Fast Track Master of Science in Finance
The Fast Track Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program is available to promising students seeking a career in finance and investment. CSULB undergraduate finance students may apply to the Fast Track MSF program as undergraduates. Students are eligible for the Fast Track MSF if they maintain a 3.0 Overall and Upper Division Major GPA. Students deemed eligible for the Fast Track MSF program may waive the GMAT/GRE test and additional application requirement. Please inquire with the Graduate Business Office for more information.
Program Description
The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program provides an intensive and fast-track 30-unit degree program to enable its cohort students to earn their graduate degree in 12 months. It is designed to help students identify and analyze various financial management issues to make optimal strategic decisions in today’s global economy. With its focus and alignment to the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) curriculum, the program offers students an excellent opportunity to learn practical investment skills and a comparative advantage to ultimately earn the CFA charter, while attaining a reputable MSF degree.
Program Admission Requirements
Admission decisions are based on consideration of the applicant’s previous academic record, statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation, and performance on admission and English proficiency exams:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or equivalent
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 in the last 60-semester units attempted and good standing at the last college attended
• A statement of purpose
• A current resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• For International applicants, a score of 4.0 or higher on the writing portion of GMAT/ GRE is required by the Center for International Education (CIE) to waive the TOEFL requirements and satisfy the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). If they score a minimum of 3.5, they must take the TOEFL. In this case, International applicants must score 80 (or 550 paper-based) or higher on the TOEFL to satisfy the CIE language requirement. Scores of 3.0 or lower will not be admitted to the University. International students should contact the Center for International Education (CIE) or the College of Business Administration Graduate Programs Office for deadlines or other University admission related questions.
• A satisfactory score is required on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) that demonstrates balance between verbal and quantitative skills and analytical ability.
• Applicants who do not have the desired undergraduate preparation (e.g. undergraduate finance major) can be accepted under conditionally classified admission. However, they have to remedy their deficiency by taking FIN 501: Financial Management Concepts (online or regular course) or the equivalent with a B or better grade to formally start the program in the fall semester. If the student doesn’t receive a B or better grade in FIN 501, the student has to reapply for the program. FIN 501 will be offered in Summer Sessions III each year.
General University Requirements
• Satisfactory completion of 30 units of approved graduate courses with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants who are admitted to the program will be subject to the university’s Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). All entering students are required to take the GWAR Placement Exam (GPE), except students who have previously (1) received degrees from accredited colleges and universities in the United States; or (2) received degrees from an accredited non-US institution located in a country where English is a primary language of communication; or (3) achieved a score of 4.0 or higher on the writing portion of the GMAT or GRE.
• A passing grade on the comprehensive exam
• Compliance with all other university graduate requirements
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience of the MSF program is a written comprehensive exam offered after the student’s successful completion of the required 10 courses of 30 credit units. The comprehensive exam is designed to evaluate the student’s comprehensive knowledge of various subjects in finance. The comprehensive exam is given annually during the period after Summer Session III and before the fall semester. The exam lasts three hours and a passing grade is needed to satisfy the final requirement for graduation from the MSF program. Failure to achieve a passing grade will necessitate that the student retakes the exam with the subsequent cohort. This requirement operates independently of the student’s overall GPA.
To be granted a MSF degree, a student must have completed all the required courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
