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#Benefits of an MBA in Finance: Overview for Aspiring Students

Finance is one of the most popular specializations within Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. An MBA in Finance offers benefits to working professionals in a variety of industries, including commercial and corporate banking, investment services and real estate.

What Are the Benefits of an MBA in Finance?

Students pursuing an MBA in Finance gain the business and financial skills needed to work in a number of enterprises. They often have access to top-notch internship opportunities while still in school, and they generally command better positions and higher salaries upon graduation. Many MBA programs are offered on a part-time basis, making them accessible for working professionals.

Curriculum

MBA in Finance programs typically provide foundational education in statistics, leadership, economics, strategy and marketing. Students often choose a specialization during the second half of these 2-year programs. Some schools offer a curriculum loaded with business-related courses, such as management methods and accounting, with a few electives in financial subjects.

Others offer the opposite, presenting some general business training, with the majority of the courses focusing on financial, investment and banking topics. Programs may also allow students to choose a specific focus in their financial education, such as commercial, investment or real estate studies. Topics commonly taught through a finance MBA program include:

• Stock market analysis
• Foundations in finance
• Global economy
• Financial instruments
• Futures and options
• Market trading and volatility
• Risk management
• Bankruptcy
• Corporate finance
• Investment banking

Practical Experience

Students pursuing an MBA in Finance can sometimes gain experience with some of the world's most successful companies through internship programs. Companies like Johnson Johnson, AT T, Amazon, Intel and Microsoft offer internship opportunities specifically designed for aspiring financial managers and analysts. These work-study opportunities often count as academic credit.

Employment Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), financial managers and analysts can expect moderate to faster-than-average job growth in the coming years, along with serious competition for available positions. Depending on the specialization, the BLS anticipated an increase of 9%-16% for financial professions between 2012-2022 (www.bls.gov ). Some popular career paths for MBA in Finance graduates include:

• Senior financial analyst
• Financial controller or director
• Manager of a finance department
• Chief financial officer
• Commercial or investment banker
• Real estate or insurance finance manager

Potential Salaries

In March 2014, PayScale.com reported high salaries for MBA-holders in a variety of financial professions. Finance analysis managers earned a median annual income of $81,250, while a chief financial officer's median annual wages stood at $117,415.

PayScale.com also noted that experience also played a large factor in take-home pay, with entry-level MBA graduates earning a median salary of approximately $61,748, while those with five or more years' experience saw a median salary of $83,475.