Master's in Finance Degree Programs: Master of Science in Finance

Services provided by financial managers, such as planning, directing, and coordinating investments, will continue to be in demand as the economy grows.* Gaining advanced technical knowledge and skills in a range of financial areas could be a wise career move.^† Our Master of Science in Finance curriculum offers two areas of specialization designed to help you develop professional expertise: financial analysis and financial planning. In both areas, you will have the opportunity to develop and implement your critical-thinking skills to solve complex financial problems. If you already have a bachelor's degree and wish to advance your existing career or begin an exciting, new profession, this program could prepare you with the knowledge and skills to help you succeed.^†

Specializations | Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

Online Masters In Finance Program Highlights

This comprehensive online master's degree program is designed to provide you with rigorous training—including assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects—to help you develop the savvy and proficiencies to find solutions to real-life financial situations. Highlights of the online master's in finance program include:

Performing financial analysis using quantitative concepts and techniques
Interpreting financial statements that adhere to current standards
Analyzing investment and financial risk
Evaluating financial theory and practices
Applying legislation, regulations, or principles of practice to financial scenarios

What are the Career Opportunities?

Earning your Master of Science in Finance degree online at Kaplan University may help you develop valuable skills that could be applied to a broad range of financial positions in virtually any field of endeavor. Pursue positions such as personal financial advisor, financial manager, financial analyst, and investment analyst.^†

Specializations for the Master of Science in Finance

In the Kaplan University Master of Science in Finance, areas of specialization are built into the program requirements to help you develop proficiencies that could apply to a future career.†

Develop the skills relevant to portfolio management and investment analysis. Study how to assess decision-making approaches and techniques and apply them to financial situations. Prepare for the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) certification exam.‡

Develop financial plans, evaluating the appropriate principles, concepts, and frameworks for financial decision making. Prepare for the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Certification Exam.‡§

Financial Analysis
Financial Planning

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Finance

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GB 512	BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS	4 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS Business Communications focuses on effective communication strategies for various stakeholders using oral and written formats for different purposes, including one-on-one communication and engagement with larger audiences.
GF 500	FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS	4 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MARKETS This course focuses on the workings of the U.S. and world financial markets and institutions. It spans interest rate determination, federal policy, and management and policies of commercial banks.
GF 510	RISK ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT	4 RISK ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT This course focuses on the financial instruments used for financial risk management, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps. An emphasis is placed on the identifica¬tion of financial risks and designing an optimal risk management program.
GF 520	CORPORATE FINANCE	4 CORPORATE FINANCE This course is designed to provide a framework for understanding and analyzing the asset, liability, and capital structure of corporations. Students will examine valuation and capital budgeting techniques, risk evaluation, working capital management, and methods of short-term, intermediate, and long-term financing.
GF 530	FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS	4 FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS In this course, students will analyze and utilize financial statements and valuation models to assess the value of a firm. The identification of reliable estimates of fundamental corporate earning power and earning risks and valuation is a focus of the course.
GF 540	INVESTMENT AND SECURITIES ANALYSIS	4 INVESTMENT AND SECURITIES ANALYSIS In this course, students will examine the principles, theories, and methods of investing. Topics include common stocks, options, mutual funds, fixed convertibles, and warrants.
GF 550	RETIREMENT PLANNING AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS	4 RETIREMENT PLANNING AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS This course explores retirement planning and employee benefits. Students will evaluate the provisions and rules associated with various plans and governmental regulations pertaining to benefits. Topics include retirement needs analysis, compensation plans, and other employee benefits.
GF 560	FIXED-INCOME AND FUTURES INVESTING	4 FIXED-INCOME AND FUTURES INVESTING This course explores the structure, uses, and strategies associated with financial futures markets. Valuation, hedging, speculative activity, and other futures-related risk management issues are covered. The varieties of fixed-income securities and their default risk are also examined, in addition to the valuation of fixed-income securities and their use in investment and risk management.
GF 570	PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT	4 PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT This course blends portfolio theory with practical issues that students will encounter in their careers as financial professionals. Topics include identifying investor objectives and constraints, recognizing risk and return characteristics of investment vehicles, developing strategic asset allocations among equity, fixed-income, and risk-free assets, and utilizing derivative securities to manage portfolio risk and maximize portfolio returns. Also covered is the evaluation of portfolio and manager performance relative to investment objectives and appropriate benchmarks.

