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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 60 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 540 | Financial Analytics (core requirement for M.S.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 610 | Financial Modeling and Analysis (core requirement for M.S.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| 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 |
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 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 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 540, FIRE 610, FIRE 621 and FIRE 622 | 12 | |
| M.S. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| FIRE 540 | Financial Analytics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 610 | Financial Modeling and Analysis (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 | 3 |
| FIRE 635 | Investments and Security Analysis | 3 |
| • Approved electives | 9 | |
| Select three from the following: | ||
| Managerial Accounting Concepts | ||
| Accounting Analytics | ||
| Topics in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | ||
| Foundations in Real Estate | ||
| Risk Management | ||
| Real Estate Development | ||
| Cases in Real Estate | ||
| Real Estate Valuation | ||
| Advanced Financial Analytics | ||
| Derivatives | ||
| Short-term Financial Management | ||
| 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 | |
| Database Management | ||
| Prescriptive Analytics | ||
| Business Data Analytics | ||
| Statistical Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Decision and Risk Analytics | ||
| Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business | ||
| • Free elective | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
ACCT (any 600-level) | ||
ECON (any 600-level) | ||
FIRE (any 600-level) | ||
| Practical and Structural Data Improvements with AI | ||
| Practical Process Rethinking with AI | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 60.
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 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 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 540 | Financial Analytics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 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 | 3 |
| Finance concentration electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| FIRE 610 | Financial Modeling and Analysis (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 621 | Cases in Financial Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Finance concentration elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 60 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 60.
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