M.S. in Finance

The UIC Liautaud Master of Science in Finance program is designed to help you take advantage of rapidly growing opportunities in finance. In our 32-credit-hour accredited program, you’ll develop a solid foundation in the principles that underlie modern finance.  Under the guidance of top-tier research professors who ask (and answer) questions that change how people worldwide think about finance, you’ll graduate at the forefront of the changing face of finance.

As part of a Top 100 research university, you will be exposed to important financial research throughout all elements of the program. We also bring the latest research into the classroom — years before it is written into textbooks. A weekly seminar series features the best minds from around the world tackling the big questions—giving you a critical perspective into today’s evolving financial landscape. Our goal: when the world of finance changes (and it will), you will be prepared for the opportunities that arise. 

• FIN 510 Investments
• FIN 520 Corporate Finance
• FIN 570 Quantitative Methods in Finance
• FIN 512 Portfolio Analysis
• FIN 516 Theory and Structure of Options and Futures Markets
• FIN 530 Money and Banking
• FIN 531 Capital Markets
• FIN 542 International Finance
• FIN 551 Financial Decision Making I
• FIN 571 Empirical Issues in Finance
• FIN 594 Special Topics in Finance
• FIN 596 Independent Study in Finance
• ACTG 50 Financial Accounting I
• ACTG 516 Financial Statement Analysis
• ACTG 585 Corporate Valuation and Accounting Information
• IDS 572 Data Mining for Business
• IDS 582/ECON 537 Business Research and Forecasting I
• IDS 583/ECON 538 Business Research and Forecasting II

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted to the Liautaud Graduate School of Business Program Office. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required GMAT or GRE. The score must be from a test administered within five years of the requested date of entry. The writing assessment is required. The Graduate College per se does not require a standardized test, but most graduate programs at UIC, including this one, require the results of either the GMAT or the GRE and look at these scores as part of the overall credentials of the applicant. The expectation for a GMAT score is 600.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL 585 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 20, Listening 20, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
  • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
  • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
• Letters of Recommendation Two required.
• Personal Statement Required.
• Other Requirements FIN 500, ACTG 500, IDS 570, and ECON 520, or the equivalent course work. Deficiencies can be addressed by taking these courses at UIC, thus increasing the time to complete the degree.

Graduate Assistantships

Students who enrolled for eight or more credit hours during the fall and spring semesters are eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship. These on-campus job opportunities provide students with a partial tuition waiver and a stipend that varies in amount according to the time worked. They also provide valuable work experience in areas related to their degree program. Students are responsible for finding their own assistantships, just as one would find a job.

Partial Tuition Waivers

Funding awards are based on academic merit. Students do not need to apply separately for a waiver. You will be notified during the admissions process if you are being considered for a scholarship or a partial tuition and service fee waiver.

We also offer the Liautaud Scholars program for highly qualified full-time MBA students, a program that includes merit-based scholarships providing tuition remission. Ask an admissions representative to learn more about the program.