MS in Finance: Applied Security Analysis Program

The master’s program in applied security analysis at the Wisconsin School of Business is both demanding and personalized, with significant emphasis on hands-on experience and meaningful interactions with industry professionals. Working in teams, students manage portfolios that hold, in aggregate, over $20 million in equity and fixed income assets. Student teams have complete control over their portfolios and make regularly scheduled presentations about their investment strategies to a panel of professionals.

The depth and breadth of the alumni network is another distinctive feature of the Applied Security Analysis Program. The Stephen L. Hawk Center for Investment Analysis was founded in 1970, and as a result, we have a base of more than 600 alumni who hold industry positions across the globe. Our alumni are known for being extraordinarily supportive of students and graduates, and many are actively involved in the program as mentors, lecturers, and employers.

A favorable student-faculty ratio of 4-to-1 means that you’ll have direct contact with our highly accomplished faculty members. Some of your classes will be taught by industry practitioners, and guest speakers from leading firms join classes regularly for discussion and networking.

In order to help ensure your career success, we provide assistance in landing internships and full-time positions, working closely with a network of corporate partners.

Students pursuing any major in the Wisconsin BBA program, as well as UW–Madison undergraduate economics students, are eligible to apply for the MS in Finance Program.

If you are a current undergraduate student at UW–Madison majoring in finance, you can earn a Master of Science in Finance by adding just one year of graduate studies to your academic plan. You can also get an early start on your career interest by taking electives in applied security analysis in your senior year. Students who prefer to earn an MBA may consider the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program with a specialization in applied security analysis.

We recognize the importance of building a professional network and provide multiple ways to connect with alumni, other leading industry professionals, and employers. Students manage portfolios in teams, often developing lifelong networks in the process. The program provides significant opportunities to network with guest speakers, alumni who are industry practitioners, and members of the Hawk Center boards of advisors. The Wisconsin School of Business has a loyal and supportive group of alumni who return to campus regularly to connect with and mentor students.

As a student in the MS in Finance degree program, you will have networking opportunities with students and faculty members throughout the Wisconsin School of Business. You’ll take classes and participate in applied learning experiences side-by-side with Wisconsin MBA students who are specializing in applied security analysis. MS and MBA students in the Applied Security Analysis Program travel together for the optional winter trip to investment firms in New York City and Boston. There are plenty of opportunities for cross-disciplinary interaction with others in the School through co-curricular activities, guest lectures, and networking events.