Overview

The Department of Finance in the College of Business at the University of South Florida offers a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) degree. The MSF is a specialized degree with a curriculum that emphasizes finance and economics.The MSF program offers an advanced education for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in corporate finance, investments, financial services, and related areas. Full-time students can complete the program in three semesters; part-time students can finish in six (or fewer) semesters. In addition to preparing individuals for successful careers in finance-related professions, completion of the MSF program provides the necessary foundation to successfully complete such professional certifications as the CFA, CFP, CFM, CTP, and ChFc, among others.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the MSF program, an applicant must:

• Score a minimum of 550 on the GMAT (or earn an equivalent GRE score)
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 from an accredited university.
• International students must also have a TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the written version, or a minimum score of 213 on the new computerized test.
• Students with a minimal background in economics and finance might be required to take prerequisite courses in addition to the minimum 30 hours of coursework required to earn an MSF.

The primary requisites for success in the MSF program are strong motivation, good quantitative skills, and basic intellectual ability. An undergraduate major in finance is not required, but a sound background in finance, mathematics, and statistics normally will permit completion of the MSF program in one year.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Finance has a limited number of graduate assistantships available. The assistantships include partial tuition waivers. To get more information about assistantships, contact the Department of Finance at sbesley@usf.edu.