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Business professionals like yourself are familiar with the phrase, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” But while your network of connections supports your career, your knowledge is equally powerful — whether for establishing trust with clients, swaying stakeholders or acting upon an emerging market segment.
If you are currently or aspire to select investments, forecast trends or manage an organization’s monetary assets, the University of Missouri’s (Mizzou) online master of science in finance program strengthens these core skills. Build off a general business foundation to explore advanced topics in securities analysis, portfolio management, data analysis and financial modeling to refine the recommendations you provide.
At the same time, this advanced program tailored both to working professionals and recent graduates helps propel your career forward — giving you a boost in your organization, authority as you interface with clients or a more expansive toolkit if you decide to venture into entrepreneurship.
Not ready for a full master's program? Mizzou’s Finance Department also offers online graduate certificate programs in investments and financial management.
Quick facts
Official name
Master of science in financeCampus
Program type
Master's degreeAcademic home
Trulaske College of Business | Finance DepartmentDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning Commission, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)Credit hours
30Estimated cost
$31,500.00*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
Don’t leave your future up to chance. Just like how you predict market performance, the online master’s in finance program proves to be a solid investment in your career. Gain the skills to impress higher-ups with your insights — plus a growth mindset that shows you’re ready to direct teams and contribute to business-wide decisions.
In line with your aspirations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 16% more roles for financial managers through 2032. Related job titles include:
- Commercial bank loan officer
- Financial analyst or manager
- Investment banker or portfolio manager
- Real estate analyst
- Risk management officer
- Securities analyst
About the online master’s in finance program
Being a generalist gets you in the door. But to move up, organizations from banks to investment advisories to large corporate finance departments expect you to specialize.
In today’s world, knowing numbers and what they can do is just the start. Businesses increasingly require mid-level and higher finance professionals to be Excel experts, devise mathematical models and dive into data to develop more complex insights.
Mizzou’s online master’s in finance program touches on both areas, transforming you into a more discerning, respected decision-maker who’s familiar with current data analysis and forecasting tools. Beyond venturing in a more technical direction, you develop a global perspective of the field and understand how finance forms the backbone of organizational strategy. This two-part approach:
- Deepens your quantitative reasoning skills and knowledge of foundational financial concepts
- Equips you to build and uncover impactful insights with financial models
- Explores the overlap between finance, strategic decision-making and risk management
- Trains you to make more informed projections, track and respond to market trends, analyze financial statements and develop portfolios that perform
- Exposes you to financial software tools and related data analytics skills
- Positions you to improve ROI for organizations and individual clients
In a format convenient for working professionals, the online master’s in finance program reflects the mission of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. Taught by faculty publishing their research in premier journals, students prepare to drive the business world forward as leaders, global citizens, innovators and entrepreneurs. An adaptable, technology-infused skill set further positions students to grow in their roles — including harnessing emerging tools and effectively communicating with a range of audiences.
Program structure
Enhance your knowledge of accounting, economics, securities, investments, data modeling and cash flow through 30 credit hours split between required courses and electives. Based on previous education, you may additionally need to complete prerequisites in financial accounting, corporate/managerial finance, microeconomics and statistics before beginning the required sequence.
Full-time students take classes over a minimum of three consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring and Summer), while part-time students can adjust their timeline around professional and personal commitments. Due to the program’s intensive structure, students working more than 30 hours per week are required to attend part time.
Courses for the online master’s in finance program follow one of two schedules: eight weeks (1.5 credit hours) or 16 weeks (three credit hours). Students also have the option to enrich their studies: possibilities include conducting research for a thesis or participating in a weeklong international experience.
Required courses
Required courses for the online master’s in finance program explore:
- Financial management topics, including mergers and acquisitions, capital structure and risk-returns
- The influence of economics on organizational management
- Financial modeling, data analysis and VBA programming
- Money and capital markets, including stocks, bonds and securities
- Financial statement analysis and accounting
- Finance and investment ethics
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
8 or 16 weeksTypical program length
VariesTypical course load
Varies if full time or part timeAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Trulaske College of Business and the School of Accountancy are accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).