MBA in Applied Security Analysis

Take Your Investment Expertise to New Heights

Up your value as an investor with a top-ranked MBA that sets you apart in the investment world. Supported by the Hawk Center for Investment Analysis, this is the longest-running program of its kind and remains one of the nation’s leading academic programs for applied investment education. The curriculum emphasizes application of modern investment theory to the management of a $25 million portfolio.

Hands-on experience managing real money and making investment decisions that make a real impact

Access to alumni who teach and mentor, and serve as a network to find internships and full-time job positions

A low faculty-to-student ratio enables close monitoring of students’ financial modeling and reports and detailed, real-time feedback

A CFA Institute University Affiliation Program School

The Wisconsin School of Business is a participant in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which ensures that our curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is helpful to students preparing for CFA Program exams.

Curriculum

The Wisconsin Full-Time MBA curriculum integrates a strong foundation in general management with highly focused preparation in applied security analysis. You will begin specializing right away.

Year 1

First Semester

Data to Decisions
Financial Accounting
Introduction to Financial Management
Operations Management
Leading and Working in Teams
Marketing Management
Introduction to Applied Security Analysis

Second Semester

Ethics, Integrity and Society
Integrated Company Analysis
Business Strategy
Economics for Managers
Business Valuation
Introduction to Applied Portfolio Management
Analysis of Fixed Income Securities

Year 2

First Semester

Applied Security Analysis and Investment Management I
Electives (3)

Second Semester

Applied Security Analysis and Investment Management II
Electives (2)

In addition to the courses listed here, the curriculum also incorporates electives in finance and accounting, including topics such as raising capital, mergers and acquisitions, entrepreneurial finance, multinational finance, valuation, financial statement analysis, and more.

As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program partner, the Wisconsin School of Business integrates at least 70 percent of the CFA certification program content into the curriculum. The three-year CFA certification exam program is the standard accreditation of the financial and investment industry, and the applied security specialization in the Wisconsin MBA Program will prepare you for exam day from your very first semester.

Applied Learning

Beginning immediately, you’ll learn from direct contact with leading investment practitioners, use the same analytical tools used by professionals, and control more than $25 million in actual securities. Small program size means you get a lot of interaction and hands-on experience to build your résumé.

Manage more than $25 million of equities and fixed-income assets in the second-year specialization capstone
Learn from financial professionals the keys to assessing the quality of corporate business models, weighing risks and opportunities, and applying valuation methodologies to security holdings
Apply what you learn in the classroom to real business decisions, supported by alumni and successful industry leaders, as with a recent applied learning session in which students presented an action plan for increasing portfolio performance to a practicing fund manager
Gain proficiency with industry tools investment professionals rely upon, including Bloomberg® Terminals, Morningstar® financial data, Sustainalytics, and FactSet® Analytics

woman in business clothes talking to other students in the classroom

Build the core skill sets required in today’s financial markets through access to Wall Street Prep evaluation and financial statement modeling materials, templates, and training, including a two-day Wall Street Prep bootcamp.
Prepare for the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Program exam series through a specialized curriculum and access to additional CFA resources as part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program
Participate in the CFA Institute Research Challenge
Learn from financial industry leaders from across the globe through conference opportunities

Expert Support and Career Connections

student raising hand in learning commons

Knowledge Center

The specialization is supported by a dedicated knowledge center, the Hawk Center for Investment Analysis, backed by extensive industry support and a network of more than 700 Hawk Center alumni.

Participating investment industry experts and alumni:

Guide curriculum and applied learning
Mentor students
Assist with recruiting and placement

Advisory Boards

Members of two Hawk Center advisory boards – Hawk Portfolio Advisory Board and Hawk Leadership Board – have deep ties to the industry and consult on all aspects of the program.

Board Member Spotlight

Jason Schultz, CFA, CPA

Director–Leveraged Finance Research/Head of Internship Recruiting Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Co.

Jason serves the center as a member of the Hawk Fixed Income Portfolio Advisory Board. He is an experienced investor focused on identification and analysis of and investment in undervalued securities. Jason regularly directs interns to Northwestern Mutual.

World-class Faculty

Our expert faculty members offer a deep-dive investment program that sets you apart.

Greg Edwards (MS ‘97)

Director, Hawk Center for Investment Analysis

Edwards brings more than twenty years of investment management experience to the program, using his background in equity management and research to prepare the next leaders in the field. He guides first year students in the management of equity portfolios. Edwards is a Wisconsin School of Business alumnus and has managed equity portfolios at firms like BlackRock and Baird, most recently serving as a senior analyst at a boutique hedge fund.

Betsi Hill (MS ’89)

Teaching Faculty III

Hill provides valuable perspective as she shares extensive industry experience supervising student management of fixed-income portfolios. A program alumna who has served on the advisory board, Hill started her career as a credit analyst for Liberty Mutual, rising to senior positions in fixed income credit research, most recently as partner and head of global credit research at Napier Park Global Capital.

Program Voices

“ASAP allowed me to learn the skills and build a network to break into the Investment Management world from a more general Finance career path. Anyone looking to make a similar switch should consider the ASAP Program at UW Madison. “

Kevin Gronseth (MBA `20)

Equity Analyst, Olympus Ventures

“The ASAP program was pivotal in helping me obtain the skillset and network needed to move from an investment operations role to a rewarding career in investment management. I’d recommend the ASAP program to any student who is serious about pursuing a career on the buy or sell-side. “

Mike Warecki (MBA `19)

Research Analyst, Heartland Advisors

“The strong alumni base is invaluable. The ASAP alumni are professionals doing the exact work we were preparing to do. Alumni supported me by reviewing my stock and other investment reports. They are very genuine and they wanted to see us succeed. Faculty collaboration in the program assures a strong, well-coordinated curriculum. It is very easy to ask for help and get the attention you need to succeed.”

Evan Bernier (MBA ’18)

Equity Research Analyst, Brentview Investment Management

“The support of the alumni from the Wisconsin MBA Program in applied security analysis has far exceeded any of my expectations. I never thought I would get the opportunity to work with and learn from so many successful individuals in the investment management field while I was still in school. Whether it’s being challenged on my investment decisions by our advisory board or just getting the opportunity to learn from and interact with our weekly speakers, my understanding of the investment business and how to be successful in this field has definitely been accelerated by our alumni base.”

Brandon Jankowski (MBA ’16)

High Yield Corporate Bond Research Analyst, Columbia Threadneedle Investments

“Managing a fixed-income portfolio gave me a real-world perspective on the roles of both a research analyst and portfolio manager. The real-world experiences that students have elevate the applied security analysis program’s depth of experience in investment management.”

Andrew Sprunger (MBA ’16)

High Yield Credit Analyst, Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company