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New Mexico State University

Finance Specialization

Degree Plan/Application for Candidacy

The MBA Specialization in Finance at NMSU was developed in response to employers’ interest in students with broader skill sets in Finance. The specialization allows interested and motivated MBA students to advance their knowledge and abilities for employment in the banking, corporate finance, or investment areas.

MBA students specializing in Finance must take additional coursework beyond that required to complete the MBA degree program. More specifically, the Finance Specialization requirements include four graduate-level Finance courses beyond Finance 503 (which is part of the MBA required coursework). One of those graduate-level Finance courses may be used to fulfill the MBA elective course requirement and, as a result, the Specialization can be completed with only 9 additional credit hours beyond that required to complete the MBA degree.

Required Courses

The four 3-hour courses that constitute the specialization requirements are:

  • FIN 535 Investment Concepts. Investments in common stocks and other securities. Risk and return, securities markets, portfolio theory and management. Prerequisite(s): FIN 503.
  • FIN 545 Money and Capital Markets. Examination of financial markets and institutions. Emphasis on interest rate determinants, bond markets and fixed income portfolio management. Prerequisite(s): FIN 503.
  • FIN 555 Derivative Markets and Securities. Institutional aspects of derivative markets and the arbitrage based pricing of derivative instruments such as stock options, interest rate options, future contracts and swaps. The applied component of the course demonstrates use of these instruments as hedge and/or investment vehicles. Prerequisite(s): FIN 503.1
  • FIN 566 Advanced Financial Management. Application and integration of financial theory, concepts, and practice using the case method. Prerequisite: FIN 503.2

These courses are NOT offered every semester. Completion of the courses for the Specialization will be spread over a Spring and Fall semester. Please meet with the Finance Department Head to plan your course schedule.

1Students may substitute FIN 525 if taken before Fall 2009.
2Students may substitute any Finance (FIN) course numbered 511 or above if taken before Fall 2009.