COURSE CURRICULUM

The MS in Finance and Risk Management at CU Denver consists of 30 credit hours of coursework, designed to develop strong analytical, theoretical, and quantitative finance skills through a combination of core classes and specialized electives. In addition to the main curriculum, there is a 3-credit financial accounting prerequisite, which may be waived for students who have already completed an approved undergraduate or graduate-level accounting course with the required academic performance. The program’s 18-credit core component builds a strong foundation in financial theory and applied quantitative methods, covering essential topics such as financial management, corporate risk management, quantitative methods for finance, applied economics for managers, investment management analysis, and an introduction to financial and commodity derivatives. These courses are designed to strengthen students’ ability to analyze financial markets, assess risk, and make informed investment decisions using both theoretical frameworks and practical tools. Beyond the core curriculum, students complete 12 credit hours of finance specialization courses, allowing them to tailor their degree toward specific career paths in areas such as general finance, financial analysis and management, commodities, risk management and insurance, or economics. Specialization courses include advanced topics like financial modeling, strategic risk management, behavioral and political finance, international corporate governance, probabilistic modeling, and mergers and acquisitions, all of which reflect current trends and challenges in global financial markets. This structure ensures that graduates not only gain strong technical and quantitative skills but also develop the flexibility to adapt to different roles within the financial sector. Overall, the program is designed to prepare students for careers in investment management, corporate finance, risk analysis, and other high-level financial positions by combining rigorous academic training with applied, industry-relevant learning experiences.