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Master of Finance
About the program.
Whether you are applying straight from an undergraduate program, switching your career focus, or seeking to deepen your knowledge of Asset Management, the Isenberg Master of Finance (MF) will provide you with the knowledge you need to thrive in the field of Asset Management and broaden your network of finance professionals. The one-year program, with 10 courses or 30 credits, is designed for those with some quantitative background in such subjects as calculus and statistics.
Specialized, 1-Year Training
The Master of Finance delivers the specialized skills and expertise needed to succeed in the fast-growing, complex asset management industry. Cutting-edge knowledge of best practices and ethics as well as a full range of strategies is essential to thrive in the industry. Master of Finance students choose between two asset management specialty areas, Alternative Investments and Real Estate. Isenberg’s MF equips you with the skills to create and grow wealth, manage risk, and distinguish yourself in the field. The Master of Finance program makes you a highly desirable candidate for some of the high-paying finance internships and careers.
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Expert Faculty & Curriculum
The finance faculty at Isenberg are world-renowned scholars and practitioners who use state-of-the-art technology and hands-on learning to instill competency and confidence in Master of Finance students. They coach students to be leaders in asset management and offer unique specializations in alternative investments and real estate. They infuse case studies with real-world experiences that bring theory to life.
Job Opportunities
Asset Management, and the two specialty areas of Alternative Investments and Real Estate, are thriving finance fields in both the United States and abroad. Asset Management is a fast-growing industry and assets are projected to grow by 32% from 2020 to 2025 according to a leading global consulting firm, BCG.
OPT and CPT
The Master of Finance degree offered on the Amherst campus is ideal for international students. The STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) classification allows students to extend their time in the U.S. to gain practical work experience, and the CPT (Curricular Practical Training) requirements allow them to accept paid internships. Our Master of Finance STEM degree offers students highly sought-after technical expertise.
4+1 Master's Degrees
4+1 Master's Degrees
Undergraduate students at UMass Amherst and other colleges in the Five College Consortium can pursue a 4+1 option, completing their undergraduate degree and their master's degree in 5 years. Isenberg's Master of Finance, Master of Science in Accounting, and Master of Science in Business Analytics all offer this option.
For UMass Amherst students, the 4+1 option can also be accelerated, allowing students to complete both their undergraduate and master's degrees in fewer than 5 years.
Interested students should apply to a master's degree program in their junior year or early in their senior year.
#10
Top-ranked Finance Curriculum
U.S. News and World Report 2021
U.S. News and World Report 2021
Career Skills
Curriculum delivers specialized skills in asset management.
CAIA
Gain a head start towards a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst certification.
Dual Degree
Dual Degree
Our On-Campus MBA program offers several dual degrees to consider, including an MBA/Master of Finance option. This immersive residential program offered in Amherst will give you a hands-on, real-world education that will equip you with the skills to be a leader in the complex asset management industry.
Career Services
Career Services
Visit IConnect for job postings, career events, and a suite of resources and tools in one central location to help you prepare for your career search. Resume guides, LinkedIn workshops, and interview tips are all available to you. Appointments for one-on-one career coaching are made through the IConnect platform.
Message from the Program Director
As the global financial markets become increasingly complex and investors seek greater diversification along with increased return on investments, there has never been more demand for expertise in the field of asset management. However, there has not been a graduate program as dedicated to this important field in finance, and particularly to the study Alternative Investments and Real Estate. To fill the gap, the Isenberg School of Management has created one of the world’s first such program, the Master of Finance, with specialties in Alternative Investments and Real Estate. In one short year, the MF will provide you with both the cutting-edge knowledge and the credentials you need to accelerate your career in this thriving field.
GET A UNIQUE DEGREE FROM A TOP, AACSB-ACCREDITED BUSINESS SCHOOL.
The Isenberg School of Management simulates the real-world challenges you’ll face on the job so you’ll be equipped to handle the ever-changing issues of today’s financial world.
ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF ONE OF THE BEST FINANCE DEPARTMENTS IN AI WORLDWIDE.
Isenberg faculty are recognized around the globe for their leading-edge research in Asset Management, and particularly Alternative Investments (AI). Isenberg Finance faculty also serve as editors of The Journal of Alternative Investments (JAI), the preeminent journal in the field. As a result, the department has an established reputation for excellence in scholarship as well as real-world application.
The Finance faculty have decades of global industry experience across real estate investment, strategy, advisory, analysis, capital markets, financing structures, development, transactions, construction, and management from the Occupier/Corporate, Institutional, Lender, and Investor perspectives. Faculty expertise is deep across all real estate asset classes including residential, commercial, retail, multi-family, eCommerce/distribution, data center, office, lab, and manufacturing.
TAP INTO OUR UNPARALLELED ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS.
The Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets (CISDM), located at Isenberg, hosts conferences, connects academic and business communities, and provides access to the Morningstar CISDM Database. In 2002, CISDM co-founded the Amherst-based Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA), which supplies credentials and support for alternative investment professionals.
MF Faculty
MF Faculty
Carey Baldwin
Lecturer
Jeffrey Clark
Lecturer, David Gaunt Faculty Fellow in Real Estate; M.Fin. Academic Program Director
Simon Huang
Assistant Professor
Nikunj Kapadia, PhD
Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Professor of Finance
Hossein B. Kazemi
Director, CISDM & Michael and Cheryl Philipp Endowed Professor
Bing Liang
Charles P. McQuaid Endowed Professor
Wenting Ma
Assistant Professor
Sanjay Nawalkha
Professor
Mila Getmansky Sherman
Fuller and Meehan Endowed Professor, Associate Director of CISDM
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RFI Paid: MFAI
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Apply Now
Follow our step-by-step process to complete your online application.
- Review the program specific admissions requirements.
- Click Apply Now to go to the University's Graduate School site where you can find a link to the secure online application.
- First-time users will need to create an account to start a new application. Note: You can submit your application before you have all your materials ready, simply save and resume your application as you gather required materials.
- After submitting, track your application at the Graduate School Status of Application page.