Is a Thesis Required for a Master's in Finance?

Earning a Master’s in Finance is a substantial achievement that entails several post-grad requirements, including the thesis oftentimes. Theses are long academic papers written after intensive research on a given financial theory or hypothesis. Specialized Master of Science programs are more likely to involve theses than MBAs because they’re more inquiry based. Finishing this graduate school benchmark makes students supremely prepared for upper-level jobs and perhaps PhD programs. According to Inside Higher Ed, interest in one-year finance master’s has risen 19 percent since Spring 2017. The availability of online finance degrees that resolve the relocation issue is aiding this growth. Further, market demand for higher educated financial managers worth a big median wage of $125,080 is up. Making oneself marketable with a master’s generally necessitates 30+ course credits and some capstone like theses.

Steps to Completing Master’s Theses

First, finance master’s candidates start by writing topic proposals for their theses. Remember that master’s programs typically expect 40-80 written pages. Hence, it’s important to pick a topic of interest that can be explored deeply. Topics relevant to the current business climate and faculty mentors are best. Second, students formulate a question they’re seeking to answer and their hypothesis. Third, research kicks off with plenty of library trips to review related texts. Most finance majors pick quantitative theses that require experiments with variables and lots of data. Going before the Institutional Review Board is next if human subjects are involved. Experiments allow master’s students to draw factual conclusions that are precisely recorded. Finally, all of the information is compiled into a paper from the introduction to the bibliography of literature sources.

Examples of Finance Thesis Projects

Master’s in Finance majors should begin brainstorming topics as early as possible. Search engines like Google make it easy to find popular finance trends and concerns. The university’s finance department likely has database resources to search recent journals too. Topics can be drawn from any connected discipline, such as banking, real estate, data analytics, economics, securities, and financial engineering. Graduate students should only develop theses that will excite them and aid their résumés. For example, personal finance advisors might explore how individuals get into debt. Fraud examiners could test how internet banks protect consumer info. Risk managers could run pros and cons of home buying or renting. Bank managers can inquire about actuarial methods for loan policies. Economics enthusiasts might forecast upcoming market volatility.

Master’s Capstone Alternatives to Theses

Finishing the finance master’s curriculum doesn’t always include theses though. More business schools are allowing students to pick an alternative that’s less intensive. Capstone projects are popular options that switch out research for hands-on work. For instance, individuals might write a detailed financial strategy plan for a new venture. Some could consult with current companies to help boost profits and assets. Others may conduct a case study analysis of new mergers and acquisitions. Yet another idea is surveying the United States’ financial regulations to find areas of improvement. Internships of 180+ clock hours can also be accepted for capstone credit usually. Some places for internship placements are BlackRock, Capital One, Deutsche Bank, Visa, Discover, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays.

Overall, fear of rigorous research shouldn’t hold someone back from a master’s. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects financial management jobs will grow rapidly by 19 percent for 108,600 openings nationally by 2026. Ascending into these well-paid titles is worth the extra one to two years of study.