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M.S. in Commerce | Academics

Finance Track

Careers in finance focus on matters of money, profitability, and resource allocation. A wide array of career choices are available within the financial services industry, including but not limited to capital markets, investment banking, asset management, wealth management, financial consulting, and transaction services. Each requires a slightly different skill set and offers potentially very different work environments. 

In the Finance Track, you will gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of global financial markets and systems, along with the critical financial, analytical, and decision-making methods and tools needed for success in the field.

Corporate Valuation and Financing

This course sharpens corporate valuation and corporate financing skills in a wide variety of cases and contexts. It is intended to extend the theoretical knowledge gained in Financial Management (GCOM 7060) to numerous applied settings, including mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, capital structure decisions, and leveraged buyout/private equity investments. Prerequisite: Restricted to M.S. in Commerce students

Asset Management

This course develops the concepts and tools needed to build and analyze investment portfolios for a wide range of investors, including sovereign wealth funds, pensions, endowments, family funds, high-net-worth individuals, and even small investors, taking into account a broad array of investing objectives. The course covers risk/return tradeoffs and valuation in the equity, fixed income, and derivative markets.

Special Topics in Finance

New graduate Commerce course

New Course in Commerce: ESG Accounting

This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject of Commerce.

Python for Data Science

The course provides an overview of the fundamentals necessary to conduct data analytics with Python, including understanding Python objects, data types, structures, packages, and data flow statements and, reading, writing, manipulating, and plotting data. Students will perform predictive analytics via machine learning using industry-standard packages.

Data Aggregation & Visualization

Students will learn how to communicate effectively with data and data structures. This includes how to evaluate potential sources of data; aggregate data values from multiple sources; and compile creative, professional, and descriptive visualizations from that data. Students will learn the best type of chart or figure for different situations and how to format those visualizations to maximize the impact to the viewer.

 

Financial Trading Analytics

Teaches analytical consulting competencies focused on the fast-paced financial industry: 1) Process automation: automating repetitive tasks to increase individual productivity; 2) financial business intelligence: accessing and manipulating information stored in organizational databases; 3) financial engineering: designing and implementing financial algorithms that make financial decisions.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, and Restructuring

This course explores three main topics: (1) mergers & acquisitions, (2) non-distressed corporate restructurings in the form of leveraged buyouts and private equity, and (3) distressed corporate restructuring/bankruptcy. It is largely case-based and extends concepts and principles learned in GCOM 7060 and GCOM 7710 to practical applications. Students will also participate in two negotiation exercises during the term.

Consulting

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of management consulting and other related advisory services professions while also helping students develop skills that are broadly applicable in these professions as well as in other fields (business, politics, not-for-profit, etc.). Working both individually and in teams, students will gain an appreciation of what makes consulting and advisory services unique from other areas of business.

Real Estate Investments and Analysis

This course develops an analytical framework by which individuals and institutions can make real estate investment and financing decisions. It emphasizes theory, concept building, financial modeling, and practical real estate applications and uses the case method to illustrate implementation of an analytical framework.

Careers in Finance

With a concentration in Finance, you’ll be well-prepared for career paths in in the financial services industry, including investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate finance, wealth management, and financial consulting, among others. For complete employment statistics for M.S. in Commerce graduates, please refer to the Graduate Placement Report.

Top Hiring Companies

Accenture
Adams Capital
Bain & Company
Cambridge Associates
Capital One
Citigroup
Credit Suisse

DC Energy
EY
Goldman Sachs
Harris Williams
IBM
JP Morgan
KPMG

McKinsey & Company
Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley
Oracle
PricewaterhouseCoopers
RBC Capital Markets
Wells Fargo

Finance Track

Alumni Profiles

See All Profiles
Sarah Colburn '14
Sarah Colburn '14
Backdrop, Co-Founder

"My M.S. in Commerce education has been so helpful in founding Backdrop. Exposure to so many facets of business has been pivotal: from crafting a personal narrative and learning to write emails and memos to touring factories and ports. They have all been a tremendous help throughout my career."

Thomas de la Hunty '18
Thomas de la Hunty '18
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Investment Banking Analyst

"My most compelling class was Investment Banking. This class is especially relevant to my career and contained an interesting blend of theoretical considerations and compelling case studies into famous moments in financial history, where we could apply the theories and topics learned to real-world situations."

Bryce Keblish ’20
Bryce Keblish ’20
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Global Capital Markets Analyst

"I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants an opportunity to rebrand themselves if coming from a non-business background."

Alexandra Lopez '16
Alexandra Lopez '16
Capital One, Product Owner

"After completing my economics major, I felt that I had a general, theoretical idea of business, but not what I needed to know in order to land a job, or succeed in that job. The Finance Track really taught me the quantitative skills I use today, and the M.S. in Commerce Program as a whole gave me the necessary experience presenting and actively contributing in discussions, as well as collaborating and working with others."

Connect With Us

We look forward to connecting with you about your interest in our Graduate Programs and encourage you to be in touch with any questions you may have.

Contact Information
mscommerce@virginia.edu
+1 434-982-6800