Finance, MFN
Developed in conjunction with industry professionals, the Tulane Master of Finance (MFN) program prepares graduates for successful careers in finance. A curriculum designed around specific career tracks provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of finance, the use of financial analysis tools, and strong communication skills. Students are taught by internationally recognized faculty known for high-impact research published in the top academic journals. The rigorous and specialized MFN curriculum requires 30 credit hours of academic work and can be completed in two or three semesters. A 4+1 program option is available for Tulane undergraduate students.
The STEM-designated MFN program is a member of the University Affiliation Program of the CFA Institute. The Freeman School is an AACSB-accredited institution.
Prerequisites
Prior to the Fall program start, a student must have satisfactorily completed the following prerequisite courses:
- Fundamentals of Finance [FINE 6000 Fundamentals of Finance (1 c.h.) or equivalent] - This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of the discipline of finance and prepares students for advanced finance coursework. The course covers time value of money and the basics of valuation of stocks and bonds. The course also introduces students to financial modeling techniques in Excel.
- Intermediate Accounting I [ACCN 6030 Financial Reporting (3 c.h.) or equivalent] - This is a concept-oriented course that covers important financial statement categories from the perspective of a financial statement user. The course starts with an overview of the three accounting statements and an introduction of the accounting cycle. The course will cover all major items on the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows, including receivables, inventory, fixed assets, intangible assets, current liabilities, debt, leases, income taxes, and owners’ equity. The course analyzes how these items flow into the financial statements and how the statements interact with and relate to each other.
- Strategic Career Planning [CDMA 6110 Strategic Career Planning (2 c.h.) or equivalent] - Strategic Career Planning is designed to draw on knowledge developed in previous career education classes and give students the confidence to launch and manage a job search strategy that will result in multiple offers. Students will explore how they can use their job search skills to build a lifelong career (identifying target companies, networking, building a professional brand, interviewing, etc.), practice presenting a case interview, with one-on-one career consulting in the Career Management Center, students will be able to master the seemingly complex task of finding that next important career opportunity.
Students may complete the prerequisite courses by taking the aforementioned courses at Tulane during the Summer prior to MFIN matriculation or by taking equivalent courses prior to MFIN matriculation in an undergraduate or graduate program at a school accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), or the Association of MBAs (AMBA). The language of instruction for the prerequisite course must be English. If the prerequisite is met with a non-Tulane course or an undergraduate Tulane course, the student must earn a grade of B or better in the prerequisite course to avoid taking the aforementioned graduate-level Tulane course.
Tulane undergraduates can meet the prerequisites by earning a grade of B or better in the following undergraduate Tulane courses:
- Fundamentals of Finance: [FINE 3010 Financial Management or FINE 4100 Advanced Financial Management]
- Intermediate Accounting I: [ACCN 3100 Intermediate Accounting I]
- Strategic Career Planning: [CDMA 4020 Adv Career Dev & Management]
Curriculum
The Master of Finance (MFN) curriculum was designed by a team of faculty members who teach in the program, and it reflects input from industry professionals about the types of skills they want potential employees to possess. The program focuses on developing strong fundamental analysis skills and uses practical applications to reinforce the technical expertise developed in the classroom. Students experience real-world finance through analyzing cases, completing projects and building financial models. Rigorous experiential learning classes enable students to write professional analyst reports, develop an investment pitch, make investment decisions for the school’s endowment, and interact with industry professionals. Communication skills are enhanced through a financial communications class, written projects, and presentations of student financial analysis. Career management is deeply integrated into the curriculum.
TWO SEMESTER PROGRAM PLAN WITH MAY GRADUATION
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Fall Term | ||
| CDMA 6120 | Strategic Career Planning Lab | 0 |
| FINE 6050 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7160 | Investments & Asset Pricing | 3 |
| MCOM 6130 | Financial Communications | 3 |
| Two approved elective courses* | 6 | |
Spring Term | ||
| FINE 7630 | Equity Analysis/Freeman Reports | 3 |
| FINE 7640 | Valuation | 3 |
| Three approved elective courses* | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
THREE SEMESTER PROGRAM PLAN WITH DECEMBER GRADUATION
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Fall Term 1 | ||
| CDMA 6120 | Strategic Career Planning Lab | 0 |
| FINE 6050 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7160 | Investments & Asset Pricing | 3 |
| MCOM 6130 | Financial Communications | 3 |
| One approved elective course * | 3 | |
Spring Term | ||
| FINE 7640 | Valuation | 3 |
| FINE 7630 | Equity Analysis/Freeman Reports | 3 |
| Two approved elective courses* | 6 | |
Fall Term 2 | ||
| Two approved elective courses * | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
This is a course scheduling recommendation. Students in the MFIN program have the flexibility to choose how many electives are taken in a particular term. Approved electives include all electives that are included in at least one of the career tracks.
Career Tracks
The Freeman School offers five specialized tracks for Master of Finance students: Corporate Treasury, Investment Banking, Asset Management, Financial Data Analytics, and Sustainable Finance. While earning a track is not required in the MFN program, the option allows students to create a program of study that meets more specific academic and career goals.
