Specialty Masters Virtual Application Workshop
Tuesday, April 28
9:00 AM
Build Foundations, Expertise and Applicability
BU Questrom’s STEM-designated MS in Finance is a 33-credit program that lays a foundation in finance through required core courses, develops expertise through an extensive set of electives and provides a wide set of opportunities for students to apply what they learn in the real world.
Questrom MS in Finance at a Glance
Explore how each semester of the 16-month MS in Finance program builds momentum and deepens your expertise.
Build Your Own Path: Select electives from any path or add electives from another area of finance
Optional 9-month track: Qualified students may complete their degree in nine months by taking additional electives in the fall and spring
Flexibility to Meet Your Goals
Students can configure their electives along established career paths or custom tailor their electives to align with their career ambitions. They can also choose different types of experiences to practice applying their expertise in real-world environments.
“Finance is such a broad field I was unsure where to focus.. I was so captivated by Professor Rebelo’s Corporate Finance course that I decided working in a corporate finance team is right for me. I’m so glad the curriculum is flexible enough that I can choose electives that set me up for an internship in this area.”
MS in Finance Ambassador
Choose Electives for Your Career Path
Students choose five electives from a broad range of options that enable them to prepare for one or more areas of finance. Students typically complete three electives that tie closely to their career ambitions and two electives that deepen their expertise. The program organizes electives in some of the most popular areas to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Corporate Finance Manager Path Elective Options
COURSE CODE: FE820
This course provides an in-depth analysis of financial considerations relating to corporate growth. It addresses the setting of financial and corporate goals in terms of maximizing shareholder wealth and relationships among working capital, debt levels, capital costs, dividend policy, growth and the value of the firm. It also considers the requisite financial analysis associated with mergers and acquisitions and bankruptcy.
COURSE CODE: ac814
This course is designed to help students to develop skills in interpreting and analyzing external financial reports. Both traditional and recently advocated methods of financial statement analysis are studied, taking the perspective of investors and creditors. Among the topics to be investigated are: (1) mechanics of financial statement analysis, (2) managers' incentives in making accounting choices, (3) usefulness of accounting numbers in an efficient market, and (4) international comparisons. The course also includes a brief review of some important accounting principles, emphasizing areas that were not covered in AC 710. [Lectures, exercises, exams, and project.]
Fundamental Portfolio Manager Elective Options
COURSE CODE: fe822
This course focuses on debt securities that are traded in the short-term money market and long-term bond and mortgage markets. Topics include: financial market structures and institutions, the quotation and pricing of debt securities, yield curve analysis, duration and immunization, and an introduction to interest rate risk management products, such as exchange-trade futures, and over-the-counter forward contracts, such as interest rate swaps. Special attention is placed on capital market innovations and trends.
COURSE CODE: fe833
ESG Equity Investing is an introductory course that provides the appropriate tools to analyze and undertake investments in publicly listed companies taking into account the social impact of these financial decisions. Different dimensions of social impact – Environment, Social, and Governance – are discussed along with corresponding ESG metrics available to investors. The core of the course deals with the integration of (quantitative-based) portfolio allocation models with (qualitative-based) ESG scores and objectives. The course also discusses how impact investing may affect the behavior of firms, as well as alternative channels through which investors can provide impact (private investments, activism).
Corporate Risk Manager Path Elective Options
COURSE CODE: fe870
This course introduces the analysis and management of risk in the context of financial institutions. The objective of the course is to provide a conceptual framework for thinking about financial risk, covering both theoretical background and practical implementation
COURSE CODE: fe829
Futures and stock options are recognized as important tools of investment and risk reduction. This course covers the theory of futures and option pricing, and develops a framework for analyzing hedging and investment decisions using futures and options. Attention is paid to practical considerations in the use of these investments: tax and accounting issues and the institutional features of the market in which the various instruments are traded.
Or build your own path. See the full list of electives below.
The MS in Finance is a STEM-designated program
Questrom’s MS in Finance program is designated by the US Department of Homeland Security as a STEM-eligible degree program. International students in F-1 student status may be able to apply for a 24-month extension of their 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization. More information about STEM OPT eligibility is available from the BU International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).
Harness AI To Your Advantage
Generative AI is changing the work of finance. It’s replacing the tedious data collection tasks while putting more pressure on finance analysts and managers to demonstrate critical problem solving, creative solution crafting and empathetic relationship and communication skills.
In the MS in Finance program students develop fluency and agility to utilize AI when it truly improves efficiency and effectiveness while delivering the critical thinking and inspired leadership that AI cannot replace.
“As an educator, I firmly believe that the real value for generative AI is to combine its power with human understanding – to educate the new type of financial professional who can understand the financial market, develop understanding and intuition, and combine the power of generative AI.”
