The Master of Science in Financial Analytics (MSFA) program, offered by the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business , is STEM-designated and fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The program emphasizes the knowledge necessary to succeed in corporate finance roles. The course work is structured to combine accounting and finance knowledge, as well as provide experience with the relevant technology and prepare well rounded professionals for careers in corporate finance roles. In addition to technical and analytical skills, the program emphasizes the development of communication skills, professional development, and career readiness.
The MSFA program is open to candidates who graduated with business or nonbusiness majors. The program accommodates professionals with demanding life and work schedules.
Program Delivery
Classes are taught using a hybrid delivery format combining online and in-person sessions. Classes meet evenings and Saturdays in eight-week sessions year-round. In-person class sessions are held on the SJSU campus. The 33-unit program can be completed within 12 months on a full-time basis or within 21 months on a part-time basis.
University Admissions Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements .
Prerequisites for Clear Admission
Students must complete the following SJSU courses or their equivalents:
Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified
To be fully accepted into classified standing, the following conditions must be met:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in the U.S. or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree earned from a recognized institution if the degree was earned outside of the U.S.
- A preferred GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
- An English language proficiency examination if the previously earned degree was from an institution in which the principal language of instruction was not English. The university’s minimum entrance score for the TOEFL is 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet-based). The minimum score required on the IELTS is 6.5, and the minimum PTE score is 53.
- A personal statement of one to two pages explaining how an MSF would help to achieve the applicant’s career objectives.
- A resume detailing the candidate’s professional and academic experiences.
- (Optional) Two letters of recommendation.
- The GMAT or GRE are not required but strongly recommended for applicants with GPAs less than 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Scores at the 50th percentile in both the quantitative and verbal sections of either exam are considered competitive.
Advancement to Candidacy
The university requirements for advancement to candidacy for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies & Procedures section.
Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.
Program of Study Requirements
Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements section of the Graduate Policies & Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.
Culminating Experience: Plan B (Project)
The culminating experience will take place in the capstone course BUS 270D . The course focuses on the study of corporate finance problems integrating finance theory and business practice. Topics include assessing financial condition; valuation, cash flow and capital budgeting analysis; and decision-making pertaining to working capital, capital expenditures, capital allocation, capital structure, payout policy, IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and corporate governance. The students are assigned a complex case study based on publicly available data which integrate accounting & financial knowledge, technology, and corporate strategical considerations. Students may propose themselves a case study based on actual private or publicly available data, conditional on the approval of the course instructor and program director. Students work on the case study and write a report in a professional format summarizing their analysis and findings. An oral presentation is also required.
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