Course #	Course Title	Credits
	SPECIALIZATION COURSES	16 SPECIALIZATION COURSES

Course #	Course Title	Credits

GB 540	ECONOMICS FOR GLOBAL DECISION MAKERS	4 ECONOMICS FOR GLOBAL DECISION MAKERS This course covers micro- and macroeconomic principles with an emphasis on decision making and strategic applications. Microeconomic topics include scarcity, supply and demand, elasticity, utility, profit maximization, cost structures, economic systems, labor markets, and entrepreneurship. Macroeconomic topics include international trade, national income accounting, exchange rates, money and banking, economic growth, and fiscal policy.
GF 580	ETHICS FOR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS	4 ETHICS FOR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS This course introduces the ethical standards and practices applicable to the finance industry. Students will investigate ethical problems encountered in financial environments and evaluate the effects various decisions have on stakeholders.
GF 581	FINANCIAL STRATEGIES FOR A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT	4 FINANCIAL STRATEGIES FOR A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT This course focuses on the financial strategies used in a global environment. The relationship between international accounting and global business and investment strategies are discussed. Topics include recent developments in financial strategy, international trade, and economic decision making.
GF 582	STATISTICAL METHODS FOR DECISION MAKING	4 STATISTICAL METHODS FOR DECISION MAKING This course covers the theory and application of statistics for decision making when solving financial business problems. Topics include regression analysis and optimization modeling. Students will perform statistical analyses to offer solutions to financial-related problems and issues.

Course #	Course Title	Credits

GF 590	PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING	4 PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING This course provides an in-depth overview of personal financial planning. Students will learn how to prepare personal financial statements. Topics include time value of money, cash flow and debt management, education planning, risk management, retirement planning, financial planning ethics, and an overview of practice management concepts.
GF 591	INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE PLANNING	4 INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE PLANNING This course introduces students to risk management and insurance decisions in personal financial planning. Topics include insurance for life, health, disability, property, and liability risks, as well as annuities, group insurance, and long-term care.
GF 592	INCOME TAX PLANNING AND STRATEGIES	4 INCOME TAX PLANNING AND STRATEGIES This course covers income tax planning and strategies used to formulate financial decisions. Students will explore the impact of taxes on family financial decisions. Topics include tax strategies and economic and management principles.
GF 593	ESTATE PLANNING	4 ESTATE PLANNING This course focuses on estate planning and the efficient conservation and transfer of wealth, consistent with the client’s goals. Students will examine the legal, tax, financial, and nonfinan¬cial aspects of estate planning. Topics include trusts, wills, probate, advanced directives, charitable giving, wealth transfers, and related taxes.

Total Program Requirements	52 Total Program Requirements

Core
Electives
Specialization/Financial Analysis
Specialization/Financial Planning
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

If you already earned course credits at another institution, you may qualify for transfer credit that can be applied toward your program requirements at Kaplan University. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for graduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$441.00
Total program requirements Master of Science in Finance	52
Total cost of tuition	$22,932.00
This program requires a prorated technology fee of $50 per term. A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. Certificate programs are not eligible for Title IV financial aid or Kaplan University scholarships.

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*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Financial Managers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Management/Financial-managers.htm. (Accessed April, 2012)
^†Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
^‡Although certain programs at Kaplan University are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, the University cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams. In some cases, field experience, additional coursework, and/or background checks may be necessary to take or to successfully pass the exams.
^§Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., owns the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM, and CFP® certification marks, which are awarded to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. Kaplan University does not certify individuals to use CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM, and CFP® certification marks. CFP® certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements.

Master of Science in Finance

School of Business and Management