Hao Xing
Associate Professor and MS in Finance Faculty Director
Course: FE555 AI for Financial Analysis:
Best practices and constraints in AI-assisted research, workflow optimization, integration of AI into financial decision making, and ethical application of AI tools and data.
Meet the Master in Finance Faculty
Students are guided by diverse and accomplished faculty of seasoned business practitioners.
“I love helping students see how rigorous quantitative tools unlock real-world investment and risk decisions.”
“Teaching finance means empowering students to question models, navigate uncertainty and design robust solutions in a complex world.”
Dive Into a Curriculum Rich in Practical Impact
The MS in Finance curriculum builds in a sequence that enables those who are new to finance to move at a different pace than those who have substantial experience. Students learn to extend their financial acumen in a rigorous but flexible structure.
Summer and Launch
Data Camp provides a practical introduction to reviewing and organizing datasets using spreadsheet tools. Learners will explore essential techniques for cleaning, filtering, and summarizing data to prepare it for analysis. The course also introduces common data manipulation operations used in analytical workflows and industry-standard tools.
Career Quickstart is designed to assist students in transforming interest into professional goals, and kick start a candidate-driven internship and/or job search process. The course covers several critical areas of career management: career exploration, networking and building relationships, resumes, and internship and job search strategy.
Foundational Core Courses
COURSE CODE: ac710
An introduction to financial accounting and how organizations provide financial information to external users (stockholders, creditors, and analysts). The focus is on understanding the impact of business activities and accounting choices on financial statements, and analyzing financial statements to infer the business activities undertaken. Topics covered include income statement and balance sheet format, purposes, and limitations; statement of cash flows; and analysis of the impact of different business models on financial performance.
Course Code: FE723
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the theory and practice of corporate finance, and to provide students with a set of concepts and tools necessary to answer the most important questions related firms’ valuation as well as investment and financing decisions, both under certainty and under uncertainty. The course covers time value of money, free cash flow, net present value, risk-adjusted discounting using the capital asset pricing model, weighted average cost of capital, effects of financial leverage on firm value, and valuation methods with leverage to determine the value of a project or firm.
Course Code: FE740
This course provides a rigorous foundation in probability and statistics, covering estimation, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals in depth. As finance relies on probability models to measure and manage risk, students will apply modern statistical methods to real financial data, learning to estimate key parameters and assess model validity.
Course Code: FE813
Introduction to the investment management process. Defining investment objectives and constraints. Introduction to Modern Portfolio Theory, CAPM, Fama- French factors, APT, efficient markets, stock, bond and option valuation models. Introduction to forwards and swaps and their applications within investment strategies. Active and passive investment strategies, fundamental analysis, trading practices, and performance evaluation. Introduction to the role of futures and options in hedging and speculation. Arbitrage and hedge fund strategies. Understanding the assumptions underlying the different approaches and their limitations. Topics related to current events and the recent financial crisis.
Course Code: FE747
Prerequisite: QSTFE 740. This course equips students with essential data analysis and visualization skills using tools like Python, with applications in finance. Students will learn statistical modeling, financial data processing, and enhance decision-making through analytics. The course prepares master’s students in statistics and quantitative methods for sophisticated financial analysis and forecasting.
Foundational Half Courses
Course Code: ES610
In today’s financial and strategic roles, the ability to communicate data-driven insights with clarity, confidence, and credibility is critical. This course is designed for finance-focused students and builds the essential skills required to influence decision-making in corporate finance, FP&A, investor relations, and strategic leadership. Students will learn to craft persuasive financial narratives, both orally and in writing, that move beyond reporting and into insight and recommendation.
Course Code: ES611
This course blends interactive workshops, targeted career development content, and special guest speakers who offer real-world insight into finance roles across a range of sectors. Students will clarify their career goals, develop a personalized search strategy, and build the skills and confidence needed to navigate the finance job market. Topics include personal branding, networking, interview preparation, and understanding industry expectations. By the end of the seminar, students will be better equipped to engage with employers and pursue finance opportunities that align with their interests and strengths.
Elective Courses
Course code: AC820
This is an introductory course on Financial Analytics providing students with knowledge about key “financial” concepts (financial accounting, financial statements, managerial accounting, corporate finance, and investments) so that they can intelligently apply their prior analytics knowledge and tools to real- world financial applications.
Course code: FE860
This course intends to be an introduction to behavioral finance in a broad sense. That is, the class will provide an overview of the main “heuristics” and “biases” discussed in the behavioral finance literature, as well as other possible explanations of market patterns that deviate from the predictions of the standard financial model. The focus of the course will be on the analysis and critical discussion of these biases and puzzles, rather than just listing and describing them. Discussion of current activity in the financial markets will be an integral part of the course. Critical thinking is a necessary tool for this class.
