Boston College Carroll School of Management, Master of Science in Finance

Master of Science in Finance

Globalization,

To succeed in this rapidly shifting environment, industry professionals need a thorough grounding in the enduring principles that underlie financial markets.

By focusing on fundamental economic principles, the Boston College Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program prepares students to navigate and manage unpredictable economic landscapes. BC MSF students gain valuable experience through case studies, internships, field study, and real-world consulting projects. Classes are small, fostering a strong sense of community and collegiality, and students have remarkable access to some of the finest teachers and researchers in the world.

new technologies, ever-evolving regulations, and novel financial instruments: the landscape of finance is constantly changing.

Master of Science in Finance

program details

The BC MSF program helps students deepen their knowledge of finance, broaden their opportunities within the industry, and become recognized leaders in their fields.

It is designed to meet the diverse needs of finance professionals at different stages of their careers. It is also suited for recent undergraduates beginning their careers in finance, and for mathematicians, economists, engineers, computer scientists, and others who are considering a new career in the world of finance.

s CH ed U li N g optio N s

F U ll time

Students in the full-time program can complete the BC MSF in one full year of study. Students progress through the program as a cohort, fostering exceptional camaraderie and creating a supportive network—one that continues long after the program comes to an end.

F U ll time: q U a N titative F i N a NC e tra C k

The quantitative finance track is a STEMdesignated track that allows students to complete the MSF in one full year of study.

The quantitative finance track’s STEM designation allows international MSF graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training, or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months.

part time

The part-time option meets the needs of individuals who wish to continue their careers while pursuing advanced study. While course enrollment is flexible, part-time students typically complete the program in 20 months.

Part-time students pursue the same courses as their full-time counterparts, and also benefit from access to Boston College’s world-class faculty.

Madison Borrelli, MSF ’21

Ph.D. in Finance Candidate, University of Central Florida

“I feel fortunate that my experiences at BC allowed me to come out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. Not only was I academically challenged inside of the classroom, but I also strengthened my networking and communication skills while making lifelong connections.”

Sample Curricula and Course Sequences

“The professors are what make Boston College unique. They are some of the top minds in their fields, with extensive academic and professional achievements. They really care about students and the learning experience and teach you niches of finance that you may never have known. As a result, you develop skill sets that distinguish you from other job applicants.”

Peter Peirce, MSF ’20 Capital Strategy Manager, Citizens Bank

“I pursued the BC MSF because, after four years of undergraduate financial studies, I wanted to dive into more specialized financial topics such as applied derivatives and hedging techniques. I also wanted to expose myself to a new network and learn from a set of distinguished professors. I was able to receive all of this and more from BC’s MSF program. Boston College is unique because of its professors, who are all widely successful in their own right and essentially donate their time to students because they want to see us succeed. They make themselves entirely available outside of class, and I have created lasting relationships as they continue to guide me even as I begin my professional career. Additionally, the BC MSF program has been a collaborative academic experience, where classmates want the best for one another and will help when in need.

My advice to incoming students is to take advantage of every opportunity that is provided. It’s all there for you, but you need to grab it if you want to make the most of your time at BC.”

Careers and the Alumni Network

BC MSF graduates typically go on to jobs in corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking. Boston College’s Office of Career Development provides career guidance and support through workshops as well as on-campus company information sessions, industry lunches, and roundtables.

Graduates of the BC MSF program join a loyal and influential alumni network. Today, the Boston College alumni community encompasses more than 196,000 individuals all over the world, including more than 43,000 graduates of the Carroll School.

Barclays

BDO

Bloomberg

Boston Scientific

Cambridge Associates

China Construction Bank

China Merchants Bank

Citigroup

Citizens Bank

Credit Agricole

CTBC Bank

Deloitte

Empire Consultants

EY

FactSet

Glenvale Solar

Goldman Sachs

HSBC

KPMG Kroll

L.E.K. Consulting

Manulife Investment Management

McKinsey & Company

Moody’s Investors Service

Morgan Stanley

Northern Trust

Putnam Investments

PwC

Santander

Staples

State Street

Thermo Fisher

UBS

Wells Fargo

g eograp H i C r eprese N tatio N Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Peru, Philippines, Slovenia, Taiwan part-

JP Morgan Chase

* 2020–2022 »

Faculty

Rui Albuquerque

Professor; Ph.D.,University of Rochester

Michele Andreolli

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., London Business School

Pierluigi Balduzzi

Professor; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Simcha Barkai

Assistant Professor;

