Master of Finance Degree Programs in New Mexico

Accredited finance degree programs in New Mexico have grown in importance over the past several years with changes to several laws related to finance in the state. The finance industry has grown more complicated throughout the United States making the need for those who successfully complete accredited degree programs in New Mexico even more important to employers. Finance affects every industry and having qualified individuals who understand financial reports and other aspects of the financial well-being of a company is critical.

According to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, careers in the finance and insurance industries are expected to grow by more than ten percent between 2010 and 2020. More specifically credit intermediation employment is expected to grow by 10.1 percent, while the insurance industry is expected to grow by 8.7 percent. Other financial occupations that are expected to grow over the ten year period studied include logisticians, personal financial advisors, credit counselors, credit analysts, compliance officers, cost estimators, loan officers, and management analysts. For this reason, obtaining an accredited finance degree in New Mexico could create better employment opportunities.

New Mexico Highlands University

Department of Business Administration

Located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University can be found in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1870s led leaders in the area to create an institute of higher learning and this led to the founding of the New Mexico Normal School at Las Vegas. The original purpose of the school was to educate teachers when it opened in 1898. Just one year later, the school was renamed to the New Mexico Normal School and was referred to in the New England Journal of Education as one of the best in the country. In 1941, it was renamed New Mexico Highlands University in honor of the beautiful terrain that surrounded the campus. Today, the college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in arts and sciences, business, education, as well as social work. The school focuses on student academic success through diverse student support services and activities.

The mission of the Department of Business Administration is to be the best small business department in the Southwest in order to prepare students to be business decision-makers, managers and leaders. Students are not only taught an extensive business curriculum, but ethics and the need to be stewards for social and economic betterment in a changing global environment. The department’s core values include knowledge advancement, active learning, student success, diversity of ideas, accessible education, sense of community, individual well-being, sustainable practices, and multiculturalism.

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Concentration in Finance

The Master of Business Administration program at Highlands requires 37 credit hours, with at least 30 credit hours in courses available only to graduate students. Students are prepared for leadership positions in business, federal or state government, and non-profit institutions. Students who choose the concentration in finance must take the core classes for the MBA as well as Risk and Insurance, Investments, International Finance, Financial Accounting, and Financial Statement Analysis. In order to apply for the program, students must provide a statement on their goals and objectives that is personal and well-written. They must also provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended as well as two letters of recommendation.

Accreditation

The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)

Contact

Dr. Margaret Young, Dean
Sininger Hall, Room 208
Box 9000
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Telephone: 505-454-3115
Email: young_m@nmhu.edu
Website: http://nmhu.edu/academics/graduate/businessgrad/index.aspx

New Mexico State University

Graduate School

When Las Cruces College opened its doors in 1888, Mexico was still a territory. The college was led by Hiram Hadley, an educator from Indiana, who taught in a two-room building, although Mr. Hadley had bigger plans in mind. In 1889, legislators authorized an agricultural college and experiment station near Las Cruces. The land-grant college, created under the Morrill Act, was named the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1890, Las Cruces College merged with the land-grant institution, and the first year, the new school had 35 students. In 1960, the name was changed to New Mexico State University. Today, the school enrolls more than 16,000 students and sits on a 900-acre campus with a diverse population. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of subjects.

The Graduate School at New Mexico State offers 56 areas of study at the master’s level, three at the specialist level and 25 doctorate degrees. The first master’s degree was awarded in 1896, and, in 1921, a committee was appointed to oversee graduate studies. The Graduate School was formally established in 1956. Today, students are able to earn fellowships, assistantships or qualify for other financial assistance if they have achieved good academic records in undergraduate studies.

Master of Business Administration, Concentration in Finance

In order to earn a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, students must earn a minimum of 30-semester credits with at least 15-credits in 500 or above level courses. At least 15 credits must be in Finance while additional credits may be earned in fields that are justifiable to the program. Students must take classes from a variety of faculty and may not take more than half the minimum credits from the same professor, excluding thesis credits. In order to apply to the program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Students may be required to provide official transcripts, scores from GMAT, GRE, TOEFL or IELTS examinations, a statement of purpose, writing samples and letters of recommendation.

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Contact

New Mexico State University
Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
University Admissions
Educational Services Building, Suite G
MSC 3G
PO Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Telephone: (575) 646-2736
Email: gradinfo@nmsu.edu
Website: http://catalog.nmsu.edu/grad-2013-2014/01-general/grad-programs.html

University of New Mexico

Anderson School of Management

The University of Mexico was founded in 1889 when legislators passed a bill requiring an institute of higher learning be created near Albuquerque. The legislation stated that the university had to be located within two miles north of Railroad Avenue “upon a tract of good high and dry land, of not less than twenty acres.” It was determined that the institute would become the state university when New Mexico became a state. The university now sits on nearly 800 acres in the heart of Albuquerque.

The Anderson School of Management was named for Robert O. Anderson, one of the most influential businessmen in the country. He spent the majority of his career in the oil industry and to the economy of New Mexico. The school was named in his honor in 1974. The school is recognized for offering first-rate programs that are designed for students from diverse backgrounds in subjects that include liberal arts, sciences, education, law, business and more. Students who attend Anderson are energetic and ambitious, prepared to interact with other students and a well-trained faculty.

Finance Concentration

The Master of Business Administration degree with a finance concentration at the Anderson School at the University of New Mexico is designed to train leaders with an understanding of funding sources, who can identify and manage risk and can recommend capital expenditures or production of a new line. Students are provided knowledge in financial management, banking, planning, investments, insurance, real estate, financial services and the flow of money in and out of a business. To apply for admission, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students who have taken the GMAT or GRE must score a 500 or better and must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Anderson Masters Programs
MSC05 30901
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Telephone: 505-277-329
Email: lboni01@unm.edu
Website: http://mba.mgt.unm.edu/curriculum/finance.asp

As the need for employees with experience in the financial aspects of business grows, the need for professionals who have earned an accredited finance degree in New Mexico will also grow.