Attention: This page is designed using recognized Web standards. You are seeing this message because your browser does not support those standards. You will have full access to the content of this page, but it will look much better if you use a recent browser such as Internet Explorer 7.x (Windows), or Mozilla Firefox (Windows/Mac). Learn more...

Master of Science in Strategic Finance

Master of Science in Strategic Finance > Program of Study

Program of Study

Foundation Course Work

IU Southeast Course* IU Southeast Equivalent** Credits
Foundations in Accounting F501 3
Foundations in Finance F502 2
Foundations in Economics F503 3
Foundations in Marketing F504 2
Foundations in Statistics F505 2
Foundations in Operations Management F506 2
Intermediate Accounting I A311 3
Management Information Systems K321 3
 
20 credit hours***

Undergraduate courses may be substituted as follows:

  • A201 Financial Accounting and A202 Managerial Accounting are equivalent to F501 Foundations in Accounting.
  • F301 Financial Management is equivalent to F502 Foundations in Finance.
  • Undergraduate courses in macroeconomics and microeconomics are equivalent to F503 Foundations in Economics.
  • M301 Marketing Management is equivalent to F504 Foundations in Marketing.
  • E280 Statistics is equivalent to F505 Foundations in Statistics.
  • P301 Operations Management is equivalent to F506 Foundations in Operations Management.
  • K321 Management Information Systems or suitable skills in computer science.

*Must have achieved a minimum grade of C- in each foundation course. Even though a minimum grade of C- is required for each of the courses listed above, students with higher grades will increase their prospects for admission into the M.S.S.F. program.

**The Graduate Business Policies Committee will determine course equivalencies.

***Courses in the foundation requirement must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

– Back to Top –

Program of Study

The 36 credit hour M.S.S.F. curriculum emphasizes decision-making skills throughout the program. The M.S.S.F. curriculum does not follow a rigorous sequence of course work, and M.S.S.F. courses may be taken in any sequence after foundation requirements have been met.

– Back to Top –

Curriculum

A normal graduate course load is 6 credit hours in each of the spring and fall semesters, and 3 credit hours during each of the two summer sessions for a full-time working professional.

Normally, students will be expected to complete the degree in a maximum of five years from the time they begin M.S.S.F. course work. In special circumstances, a student may be given permission to extend the study to a sixth year, but additional curriculum and degree requirements may be added. The M.S.S.F. program must be completed within six years.

Candidates for the Master of Science in Strategic Finance degree must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours, of which each course counts only once toward graduation unless the bulletin specifically states that the course may be repeated for credit,
  2. a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course,
  3. a minimum grade of B (3.0) in all transfer courses accepted by the Graduate Business Policies Committee,
  4. a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B)
  5. satisfactory completion of the community service component.

– Back to Top –

M.S.S.F. Curriculum
36 Credit Hours
Managerial Component (18 credit hours, 3 credit hours each)
BUSE A505 Strategic Cost Management Must complete A505, A507, and C522 before enrolling in the Strategic Finance Component.
A507 Modeling and Simulation
C522 Financial Management
C523 Systems Decision Theory
and Applications
or
E588 Project Management
E581 Special Topics: Information
Technology Management Issues
B516 Ethical and Legal Environment of Business
Strategic Finance Component (18 credit hours)
Required (9 hours, 3 credits hours each):
BUSE E565 Taxes and Business Decisions
E594 Business Analysis and Valuation
E595 Advanced Corporate Finance
Electives (6 hours, 3 credits hours each except B511, B513, and H542 [1.5 hours each]):
BUSE B511 Business Communications All courses in the Managerial Component and all required courses in the Strategic Finance Component must be completed before enrolling in D530.
B513 International Environmental Analysis
E557 Investment Management
E568 International Financial Management
E596 Intermediate Accounting II
G553 Advanced Auditing
H541 Not-for-Profit Accounting
H542 Advanced Financial Accounting
H546 Advanced Taxation
H558 Wage and Salary Administration
Business Strategy Component (3 credit hours, 1 course):
BUSE D530 Business Policy and Strategy*
*All other courses must be completed before enrolling in D530.

– Back to Top –

Community Service Requirement

M.B.A./MSSF students must perform at least 20 hours of community service in a project(s) that involves their contribution in the form of business knowledge, leadership, and/or expertise. Some examples include volunteering for Big Brothers/Big Sisters; providing tax assistance for the elderly or disadvantaged; participating in a United Way agency; or serving on a not-for-profit board or advisory council. Activities that serve a narrowly defined population such as being an officer at the local Rotary Club or a church deacon are not appropriate for this requirement. Furthermore, participation in admirable community service projects such as Habitat for Humanity would not be acceptable unless the service was in the form of contributing business expertise or in a leadership role. Services in which the student organizes and/or directs the project for a non-profit organization are acceptable. Examples such as directing and/or organizing a community cleanup sponsored by the Rotary Club or chairing a church clothing drive for the needy are acceptable projects because they serve a need of the greater community.

The requirement may be completed any time during the academic program, but as early in the program as possible and prior to the last 12 credit hours of course work in the graduate curriculum. Students must submit a written proposal to the Graduate Business office outlining a plan for satisfying this requirement prior to performing the project containing the following information:

  1. Name of the community organization or project selected to fulfill this requirement
  2. Name and telephone number of contact person at that organization
  3. How your business knowledge, leadership, and expertise will be applied
  4. Estimated time frame for completion of the project, including beginning and ending dates if possible.

Normally, proposals are approved within one week. Proposals that differ from typical projects, however, may require additional time for approval, and any services rendered prior to the approval of a proposal do not satisfy this requirement. Certification by the participating organization is also required.

At the conclusion of the community service activity, students must submit a one- to two-page typewritten report summarizing the project, the project outcomes, and student’s contributions to these outcome(s) to the Director of the Graduate Business Programs.

– Back to Top –