University of Tampa

What you'll study

The program advances use of mathematical, accounting and statistical data to support financial decisions and firm valuation. Students choose between two tracks: Financial Analysis (aligned with the CFA curriculum) and Quantitative Analysis (focused on data analytics and interpretation). Both tracks include 16 hours of electives for further specialization. Example courses include:

• FIN 650 Venture Capital and Alternative Investments — types of alternatives, valuation approaches, advanced analytics, risks and relationships to traditional assets; includes CFA curriculum material.
• FIN 677 Disruptive Innovations in FinTech — payments innovations, blockchain topics (cryptography in Bitcoin, proof-of-work, Ethereum, proof-of-stake), smart contracts and decentralized finance applications.
• ECO 611 Econometrics — econometric methods applied to business analytics, modelling micro- and macroeconomic phenomena using real-world data.
• FIN 688 Machine Learning for Finance — supervised methods (linear models, logistic regression, SVM, random forests, neural nets) and unsupervised methods (PCA, clustering) applied to financial problems.

The college provides applied technology training with tools such as Bloomberg Professional terminals, SAP Compustat, and Oracle Crystal Ball, and students get hands-on experience in the Huizenga Family Foundation Trading Center.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have completed FIN 500 Foundations of Finance and QMB 500 Statistics for Decision Makers or equivalent graduate-level courses. A completed application requires official transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores (waivers available for qualifying applicants), two professional reference forms (professional letters acceptable), a résumé and a 500–1,000 word personal statement describing goals and fit with the program.

Career prospects

Graduates acquire skills in data analysis, financial modeling, investment analysis and risk management and are prepared to manage portfolios, analyze financial data and make investment decisions. UTampa reports that about 90% of MS in Finance students secure internships with local and international employers. Employers of program alumni include Bank of America, PwC, Bloomberg L.P., Raymond James, Citi, SAP, Deloitte, T. Rowe Price, Wells Fargo, Franklin Templeton Investments and others.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not list specific scholarships; applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies for funding options and to inquire about assistantships or departmental support. UTampa’s career services and the graduate office can also advise on internship-funded opportunities. For admissions and funding questions contact gradinfo@ut.edu or the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.