Combined Degree Program

A Four Year Program for Exceptional Students

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Combined Degree Program serves as an honors program in Finance designed for highly motivated and bright undergraduate students that have college credit accumulated when they begin University of Florida coursework. The program allows students to:

Earn either combination in four years:
1. a bachelors and a masters degree in finance or,
2. a bachelors degree outside of finance and a masters degree in finance.
Take 12 graduate finance credits in lieu of some of their undergraduate courses. The graduate credits will be used to satisfy requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Undergraduate Finance majors may use a particular set of 12 graduate credits as approved substitutions for undergraduate Debt, Equity and Financial Management.
- FIN 4243 Debt and Money Markets - 4 credits instead, take both:
  FIN 6545 Fixed Income Security Valuations - 2 credits
  FIN 6547 Interest Rate Risk Management - 2 credits
- FIN 4504 Equity and Capital Markets - 4 credits instead, two of these:
  FIN 6595 Investment Analytics - 2 credits, offered summer only
  FIN 6638 International Finance - 2 credits
  FIN 6958 International Financial Markets Study Tour - 2 credits, offered spring only
  FIN 6537 Derivative Securities - 2 credits
- FIN 4414 Financial Management - 4 credits instead, take both:
  FIN 6427 Measuring and Managing Value - 2 credits
  FIN 6465 Financial Statement Analysis - 2 credits
Non-finance students may be able to use up to 12 credits of graduate finance courses as substitution for undergraduate electives with permission from their undergraduate department.
MSF Combined Degree students may also take an additional 6 graduate credits as an undergraduate to store for use on the graduate degree while still eligible for Bright Futures benefits.
Complete the MSF Program during their fourth year of study alongside students with work experience in the field, joined by an outstanding set of peers, in courses taught by finance faculty, with exposure to a variety of visiting industry professionals.
Fund graduate tuition at a reduced cost. Bright Futures students do not pay the full price of graduate credits taken as an undergraduate student. They pay the difference between undergraduate and graduate credit costs. If the student continues in graduate school they will have saved the tuition costs for up to 12 graduate credits taken as an undergraduate since the 12 credits are used for two different degrees. The additional 6 graduate credits taken as an undergraduate are also eligible to be partially paid by Bright Futures. Florida PrePaid College Tuition Program will fund the first 120 credit hours, covering graduate courses taken toward the undergraduate degree at the undergraduate level. Financial aid may be available for the graduate degree portion of the program.

Standard Combined Degree Timeline

The MSF Program has several approved variations. By the time a student has established a relationship with the MSF Program and reached the point of eligibility for graduate level courses, it will be determined which variation is best.

Bright Futures Scholarship Program will fund graduate tuition at the undergraduate level - students are responsible for paying the difference between undergraduate and graduate costs. If the student continues in graduate school they will have saved the tuition costs for up to 12 graduate credits taken as an undergraduate since the 12 credits are used for two different degrees. The graduate course costs were partially paid by the undergraduate financial aid for those 12 plus the additional 6 credits a student can save to apply to the graduate degree once they have completed their undergraduate degree.

Florida PrePaid College Tuition Program will fund the first 120 credit hours, covering graduate courses taken toward the undergraduate degree at the undergraduate level. Financial aid may be available for the graduate degree portion of the program.

What the MSF Program Expects from Interested Students

Aptitude, Motivation and Maturity are mandatory for the rigorousness of this program, the personal growth requirements and the development of necessary industry relationships.

Plan early and maintain academic discipline

Know your purpose

Develop a relationship with the MSF Program

What Qualified Students Can Expect from the MSF Program

A wealth of resources is offered to students interested in the MSF. The design is for students to learn early about the finance industry, gauge their aptitude and interests, and discern the best path for their professional objectives. The expectation is that students selected for the MSF Combined Degree Program will have taken full advantage of opportunities and activities available to them.

Review Opportunities and Activities

Meetings with Mrs. Kelly Herring, MSF Director of Admissions and Student Services, Mr. Bruce Foerster, MSF Associate Director of Placements and Dr. David Brown, the MSF Program Director, to discuss academic needs and career goals
Friday Finance Professional Speaker Series presentations
Small lunch group sessions with the Finance Professional Speaker Series participants
Several years of archived Finance Professional Speaker Series video of speakers from a variety of finance fields
Lunches and meetings with industry professionals. Select students are invited to attend these functions to broaden their understanding of the industry and to make contacts. Attendance may be requested so visitors observe the quality of students the MSF Program and the University of Florida have to offer.
Candidacy for a campus internship with the University of Florida Investment Corporation and notification of other internships
One-one-one career and industry consultation and group informational sessions with Bruce Foerster, a leading practitioner with considerable investment banking experience
The MSF Placement History and job descriptions of newly hired MSF students
Detailed graduate level finance course descriptions
Additional resources to help with the completion of the statement of purpose
PhD level courses in finance are available to some MSF students
MSF admission likely to be given before the general application deadline, usually upon completion of FIN 3403
Course substitutions are available with pre-approval for undergraduate Finance majors accepted to the MSF Combined Degree Program

FIN 4243 Debt and Money Markets - 4 credits instead, take both:
FIN 6545 Fixed Income Security Valuations - 2 credits
FIN 6547 Interest Rate Risk Management - 2 credits

FIN 4504 Equity and Capital Markets - 4 credits instead, two of these:
FIN 6595 Investment Analytics - 2 credits, offered summer only
FIN 6638 International Finance - 2 credits
FIN 6958 International Financial Markets Study Tour - 2 credits, offered spring only
FIN 6537 Derivative Securities - 2 credits

FIN 4414 Financial Management - 4 credits instead, take both:
FIN 6427 Measuring and Managing Value - 2 credits
FIN 6465 Financial Statement Analysis - 2 credits

Non-finance students may be able to use up to 12 credits of graduate substitution for undergraduate electives with permission from their undergraduate department.