One of the unique characteristics of many graduate-level business programs is that they don’t specifically require an undergraduate business degree in order to enjoy admission to most concentrations. That’s certainly true of schools offering a master’s degree in finance. Most students simply have to take basic admission tests, like the GMAT or GRE, and score highly enough to impress admissions counselors and school administrators.
Even so, many undergraduate programs will not properly prepare students for success in graduate-level finance and economics. Many programs in the liberal arts are light on fiscal policy, regulation, and even math. Other programs, such as the ones listed below, might be a good fit for those looking to boost the finance skills and enter the field immediately after graduation.
Bachelor’s of Science in Finance
Undergraduate degrees in finance are the most obvious options for students who want to have a well-developed understanding of the field. Undergraduate programs focus on both entry-level and advanced courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, with courses in personal finance, corporate bookkeeping, and government regulations all being a key part of the curriculum.
Graduates of a four-year finance major will find themselves with the right amount of knowledge to hit the ground running during their first semester in a master’s degree program. That puts them ahead of many other students, most of whom will be navigating a steep learning curve.
Bachelor’s of Business Administration
The great thing about an undergraduate business degree is that it’s rather broad, largely because it’s designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of post-baccalaureate education. Many students opt for either a traditional MBA or one in executive management or international relations. Others, however, are interested in finance and their undergraduate education gives them a strong chance of succeeding in the field.
Undergraduate degrees in business require students to take courses in communication, management, law, finance, economics, accounting, and strategic planning. These skills translate into a solid foundation for a master’s-level degree in finance. Though students might not have the depth of financial knowledge that undergraduate finance students might, they’ll suffer from a negligible learning curve during their first semester.
Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting
Accounting majors spend the majority of their time in undergraduate classes doing math, accounting, for microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, and learning more about the intersection of business, personal relations, and the financial world. This gives them the right skill set to pursue success through a master’s degree in finance. Accounting students, or even certified public accountants, have a command of real-world financial situations that make them an invaluable part of any academic setting, adding real value to traditional coursework.
Bachelor’s of Science in Legal Studies
It there is one word that governs both finance classes and occupations, it has to be regulation. Whether at the federal, state, or local level, regulations govern how financial instruments are developed, traded, explained, sold, and managed. That’s where a degree in legal studies can actually come in quite handy. Students in this major are taught to read contracts, internalize terms, and proceed with a logical thought process.
In the end, that means legal studies graduates are easily able to internalize financial regulations, leaving them open to focus more on processes, numbers, and potential concentrations, once they’ve enrolled in a program of their choosing.
Plenty of Paths Lead to a Master’s in Finance
Whether from a business, legal, accounting, or financial standpoint, it’s easy to have a solid footing in accounting at the graduate level. All it takes is the right undergraduate foundation and an affinity for the finer points of financial trading, investing, advising, and management.
