Advanced study in business administration and finance is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Business with a concentration in finance program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 63 graduate credits rather than the 75 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare individuals to be not just effective finance professionals but also leaders and managers in today’s organizations
- Provide the ability to develop and use financial models and data for making managerial decisions and achieving strategic organizational goals.
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business, including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, and situational awareness, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the general management skills obtained in the M.B.A. with a solid specialization in finance
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions not just in finance but across a wide spectrum of levels and areas in today’s organizations
- Enhanced job prospects — particularly for candidates intending to switch careers or striving to move up within their organizations
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the 12 shared credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. The assigned program manager will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs. A faculty adviser from the Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate will help students consider electives that will best serve their professional goals.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 63 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Business with a concentration in finance.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE 621 | Cases in Financial Management (core requirement for M.S.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 622 | Financial Intermediation and Analysis of Fixed-income Securities (core requirement for M.S.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| FIRE 635 | Investments and Security Analysis (core requirement for M.S.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by FIRE 621, FIRE 622 and FIRE 635 | 9 | |
| M.S. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| FIRE 610 | Financial Modeling and Analysis | 3 |
| FIRE 621 | Cases in Financial Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 622 | Financial Intermediation and Analysis of Fixed-income Securities (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| FIRE 635 | Investments and Security Analysis (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| • Approved electives | 12 | |
| Select four from the following: | ||
| Managerial Accounting Concepts | ||
| Financial Markets | ||
| Financial Analytics | ||
| Risk Management | ||
| Cases in Real Estate | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Derivatives | ||
| Short-term Financial Management | ||
| Current Issues in Investments and Markets | ||
| Real Estate Finance and Investments | ||
| Current Issues in Corporate Finance | ||
| Topics in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | ||
| Field Project in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | ||
or FIRE 697 | Guided Study in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | |
| • Free elective | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
ACCT (any 600-level) | ||
ECON (any 600-level) | ||
FIRE (any 600-level) | ||
| Analysis and Design of Database Systems | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| International Business Management | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Statistical Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Applied Multivariate Methods | ||
| Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business | ||
| Total Hours | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (core requirement for both degrees) | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| FIRE 622 | Financial Intermediation and Analysis of Fixed-income Securities (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 635 | Investments and Security Analysis (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 650 | Derivatives | 3 |
| Finance elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| FIRE 621 | Cases in Financial Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Finance electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 3 | |
| Total Hours: | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options