Tracks are earned by selecting a minimum of four elective courses within a chosen track for a total of 12 credit hours. Each track has Tier 1 and Tier 2 electives. Tier 1 electives are those highly relevant to a focused career path, and a minimum of two Tier 1 electives is required to earn a track. Tier 2 electives are relevant but not required for all careers within the track. Students should choose Tier 2 electives based on personal interests and career goals.
This leaves a fifth elective course that students may choose freely, regardless of their intended track. A total of 15 elective credit hours is required in the MFN degree.
Corporate Treasury Track
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7130 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ACCN 7140 | Advanced Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7380 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Financial Markets | 3 |
| FINE 7660 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| Tier 2 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7270 | Advanced Risk Analytics | 3 |
| ENRG 7100 | Energy Markets, Institutions & Policy | 3 |
| ENRG 7110 | Energy Modeling | 3 |
| ENRG 7500 | Energy Risk Management | 3 |
| ENRG 7860 | Renewable Energy Project Development & Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7140 | Venture Capital & Private Equity | 3 |
| FINE 7650 | Fixed Income Analytics & Modeling | 3 |
| ACCN 7000 | Sustainability Reports | 3 |
| MGSC 7320 | Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling | 3 |
Investment Banking Track
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7130 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ENRG 7730 | Energy Investment Banking | 3 |
| FINE 7140 | Venture Capital & Private Equity | 3 |
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7650 | Fixed Income Analytics & Modeling | 3 |
| Tier 2 electives: | ||
| ENRG 7110 | Energy Modeling | 3 |
| ENRG 7860 | Renewable Energy Project Development & Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7340 | Aaron Selber Jr Course on Distressed Debt 1 | 3 |
| FINE 7350 | Aaron Selber Jr on Hedge Funds 1, 2 | 3 |
| FINE 7380 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Financial Markets | 3 |
| FINE 7660 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| MGSC 7320 | Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling | 3 |
- 1
This course requires an application, available in the department.
- 2
Offered in the fall semesters, this course is available to students in the three semester program or to students with qualifying pre-requisite knowledge.
Asset Management Track
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 electives: | ||
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7340 | Aaron Selber Jr Course on Distressed Debt 1 | 3 |
| FINE 7350 | Aaron Selber Jr on Hedge Funds 1, 2 | 3 |
| FINE 7380 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Financial Markets | 3 |
| FINE 7610 | Darwin Fenner Student Managed Investment Fund * | 3 |
| FINE 7650 | Fixed Income Analytics & Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7660 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| Tier 2 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7130 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ACCN 7290 | Accounting Analytics | 3 |
| ENRG 7110 | Energy Modeling | 3 |
| ENRG 7200 | Energy Fundamentals & Trading | 3 |
| ENRG 7610 | Energy Trading: Wholesale Electric Markets | 3 |
| FINE 7140 | Venture Capital & Private Equity | 3 |
| FINE 7210 | Real Estate Planning, Finance, and Development | 3 |
| FINE 7270 | FinTech and Blockchain: Transforming the Financial Landscape | 3 |
| FINE 7370 | Algorithmic Trading and Quantitative Strategies | 3 |
| FINE 7510 | Econometrics and Forecasting | 3 |
- 1
This course requires an application, available in the department.
- 2
Offered in the fall semesters, this course is available to students in the three semester program or to students with qualifying pre-requisite knowledge.
Financial Data Analytics Track
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 electives: | ||
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7270 | FinTech and Blockchain: Transforming the Financial Landscape | 3 |
| FINE 7370 | Algorithmic Trading and Quantitative Strategies | 3 |
| FINE 7510 | Econometrics and Forecasting | 3 |
| FINE 7660 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| MGSC 7100 | SQL Database Fundamentals and Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGSC 7310 | Modeling and Analytics | 3 |
| MGSC 7320 | Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling | 3 |
| Tier 2 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7140 | Advanced Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCN 7290 | Accounting Analytics | 3 |
| FINE 7350 | Aaron Selber Jr on Hedge Funds *, 1 | 3 |
| FINE 7610 | Darwin Fenner Student Managed Investment Fund * | 3 |
| FINE 7650 | Fixed Income Analytics & Modeling | 3 |
- *
This course requires an application, available in the department.
- 1
Offered in the fall semesters, this course is available to students in the three semester program or to students with qualifying pre-requisite knowledge.
Sustainable Finance Track
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 electives: | ||
| ENRG 7130 | Energy & Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ENRG 7850 | Renewables & Grid Integration | 3 |
| ENRG 7860 | Renewable Energy Project Development & Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7380 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Financial Markets | 3 |
| ACCN 7000 | Sustainability Reports | 3 |
| Tier 2 electives: | ||
| ACCN 7130 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ENRG 7100 | Energy Markets, Institutions & Policy | 3 |
| ENRG 7110 | Energy Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7140 | Venture Capital & Private Equity | 3 |
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7350 | Aaron Selber Jr on Hedge Funds *, 1 | 3 |
| FINE 7610 | Darwin Fenner Student Managed Investment Fund * | 3 |
- *
This course requires an application, available in the department.
- 1
Offered in the fall semesters, this course is available to students in the three semester program or to students with qualifying pre-requisite knowledge.
4+1 Program
The 4+1 program is available in two tailor-made structures, one for those students who have earned a Finance major or minor and for those students who have not pursued that course of study. Note that all students must meet the MFN program prerequisites prior to the start of the +1 portion of their studies, and all 4+1 students must pass FINE 3010 Financial Management (3 c.h.) or FINE 4100 Advanced Financial Management (3 c.h.) with a grade of at least B prior to enrolling in any graduate-level MFN courses. Students must apply through the Freeman School's Graduate Admissions Office (https://freeman.tulane.edu/graduate/master-finance/admissions) and be accepted into the program prior to enrolling in any MFN classes.
Finance majors/minors
Finance majors and minors are eligible to take up to 12 credit hours of MFN elective courses from the list at the bottom of this page during their undergraduate studies. Of these 12 credit hours, 6 can be double counted towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degree. Students should work closely with their advisor to ensure they meet the prerequisites for the courses they wish to take as different electives have different prerequisites. Students who have earned a grade of B or better in FINE 4100 Advanced Financial Management are not required to take FINE 6050 Corporate Finance during the +1 year and can take an additional elective instead. Students who have earned a grade of B or better in FINE 4110 Investments in Equities AND FINE 4120 Analysis of Fixed Income Securities are not required to take FINE 7160 Investments & Asset Pricing during the +1 year and can take an additional elective instead. A typical course of study for a 4+1 student with a Finance major/minor who earned a grade of at least B in all prerequisites and the aforementioned three 4000-level courses will look as follows:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Senior Fall Term | ||
| Two MFN electives available to 4+1 undergraduates | 6 | |
Senior Spring Term | ||
| Two MFN electives available to 4+1 undergraduates | 6 | |
MFN Fall Term | ||
| CDMA 6120 | Strategic Career Planning Lab | 0 |
| MCOM 6130 | Financial Communications | 3 |
| Two approved elective courses* | 6 | |
MFN Spring Term | ||
| FINE 7630 | Equity Analysis/Freeman Reports | 3 |
| FINE 7640 | Valuation | 3 |
| One approved elective course* | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Finance majors/minors who do not meet the aforementioned grade requirements are eligible to follow the curriculum plan for non-finance majors/minors.
Non-finance majors/minors
Non-finance majors/minors generally need to acquire knowledge in core finance classes prior to taking any elective courses. The 4+1 program plan for these students therefore consists of taking six credit hours of MFN core classes plus up to six credit hours of MFN elective courses from the list at the bottom of this page during their undergraduate studies. Of these 12 credit hours, 6 can be double counted towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degree. Students should work closely with their advisor to ensure they meet the prerequisites for the courses they wish to take as different electives have different prerequisites. Students should pay special attention to the fact that the core courses listed below are only offered in the fall semester. A typical course of study for a 4+1 student who is neither a Finance major nor minor will look as follows:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Senior Fall Term | ||
| FINE 6050 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FINE 7160 | Investments & Asset Pricing | 3 |
Senior Spring Term | ||
| Two MFN electives available to 4+1 undergraduates | 6 | |
MFN Fall Term | ||
| CDMA 6120 | Strategic Career Planning Lab | 0 |
| MCOM 6130 | Financial Communications | 3 |
| Two approved elective courses* | 6 | |
MFN Spring Term | ||
| FINE 7630 | Equity Analysis/Freeman Reports | 3 |
| FINE 7640 | Valuation | 3 |
| One approved elective course* | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Students who have earned a grade of B or better in FINE 4100 Advanced Financial Management are not required to take FINE 6050 Corporate Finance and can take an additional elective instead. Students who have earned a grade of B or better in FINE 4110 Investments in Equities AND FINE 4120 Analysis of Fixed Income Securities are not required to take FINE 7160 Investments & Asset Pricing can take an additional elective instead.
MFN Electives available to 4+1 undergraduate students
The following MFN electives are available to 4+1 students during the undergraduate portion of their program, subject to the maximum credit hour limits established above. Students should be aware that many electives are offered only in either Fall or Spring.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FINE 7180 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FINE 7340 | Aaron Selber Jr Course on Distressed Debt * | 3 |
| FINE 7350 | Aaron Selber Jr on Hedge Funds * | 3 |
| FINE 7530 | Burkenroad Reports for Financial Analysts * | 3 |
| FINE 7610 | Darwin Fenner Student Managed Investment Fund * | 3 |
| FINE 7660 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| ACCN 7130 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| MGSC 7100 | SQL Database Fundamentals and Business Intelligence | 3 |
| Other MFIN elective if approved by the faculty director | ||
- *
These courses are invitation only while a student is still enrolled in the undergraduate portion of their program. They become available by application during the +1 portion of the program.
Program String and Field of Study: BSMFN_GR, FINC
For more information, contact the A. B. Freeman School of Business.