Curriculum
Explore courses and career-defining experiences
Earn your MS in Finance, Investment, and Banking and become a finance leader.
1 additional year
- Program spans your senior year at UW–Madison + 1 additional year
- Focus on applied security analysis
- Build quantitative + analytical skills
CFA exam prep
The program also helps equip you to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I exam after your senior year and the CFA Level II exam following graduation.
100% job & internship placements
The program has an outstanding track record, with 100 percent of students placed in internships and 100 percent accepting job offers within three months of graduation.
Leading-edge content. Exceptional career-readiness.
Gain the theoretical and experiential knowledge needed to begin your career in investment analysis. The curriculum requires a minimum of 30 graduate credits, with the potential to transfer up to 6 qualifying credits. Customize your academic experience with elective graduate courses, which can be drawn from a number of business disciplines.
Manage $25 million in assets
Work with a team of other MS in Finance students and MBA students to co-manage over $25 million in assets held in equity and fixed income portfolios.
- Define an investment philosophy and process to guide your investment decisions.
- Use the same tools used by professionals
- Have complete authority to direct assets into investments you choose.
- Present to Hawk Center board members and experience the dynamics of an actual client-manager relationship.
Learn from leaders in the industry
Classes are taught by practitioners with extensive investment management experience. You develop analytical and communication skills as instructors provide individual critiques of your models and reports.
Class speakers have represented firms such as:
- Fidelity Management & Research Company
- Fiduciary Management
- Northwestern Mutual
- OppenheimerFunds
- Robert W. Baird & Co.
- T. Rowe Price
- Waddell & Reed
- Wells Capital Management
Courses
First year
Your senior year as an undergraduate will include required electives in applied security analysis, as well as the courses you need to complete your undergraduate degree.
Required classes:
- Security Analysis
- Analysis of Fixed Income Securities
- Introduction to Applied Security Analysis
- Introduction to Applied Portfolio Management
Summer after senior year
- Research internship at an investment firm
- Portfolio management responsibilities
Second year
- Applied Security Analysis & Investment Management I
- Applied Security Analysis & Investment Management II
- 3 electives in finance or accounting
- 3 electives in any business discipline
At least nine credits of electives must be taken in each semester of your graduate year.