Gain Results-Driven Finance Skills—Starting Day One
The corporate finance and investment banking specialization blends firsthand experience and technical development for informed judgment. Prepare to make profitable financial decisions to improve businesses, both ethically and financially. Learn to think about finance creatively and use finance purposefully to become the well-rounded and effective leader employers seek.
Learn the ins and outs of the industry
Go deep into the latest tools and methods
Network with finance executives and professionals
Curriculum
We integrate a strong foundation in general management with highly focused preparation. Specialized finance courses begin right away. Gain a deep understanding of finance—including markets, investment decisions, transactions, financial instruments—while honing your general management and critical thinking skills.
Year 1
You begin with a foundational class on financial modeling and valuation where you build financial models from scratch and analyze industry-defining M&A transactions, such as Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods. This class sets the tone for the program and prepares you for recruiting and internship success.
First Semester
- Data to Decisions
- Financial Accounting
- Introduction to Financial Management
- Leading and Working in Teams
- Marketing Management
- Operations Management
- Financial Modeling and Valuation
- Elective (optional)
Second Semester
- Ethics, Integrity and Society
- Integrated Company Analysis
- Business Strategy
- Economics for Managers
- Security Analysis and Valuation
- Corporate Finance: Theory and Practice
- Elective (optional)
Year 2
In your second year, you collaborate with a team on a consulting project to engage in real-world business problems and connect with industry leaders. You use your quantitative skills to analyze problems and present your recommendations to high-level executives.
First Semester
- Multinational Finance
- Applied Corporate Finance I
- MBA Electives (2)
- Elective (optional)
Second Semester
- Applied Corporate Finance II
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- MBA Electives (2)
- Elective (optional)
Applied Learning
Get industry exposure at the highest levels, including international experience on global trips. Develop financial acumen and keen research skills consulting with leading global companies. Gain a significant career head start. Top employers value this firsthand industry experience since our graduates are highly prepared to delve into complex research and present with confidence.

Work With Real Companies
Learn by doing, with consulting projects built into the curriculum. Advise companies like Amazon, 3M, and Procter & Gamble on important real-world business problems. Consulting projects are sourced directly from key decision-makers—CEOs, CFOs, or our board of advisors—and analyzed by a student team led by the center director. Students deliver recommendations directly to the client.

Engage With Key Business Leaders
Engage with key business leaders on industry-defining transactions and trends through our Nicholas Center Speaker Series. Each year we host approximately 20 speakers on campus on a variety of finance topics. Past events include:
- A Wall Street Journal Reporter on activist investing
- Jim Chanos on cryptocurrencies
- A CFO discussing a decision and risk analysis framework her board uses when approving major M&A deals
- A hedge fund analyst discussing public market investing
- A discussion of automation and its impact on finance professionals

Experience Trips to New York City and Chicago
Every year our MBA students travel to New York City and Chicago to meet with influential alumni and employers and visit important institutions. A recent New York City trip included:
- A visit to the New York Stock Exchange for an opening-bell ceremony
- A private tour of the New York Federal Reserve
- Touring a trading floor of Goldman Sachs and meetings at Ernst & Young and FTI Consulting
- A meeting with influential alumni in the hedge fund and investment banking community
- A visit to an iconic WeWork building in Bryant Park and a walking tour of the historic Wall Street area

Gain Hands-on Experience With Case Competitions
Participate in case competitions, important building blocks of an MBA experience that hone analytical skills, presentation skills, and teamwork. Participation in an ACG Cup Case Competition in the spring semester is encouraged.

Associate at Cornerstone Research
Expert Support and Career Connections

Knowledge Center
The corporate finance and investment banking specialization is supported by the Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking. Participating industry experts and alumni guide curriculum, serve on advisory boards, initiate applied learning, contribute to the classroom, mentor students, and assist with recruiting and placement.

Specialization and Center Leadership
Brad Chandler, Director
Brad Chandler applies broad experience as an investment banker and former managing director at Morgan Stanley. He develops leaders in finance and investment banking by contributing vital mentorship, industry know-how, and linking you to a professional network to fast-track your career in finance.

Advisory board
A highly engaged advisory board of 11 finance leaders consults with the specialization on curriculum, projects, and networking. Members also provide valuable industry connections for internships and full-time positions.

Executives in Residence
Our executive-in-residence program identifies senior executives and board members of leading companies with success guiding mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, restructurings, divestitures, shareholder activism, and other capital-market activities. They share insights on corporate strategy and leadership, mentor students, and advise the Nicholas Center.
Program Voices
Get To Know Our MBAs
Hear about students’ experiences in the program.



Connect With Top Employers
You’ll have many opportunities to connect with employers through classroom visits, networking events, and applied learning projects. Frequent recruiters:




Corporate Finance and Investment Banking Careers
Common career paths
- Investment banking
- Corporate finance
Common job titles
Investment banking
- Senior Financial Analyst
- Investment Banking Associate
- Senior Treasury Analyst
- Senior Business Analyst
Common job titles
Corporate finance
- Controller
- Finance Manager
- Consultant
Your MBA. Your Career Success.
High staff-to-student ratio means you get unlimited support—and exceptional connections—as you step into your ideal career.
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