Getting Your Masters in Finance: Not a Boring Experience!

When you choose to go after a graduate degree, you have almost as many choices about what to study as you did when pursuing your undergraduate degree – especially in the realm of business. From economics to marketing, you can choose to study almost any aspect of business, focusing on a subject area that interest you.

One area that doesn’t get a lot of love, though, is finance. Many students avoid this area, fearing that it will be boring or dull. Who wants to spend hours poring over financial statements, calculating ratios and looking for trends, right?

The truth is, though, that finance is actually a fascinating and exciting field of study. Master of finance programs encourage students to engage in creative problem solving, critical thinking and make strategic decisions. While there is certainly a great deal of analysis required – and yes, courses in advanced mathematical concepts – it’s not just crunching numbers and creating charts and graphs.

What Can I Do with a Master’s in Finance?

There are generally two ways to get a master’s degree in finance. Some students choose to earn an MBA with a specialization in finance. In these programs, you’ll study the general principles of management and business while taking several courses covering principles of finance.

For more in-depth study, you can seek a Master of Finance degree, which focuses specifically on finance and the financial markets, providing a greater depth of study than a specialization. Depending on the school and program you choose, you can focus your study of finance in a particular area – for example, a Master of Quantitative Finance focuses deeply on the mathematical concepts within finance.

After earning your finance degree, you have a wide array of career paths to choose from. Many students seek positions as financial analysts within large corporations, but the program also prepares you to become a portfolio manager or chief financial officer. With your degree, you can work in banking, real estate, insurance, investment banking and financial planning, at organizations in both the government and private sectors.

What Courses Are Required?

Specific coursework in Master of Finance programs varies according to your own goals and specialization. For example, when you seek of Master of Finance with a focus on real estate, your course plan will include classes in real estate taxes, valuation, assessment and the financial principles of real estate. A financial policy track will focus on financial decision making and problem solving, using high level analytical methods.

In general, though, when you seek a Master of Finance degree, you can expect to take courses in financial reporting, financial markets and institutions, investments, managerial accounting, portfolio management, economics, mergers and acquisitions and risk management. Most programs focus on both the theoretical aspects of finance while also providing training in the quantitative methods, offering a well-rounded perspective. However, the world of finance is not about recording and organizing numbers – that’s the job of accounting – but instead takes a higher-level view, analyzing that information, looking for trends, and using the information contained in the numbers to make solid decisions and develop strategic plans for the benefit of the organization.

Why Seek a Master of Finance degree?

Holding a Master’s degree in finance not only opens the doors to many exciting careers, it opens the doors to well-paying careers. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, professionals who hold this distinction earn an average of $52,000 per year, with financial managers earning well over six figures each year.

Job opportunities within finance are generally plentiful, and expected to grow, especially in the area of financial planning. As the Baby Boomer population gets closer to retirement, and younger workers begin paying more attention to their financial well-being, demand for experienced financial advisors will grow.

Holding a Master’s in Finance also improves your prospects for growth. Since finance is a highly technical and sophisticated field, earning an advanced degree demonstrates your commitment to the profession – and gives you the practical skills necessary to successfully manage an organization’s finances.

So, before you dismiss a Finance program as “boring,” take a closer look. You might find that the finance world and its focus on making connections and critical thinking is exactly what you’re looking for.

This guest post article was written and provided by Marissa Krauss. Marissa finished her Bachelor’s degree online this last fall. She is now undergoing CFA prep and continuing her education by pursuing her Master’s degree online.