Master of Financial Economics

Financial Economics – MZ4224

Department of Economics
Bentley Annex 360
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701
doroodia@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring

Program Overview 

The program mission is to provide students with the quantitative and theoretical skills for a successful career in investment management. Students of this program may find a career in the private sector (such as an investment bank), the public sector (such as the State Teachers Retirement System), a four-year college, or pursue a Ph.D. in Economics or Finance. The Master of Financial Economics (MFE) program prepares students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential worldwide. The program 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^TM) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice within the program.  Students take courses in portfolio theory, equity markets, bond markets and alternative investments, financial derivatives, financial statement analysis, fundamentals of financial economics, managerial accounting, managerial economics, international macroeconomics and financial markets, mathematical economics, and econometrics and time series analysis.

All academic requirements can be completed within 12 months, beginning in the fall semester and ending in August of the following year.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing this program, students will be able to:

1. Explain how an economy operates, its relation with other countries, and the relationship of all economies with financial markets.
2. Apply financial and quantitative tools to analyze the performance of the financial services industry.
3. Understand the relationship between different segments of financial markets (e.g., equity and bond markets).
4. Understand the portfolio 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. Understand how individuals, policy makers, and firms can use microeconomic principles to analyze and resolve problems.
6. Apply the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct when providing investment services.

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
10. College instructor

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/economics/graduate/mfe#overview

Admission Requirements

Unconditional 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. 
• Minimum requirement on English proficiency for international students: PBT TOEFL 550 (or 80 on the iBT, or 6.5 or greater across on all bands of the IELTS). Test results of TOEFL 525 (or 70 on the iBT, or 6.0 or greater across on all bands of the IELTS) will also be acceptable but the student is not eligible for funding consideration.
• Official copies of all transcripts, graduation diploma, and bachelor’s degree certificate are required in English and the native language. These documents should be issued by the degree granting university.
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE/MAT test results (recommended)
• Resume
• Personal statement outlining career objectives
• A completed online application form.
• Application deadline is March 1 for fall entry and November 15 for spring entry.
• No separate form is required to apply for funding.
• This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.
• For international students: in order for the Graduate College to issue the certificate of eligibility for a visa, a completed financial support form, sponsor letters as applicable, and bank statements will be required. Information about these requirements can be found on the Graduate College webpage.

Conditional Admission Requirements

Domestic applicants whose GPA is marginally below 3.0 may be considered for admission, provided that their other credentials are satisfactory. They are required to submit the test results of GRE (150 or better on verbal, 150 or better on quantitative, 3.0 or better on analytical). All other requirements for admission are the same as for unconditional admission.

International Students

This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

Complete a minimum of 43 credit hours in nine courses as follows, with no grade below a “C”: