firm grasp of the technical skills and practices of finance have the singular ability to clearly deliver contemporary solutions in all facets of management and finance.
At William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business, we offer an Online Master of Science in Finance (MSF) that prepares future CFOs with the quantitative and leadership skills necessary to identify value creation opportunities and assess risk, navigate global challenges, foster change and create value in an ethical manner.
Explore the Online MS in Finance
Online Master’s in Finance by the Numbers
32
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Online Master’s in Finance Courses Overview
Our program is centered on four pillars—principled value creation; financial modeling, analysis and decision-making; global financial strategy; and effective communication of complex financial information and strategies. These are the conceptual and technical skills every finance professional must possess and fully master in order to find near and long-term success in corporate finance, investment management, real estate finance, commercial banking, consulting and more. These are the skills our Online MS in Finance curriculum prepares you to master.
Our 32-credit curriculum can be broken down into the following two types of courses:
- 6 core courses, worth a total of 24 credits
- 4 elective courses, worth a total of 16 credits
Core MS in Finance Courses (24 credits)
BUAD 5027 Financial Statement Analysis and Modeling (4 credits)
Information from financial statements is used in many situations including setting targets for manager's bonus plans, determining loan covenants, setting prices for IPO's, setting prices for mergers or acquisitions, deciding whether to loan a company money, and deciding whether to purchase the stock of a company. When using financial statement information, people routinely make adjustments to net income to estimate what they believe is the true economic income of the firm (e.g., "core earnings" or "economic value-added"). In this class, students will learn how to evaluate the information provided in financial statements and draw your own conclusions about whether it accurately reflects the financial position of the firm.
BUAD 5127 Principles of Finance (4 credits)
BUAD 5417Advanced Corporate Finance (4 credits)
Building on previous courses, this course incorporates richer institutional details and deepens understanding of how firms interact with the financial markets. Topics to be included are: financing investments with capital market imperfections, corporate control, governance and risk management.
BUAD 5317 Corporate Valuation and Credit Analysis (4 credits)
BUAD 5527 Investments (4 credits)
BUAD 5617 Applied Investment Management (4 credits)
Elective MS in Finance Courses (16 credits)
BUAD 6007 Behavioral Finance (4 credits)
BUAD 6207 Real Estate Finance (4 credits)
BUAD 6307 Real Estate Investments (4 credits)
BUAD 6107 Money, Banking and Financial Markets (4 credits)
The intertwined goals of this course are to (1) develop a strategic-level understanding of the economics of the financial sector as a whole, including interest rate and exchange rate determination, money creation by central banks, the operations of banks and the payments system, and (2) develop in depth knowledge of how some of the largest individual money/financial markets function, what financial services and products these markets offer, and how these products might be of value to the corporations and investors. The key financial markets analyzed in this course are the money markets, including both the commercial and shadow banking systems, the foreign exchange markets and role of banks as broker-dealers, public and private bond placement, the mortgage markets, and interest rate swaps. Among the financial institutions we examine are the two most important central banks, U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, large commercial banks, money market mutual fund companies, and foreign exchange market makers.
The Online Master’s in Finance at a Glance
- Complete in as few as 16 months
- 100% online
- Optional residency*
- No GMAT/GRE required
- 3 starts per year: August, January and May
- Earn your degree from a prestigious business school
- Study with our faculty of industry experts
*Online MS in Finance students are invited to join other W&M online students at one of the immersive residency weekends at our Williamsburg campus. Students who attend a residency will earn one additional credit. Read more about the residency weekend experience.
Want more insight?
Explore what’s ahead in the Online MS in Finance program—download our program details guide, your one-stop document for admissions requirements, courses and more.
Discover Our Online Master's Program Experience
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What skills will you acquire in the master’s in finance program?
- Analyzing financial statements
- Forecasting complete sets of financial statements
- Preparing three-statement-models
- Pricing securities in modern financial markets
- Creating value for shareholders
- Understanding how firms interact with financial markets
- Building and interpreting valuation models in Excel
- Portfolio management and investment management in various asset classes
- Using financial software tools
- Analyzing individual and organizational behavior
- Comprehending the homebuying process
- Programming complex mortgages
- Generating income from each quadrant of real estate
Keep Asking Questions
What skills will I acquire in the online master’s in finance program?
You’ll become fluent in:
- Analyzing financial statements
- Forecasting complete sets of financial statements
- Preparing three-statement models
- Pricing securities in modern financial markets
- Creating value for shareholders
- Understanding how firms interact with financial markets
- Building and interpreting valuation models in Excel
- Portfolio management and investment management in various asset
- classes
- Using financial software tools
- Analyzing individual and organizational behavior
- Comprehending the homebuying process
- Programming complex mortgages
- Generating income from each quadrant of real estate
What can I do with a master’s in finance?
- Finance officer
- Forensic accountant
- Financial analyst
- Portfolio manager
- Wealth manager
- Investment banking analyst
- Finance and insurance manager
- Actuary
- Corporate controller
- Vice president of finance
- Chief financial officer
What salary can I earn with a master’s in finance?
Get to Know the Raymond A. Mason School of Business
- Retrieved on June 21, 2022, from princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings?rankings=best-professors
- Retrieved on June 21, 2022, from bloomberg.com/business-schools/william-and-mary-mason
- Retrieved on November 17, 2020, from bls.gov/ces/publications/highlights/2020/current-employment-statistics-highlights-10-2020.pdf
- Retrieved on November 17, 2020, from money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/financial-manager&sa=D&ust=1606170200048000&usg=AOvVaw0gGzKLXrpSEn4LuobcOuM8
- Retrieved on November 17, 2020, from bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm
- Retrieved on November 17, 2020, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/chief-financial-officer-salary-SRCH_KO0,23.htm
- Retrieved on November 17, 2020, from data.census.gov/cedsci/table?tid=ACSDT5Y2016.B20004&q=ACSDT5Y2016.B20004
- September 1, 2022, from indeed.com/career/chief-financial-officer/salaries