Ph.D., University of Chicago

Michael Barry

Associate Professor of the Practice; Ph.D., Boston College

Vincent Bogousslavsky

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Swiss Finance Institute, EPFL

Thomas J. Chemmanur

Professor; Ph.D., New York University

Nathan Dong

Assistant Professor of the Practice; Ph.D., Rutgers University

Ran Duchin

Professor and David J. Mastrocola Faculty Fellow; Ph.D., University of Southern California

Vyacheslav (Slava) Fos

Professor, Hillenbrand Family Faculty Fellow, and Ph.D. Program Coordinator; Ph.D., Columbia University

Samuel Hartzmark

Professor and Hillenbrand Family

Faculty Fellow; Ph.D., University of Southern California

Drew Hession-Kunz

Lecturer; MSF, Boston College

Clifford Holderness

Professor; M.Sc., London School of Economics; JD, Stanford University

Edith Hotchkiss

Professor and Hillenbrand Family Faculty

Fellow; Ph.D., New York University

Robert F. James

Senior Lecturer; MSF, Boston College

Cheng (Jason) Jiang

Assistant Professor of the Practice; Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Adam Jørring

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Chicago

Darren Kisgen Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Washington

Matteo Leombroni

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Stanford University

Andrey Malenko Professor; Ph.D., Stanford University

Nadya Malenko Professor; Ph.D., Stanford University

Alan Marcus

Mario J. Gabelli Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jeffrey Pontiff

Professor and James F. Cleary Chair in Finance; Ph.D., University of Rochester

Jonathan Reuter

Associate Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Paul Romer

Seidner University Professor; Ph.D., University of Chicago

Ronnie Sadka

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty, Chairperson, and the Haub Family Professor of Finance; Ph.D., Northwestern University

Paul Schmelzing

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Harvard University

Aimee Hoffmann Smith

Assistant Professor of the Practice; Ph.D., Florida State University

Elliott Smith

Senior Lecturer; MSF, Boston College

David Solomon

Professor and Giuriceo Family Faculty Fellow; Ph.D., University of Chicago

Philip E. Strahan

Professor and John L. Collins, SJ, Chair in Finance; Ph.D.,University of Chicago

Hassan Tehranian

Professor and Griffith Family Millennium

Chair; Ph.D., University of Alabama

Tuomas Tomunen Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Columbia University

Milena Wittwer

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Stanford University

Nancy Xu

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Columbia University

Hanyi (Livia) Yi Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rice University

Professor and Hillenbrand Family Faculty Fellow

“I teach advanced topics in corporate finance and I draw heavily on my research expertise, especially in corporate restructuring and debt markets. It’s a rapidly changing area, so both the course material and the research are constantly being updated.

You don’t teach this material just by lecturing. You’re guiding students through a case study, helping them discover on their own why a situation played out the way it did. It’s not about learning a static model and applying it to the rest of your life. It’s about learning how to take a complex problem and break it down, ask the questions, move it forward. It’s very discussion-based.

Our faculty has close contact with students at all levels. And I think you see that in the longevity of the relationships with students after they leave Boston College. That’s a big part of why I like teaching here.”

Edith Hotchkiss publishes widely on topics such as valuation and restructuring mechanisms for financially distressed firms. Among other current projects, she is studying the impact of leveraging on company innovation. She has also served as a board director of the Turnaround Management Association and as an independent economist for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Edith Hotchkiss

Admission

The BC MSF program seeks students with outstanding potential for leadership and academic excellence. While notable for the diversity of their individual achievements, our students all present a consistent record of taking initiative, leading change, and demonstrating a desire to make an impact in the world.

H ow to appl Y

Each candidate must complete an application for admission, which includes transcripts of all academic work, essays, and a letter of recommendation. Prior work or leadership experience as well as evidence of management potential are significant criteria in the admissions process.

All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All candidates must be graduates of accredited colleges or universities.

Boston College Carroll School of Management publications contain current information regarding the University calendar, admissions, degree requirements, fees, regulations, and course offerings. They are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as a statement of the University’s contractual undertakings.

aCCreditatioN iNFormatioN maY be aCCessed at: bc.edu/csom-accreditation

NoNdisCrimiNatioN NotiCe maY be aCCessed at: bc.edu/nondiscrimination

CampUs saFetY aNd seCUritY program maY be aCCessed at: bc.edu/campus-safety