Finance is the study of raising, allocating and using monetary resources. Finance falls under business and economics and therefore it is said that to understand finance, one must understand business and in fact the entire economy. Over the years as businesses have branched out in different directions, finance has developed into more specific fields. Therefore students interested in finance can specialize in fields like
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Financial Instruments and Portfolio Management
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International Finance
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Corporate Finance
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Banking and Financial Institutions
Different colleges and universities may offer these courses at various levels, including masters of business administration (MBA) with a focus on abovementioned specializations.
MBA in Finance
An MBA in finance is a post graduate degree which students can enroll in after successfully completing a bachelor's degree. Some MBA schools may require an undergrad degree in business or finance for admission while other MBA schools may not. Top-ranked schools may also require the applicants to have a comprehensive business or financial work experience before being considered for admission. An MBA in finance curriculum will consist of some core courses and after their successful completion students may be allowed to choose their elective courses.
While course titles will differ from business school to business school, some of the courses may be titled:
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Basics of Finance
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Financial Derivatives
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Corporate Finance
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Accelerated Corporate Finance
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Macroeconomics and the Global Economic Environment
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Investment Management
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International Financial Markets
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Private Equity
An MBA in finance is usually a two-year degree, although a student's actual date of graduation will depend upon his/her enrollment status.
Jobs Related To MBA in Finance
Students with a master's of business degree in finance may qualify to apply for the following and related jobs:
Personal Financial Advisors - They give financial advice to people on matters relating to taxes, investments and insurance. Most of them hold a bachelor's degree. However an MBA may brighten their chances of advancement. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that these professionals were earning a yearly median salary of $67,520 in 2012.
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Financial Managers - They are responsible for the financial health of organizations like banks and insurance companies (that is where most of these professionals work). They develop long-term financial goals, produce financial reports, etc. and direct investment activities. BLS reported them earning a yearly median salary of $109,740 in 2012.
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Financial Analysts - These professionals assess the performance of investments like stocks and bonds etc. BLS reported them earning a yearly median salary of $76,950 in 2012.
MBA in Finance online
Earning an MBA in finance online may be an option for those with full-time jobs who need an advanced degree to excel in their chosen field. Depending upon the business school, online courses may be taught online, interactive lectures, videos, books, case studies, etc. Students may have to take their exams on-campus though, however, some exams may be taken online. Like a traditional MBA degree, an online MBA may also take 2 years to complete, if not more.