The School of Business

Master of Science in Finance

ACTG + MSF: PSU Undergraduate Accounting to Master of Science in Finance Pathway

We offer an accelerated pathway program for PSU accounting students into our Master of Science in Finance (MSF). Students complete 8 MSF credits in their senior year which are shared between their bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting concentration and their MSF degree. 

  • 4 Credits Fall: FIN 551 Financial Management for Financial Analysts substitutes for ACTG 495
  • 4 Credits Winter: ACTG 553 Financial Statement Analysis substitutes for ACTG Elective
    Note: Complete ACTG 383 before starting ACTG 553. Additionally, FIN 551 must be completed before taking ACTG 553.

Additionally, ACTG 550 Advanced Financial Reporting (4 credits) is eligible for substitution for students pursuing the ACTG + MSF pathway.

Who Can Benefit

PSU students with a bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting concentration seeking a fifth year of education with additional coursework in finance, accounting and other areas of business to meet the credit hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam and to prepare them for a successful career.

Students interested in completing an accelerated bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting concentration and an MSF by completing 8 MSF credits in the senior year of their accounting program at the undergraduate tuition rate.

Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate students interested in the ACTG + MSF Pathway Program must meet the following minimum requirements. Admission to the MSF program will be on a competitive basis and meeting the minimum requirements will not guarantee admission to the program.

  • Junior standing or higher
  • Admitted to The School of Business by opting in to the business major
  • Institutional GPA of 3.3 with a letter of recommendation from PSU Accounting faculty or a institutional GPA of 3.5 or higher with no letter of recommendation
  • ACTG + MSF Pathway application

If a student is admitted to the ACTG + MSF Pathway program, they must maintain an institutional undergraduate GPA of 3.3 and earn a grade of B or higher in each MSF graduate level course taken for shared credit.

Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students who are conditionally admitted and meet those requirements will be guaranteed formal admission to the MSF program.

Process and How to Apply to ACTG + MSF Pathway

Summarized timeline for candidates

  • Junior Year
  • Senior Year
    • Fall & Winter: Complete pathway shared credits
    • Fall - Summer: Complete bachelor’s degree
  • Fall Following Bachelor's Graduation
    • Formally start the MSF program

Detailed timeline for candidates

Junior Year

Step 1: Apply to the Pathway
Ideally, between Fall and Summer of your junior year, you will submit an application for the 4+1 ACTG + MSF Pathway Program. This timing will ensure that your application is reviewed by the admissions team in time for taking the shared pathway courses.

Senior Year

Step 2: Register for the pathway approved courses in Fall & Winter
If you meet the program admissions requirements, you will be notified of acceptance to the ACTG + MSF Pathway Program via email. Instructions for registering for the approved pathway courses will be included. 

Step 3: Continue progress towards your bachelor’s degree
Complete your bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting concentration and apply for graduation.

Step 4: Formally join the MSF program

  • If you remained in good standing and maintained an institutional GPA of 3.3 and B or higher in each graduate course you will be officially admitted into to the MSF program and expected to begin the program in the Fall term. You may elect to defer admission to the MSF program for 1 year.
  • If you have not remained in good standing or maintained a 3.3 institutional GPA, you will be notified that the MSF graduate courses applied to your bachelor’s degree will not be applicable to the MSF degree requirements. 
Apply Now

For Advising Admissions, please book an appointment with Julie Hackett. 

FIN + MSF: PSU Undergraduate Finance to Master of Science in Finance Pathway

 

We offer an accelerated pathway program for PSU finance students into our Master of Science in Finance (MSF). Students complete 8 MSF credits in summer and spring terms of their senior year which are shared between their bachelor’s degree in business with a finance concentration and their MSF degree.

  • Both BTA 519 Managerial Analytics (2 credits) and FIN 531 Financial Institutions (2 credits) substitute for FIN 431 Financial Markets and Institutions (4 credits)
  • FIN 555 Quantitative Finance Methods (4 credits) substitutes for FIN 419 Financial Data Analytics and Modeling (4 credits)

Who Can Benefit

 

PSU students with a bachelor’s degree in business with a finance concentration seeking to leverage the MSF STEM-designated curriculum to gain additional depth and experiential learning opportunities by way of case competitions, coursework in Impact Investing, Financial Technology, Blockchain, and Real Estate Finance, to start and accelerate their finance careers.

Students interested in completing an accelerated bachelor’s degree in business with a finance concentration and an MSF by completing 8 MSF credits in the senior year of their finance program at the undergraduate tuition rate.

 

 Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate students interested in the FIN + MSF Pathway Program must meet the following minimum requirements. Admission to the MSF program will be on a competitive basis and meeting the minimum requirements will not guarantee admission to the program.

  • Junior standing or higher
  • Admitted to The School of Business by opting in to the business major
  • GPA of 3.3 with a letter of recommendation from PSU Finance faculty or a GPA of 3.5 or higher with no letter of recommendation
  • GPA requirement is calculated from the following courses: BA 211, BA 213, STATS 240/241, BA 303
  • Graduate application to the FIN + MSF Pathway program for the term that follows undergraduate degree conferral

If a student is admitted to the FIN + MSF Pathway program, they must maintain a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.3 and earn a grade of B or higher in each MSF graduate level course taken for shared credit.

Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students who are conditionally admitted and meet these requirements will be guaranteed formal admission to the MSF program.

Process and How to Apply to FIN + MSF Pathway

Summarized timeline for candidates

 

Junior Year

Senior Year

  • Summer & Spring Quarters (in any order): Complete pathway shared credits
  • Fall - Summer: Complete bachelor’s degree

Fall Term Following Bachelor's Graduation

  • Formally start the MSF program

 

Detailed timeline for candidates

Junior Year

Step 1: Apply to the Pathway

Ideally, between Fall and Summer of your junior year, you will submit the application for the FIN + MSF Pathway Program. This timing will ensure that your intent form is reviewed by the admissions team in time for taking the shared pathway courses.

 

Senior Year

Step 2: Register for the pathway approved courses in Summer and Spring terms (or Spring and Summer, depending on your graduation plan). 

Step 3 Continue progress towards your bachelor degree. 

Complete your bachelor's degree in business with an accounting concentration and apply for graduation. 

Step 4: Formally join the MSF program.

  • If you remained in good standing and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and B or higher in each graduate course you will be formally admitted to the MSF program and expected to begin the program in the Fall term. You may elect to defer admission to the MSF program for 1 year.
  • If you have not remained in good standing or maintained a 3.3 cumulative GPA, you will be notified that the MSF graduate courses applied to your bachelor’s degree will not be applicable to the MSF degree requirements.

 

Apply Now

For Advising Admissions, please book an appointment with Julie Hackett. 

Lewis & Clark Undergraduate Economics to Master of Science in Finance Pathway

We offer an accelerated pathway program into our MS in Finance for Lewis & Clark undergraduate economics students. Students can secure a place in the program as early as their junior year and application fee is waived.

Process and How to Apply to Lewis & Clark Economics Pathway

  • Talk to your Lewis & Clark advisor to make sure you are on track
  • During your junior or senior year, complete the Intent to Apply form to express interest
  • You must maintain a 3.35 cumulative GPA throughout your undergraduate degree
  • During your senior year, apply for the MS in Finance using the standard process
  • Once the application is submitted, you'll receive a recommendation for admission from The School of Business within 24 business hours
  • Upon completion of your bachelor’s degree, send in final transcripts to PSU
Intent to Apply

Learn More About the Master of Science in Finance