Course code: FE555
This course introduces students to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools—particularly large language models (LLMs)—in modern financial analysis. Students will learn best practices in AI-assisted research, ethical considerations, and practical workflows for integrating AI into financial decision-making.
COURSE CODE: ac814
This course is designed to help students to develop skills in interpreting and analyzing external financial reports. Both traditional and recently advocated methods of financial statement analysis are studied, taking the perspective of investors and creditors. Among the topics to be investigated are: (1) mechanics of financial statement analysis, (2) managers' incentives in making accounting choices, (3) usefulness of accounting numbers in an efficient market, and (4) international comparisons. The course also includes a brief review of some important accounting principles, emphasizing areas that were not covered in AC 710. [Lectures, exercises, exams, and project.]
COURSE CODE: fe820
This course provides an in-depth analysis of financial considerations relating to corporate growth. It addresses the setting of financial and corporate goals in terms of maximizing shareholder wealth and relationships among working capital, debt levels, capital costs, dividend policy, growth and the value of the firm. It also considers the requisite financial analysis associated with mergers and acquisitions and bankruptcy.
COURSE CODE: fe850
Private Equity (PE) is a major force in the capital markets, acquiring household names such as Dell, Toys R Us, Neilson, Nieman Marcus, and many more. This course exposes students to, and de-mystifies, the PE world. The focus is centered on LBOs and their position in the alternative asset class. Students learn about the activities of PE firms including formation, fundraising, investing (deal structure, terms, due diligence, governance) and exiting. We also discuss how other industry sectors serve or are affected by PE and who the players are. This is a capstone course that integrates marketing, strategy and finance to further the understanding of business evaluation. Case study and class participation are the primary modes of learning. Course offered jointly with undergraduate course SMG FE 450.
COURSE CODE: fe822
This course focuses on debt securities that are traded in the short-term money market and long-term bond and mortgage markets. Topics include: financial market structures and institutions, the quotation and pricing of debt securities, yield curve analysis, duration and immunization, and an introduction to interest rate risk management products, such as exchange-trade futures, and over-the-counter forward contracts, such as interest rate swaps. Special attention is placed on capital market innovations and trends.
COURSE CODE: is879
This course aims to sharpen students' ability to frame a business problem and organize the relevant information in a way that is conducive to developing a spreadsheet model, and to perform logical analyses in an organized and rigorous fashion. Students will learn how to create a workable prototype of a spreadsheet based upon formula-charts, or a directed-graph diagram, applying principles of spreadsheet engineering to design the spreadsheet in a way that prevents errors. The course will teach students how to design, build, test, and use a spreadsheet, as well as how to process and visualize data in preparation for building a well-structured model. Students will be exposed to settings in which models can be used effectively. They will apply modeling concepts in practical situations and learn to extract insight from models and to use those insights to communicate, persuade and motivate organizational decision making. They will also learn how to formulate a constrained optimization problem with multiple variables for a variety of applications including, Strategy, Operations, Technology Management, Marketing, and Finance. The course will show how to understand how to use sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of a parameter on the optimal solution to a problem and cover the key principles for Real-Time Data Capture for Analytic. Finally, students will learn the latest technologies for effectively linking spreadsheets to relational data bases, and to reliably manage large scale spreadsheets.
COURSE CODE: fe833
ESG Equity Investing is an introductory course that provides the appropriate tools to analyze and undertake investments in publicly listed companies taking into account the social impact of these financial decisions. Different dimensions of social impact – Environment, Social, and Governance – are discussed along with corresponding ESG metrics available to investors. The core of the course deals with the integration of (quantitative-based) portfolio allocation models with (qualitative-based) ESG scores and objectives. The course also discusses how impact investing may affect the behavior of firms, as well as alternative channels through which investors can provide impact (private investments, activism).
Working in a Corporate Internship
Course code: FE650
This course affords graduate students the opportunity to complete an internship in the financial services (or a related) industry and serves to enhance the students’ academic and/or research experience.
Course code: FE840
This course helps students enhance their skills by introducing a framework for applying fundamental analysis to evaluate industries within a benchmark. Because portfolio managers rely on analysts to inform decisions about which industries to over- or underweight, the course emphasizes how to identify relative value across industries—further strengthening an analyst’s skill set.
Enlisting in an Innovation Project
Join an Innovate@BU team. Innovate@BU empowers students to turn their ideas into reality through extracurricular programming, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor, events with experts and peers, and much more.
Upcoming MS in Finance Admissions Events
Attend an event and apply for free. Join us to discover program insights and enjoy a waived application fee when you apply to a Questrom graduate degree program.
Apply for an MS in Finance Degree
Ready to apply? Follow the link to learn more about the application process. Once you’ve submitted your materials, we’ll start the review process. We’re happy to answer your questions along the way.
Application Deadlines
- November 3rd, 2025
- January 12th, 2026
- February 23rd, 2026
- April 7th, 2026