Degree Title: Master of Financial Economics

Program Name and Number: Financial Economics - MZ4224

Department/Unit: Economics

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus, Pickerington Center

Program Mission: Since the program is based on the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), its primary mission is to provide students with the quantitative and theoretical tools for a successful career in investment management.

Program Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how an economy operates in general and financial markets in particular
2. Enhance financial analysis and quantitative skills to succeed in financial services industry
3. Understand relationship between different segments of financial market (e.g., equity and bond markets),   
4. Understand the portfolios management processes for various investors according to their objectives and constraints using state-of-the-art techniques under the guidance of modern portfolio theories.
5. Learn how to adhere the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conducts when providing investment services.

Program Overview:  The MFE program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in the investment world.  It combines economics, finance and accounting by focusing on practical skills used by professionals in the financial sector.  The content of the financial economics program emphasizes the link between the economy and financial markets, while preparing students for the tremendous challenges of the future. The MFE program has been endorsed by the CFA Institute University Recognition Program for incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice within the program.  The Master of Financial Economics program prepare students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential worldwide. Students take courses in portfolio theory, equity markets, bond markets and alternative investments, financial derivatives, financial statement analysis, corporate finance, managerial accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics and statistics, econometrics, and international economics and financial markets.

Opportunities for Graduates: Once specialized in Financial Economics, you will be qualified to pursue job opportunities at:

1. Bank’s Trust Departments
2. Mutual Funds
3. Professional Money Management Firms
4. Pension Funds
5. Brokerage Firms
6. Hedge Funds
7. Insurance Companies
8. Investment banks:  Analyze Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Debt offerings
9. Non-financial private corporations (like IBM): Asset valuation, capital market strategy

Link to Program: http://www.ohio.edu/economics/g_index.html

Graduation Requirements: A minimum of 52 credit hours will be required to complete the program:  20 credit hours in Economics, 20 credit hours in Finance, and 8 credit hours in Accounting.  The MFE is structured so that all academic requirements can be completed in 15 months, beginning in the Fall and finishing at the end of Fall semester of the following year. At the end of the program, participants will complete an internship (4 credit hours) for further hands-on experience or will write a research paper (4 credit hours) under the supervision of a faculty.

Admission Requirements: As a student beginning graduate work in financial economics, you should ideally have some undergraduate training that includes courses in the social sciences, mathematics, statistics, or business administration. However, there are several areas of concentration that relate to and provide appropriate background knowledge for advanced study in economics. Ultimately your undergraduate program must be approved by the department admissions committee before you begin graduate work. A complete application requires:

• US Bachelor’s equivalent degree from an accredited degree granting institution.
• The equivalent of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a scale of 4.0 is required  
• Requirement on English proficiency for international students: TOEFL 550 (or 80 on the iBT, or 6.5 or greater across on all bands of the IELTS).
• Official copies of all transcripts and graduation diploma and bachelor’s degree certificate are required in English and the original language. These documents should be issued by the degree granting university.
• Three letters of recommendation
• A completed online application form: http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/apply.cfm.
• International Students: For the Graduate College to issue the certificate of eligibility, a completed financial support form, sponsor letters as applicable, and bank statements will be required. Information about these requirements can be found at,  http://www.ohio.edu/graduate/international/upload/Financial-Support-Form2.pdf
• Resume

Application deadline for fall entry is March 1^st.