MBA in Finance

MBA with a Concentration in Finance Program Overview

Our AACSB-accredited online Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance is a 33- to 42-credit program that provides highly marketable operational knowledge and leadership skills with an in-depth focus on financial management.

Our MBA with a concentration in finance helps you master strategic thinking and management skills that can be seamlessly applied to real-world scenarios. Through the course of this comprehensive program, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the interpretation and application of multiple areas of investment, economics, and accounting.

Designed to allow working professionals to complete the program at their own pace, our online MBA with a concentration in finance can be completed in as little as four semesters. Each online course is taught by the same PhD business professionals who teach on campus.

Alumni Pathways 

Graduates of our online MBA in finance program have an in-depth knowledge of corporate finance and strategy, international finance, and practical data analytics. Coupled with a prestigious credential, the knowledge and skills our graduates possess make them invaluable assets in the dynamic and complex world of finance. For example, our MBA alumni work at:  

  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Dell Technologies 
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Edward Jones
  • Charles Schwab
  • Chevron
  • USAA

Careers for MBA in Finance Graduates

UT Permian Basin’s online program will prepare you for advancement in a wide variety of corporate careers, including:

Preparation Courses

Upon admission (regular and conditional), students will be evaluated for statistical literacy. Students who need additional skills in this area are referred to BUSI2342 until literacy requirement is fulfilled. Statistical literacy (BUSI2342) must be remedied in the first semester in which the student is accepted into the MBA program and must be taken before the student enrolls in ACCT 6301, BUSI 6302, FINA 6321, FINA 6320, MNGT 6366, or electives in accounting, finance, management, or marketing. Required 3 credit hours.

Courses
Duration
Credits
BUSI 2342 - Principles of Statistics
8 weeks
3
The course is an introduction to the principles of statistics and their application to problems in business and economics. Topics include the basics of probability theory, descriptive statistics, sampling methods, statistical estimation, hypothesis testing, and the basics of linear regression. Prerequisite(s): MATH 1324
Prerequisites: MATH 1324 - Applications of Discrete Mathematics
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer A 2024 Summer B 2024
Core Courses

12 Credit Hours

Courses
Duration
Credits
ACCT 6301 - Accounting Analysis
8 weeks
3
A foundation in the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting information designed for the planning, assessment, and control of business entities. Emphasizes the use of information for decision-making. May not be taken for MPA core or elective credit.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Summer A 2024 Fall A 2024 Spring A 2025 Summer A 2025
FINA 6320 - Financial Management
8 weeks
3
Survey of foundational concepts in financial management; in particular, introduction to capital budgeting and financing concepts that include discounted cash flow analysis and its applications to valuation of bonds, stocks, and corporate capital assets. Prerequisite(s): ACCT 6301 or equivalent.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Fall A 2024 Fall B 2024
MNGT 6360 - Organizational Behavior
8 weeks
3
The systematic study of individual, team, and structural characteristics that influence behavior within organizations. Cross-cultural applications are discussed.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Summer A 2024 Fall A 2024
MRKT 6310 - Marketing Management
8 weeks
3
An analysis of the customer/market relationships with the company in an open market system characterized by the presence of strong competition within a very fluid business environment. Managerial decision making with this matrix will be stressed.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Summer A 2024 Fall A 2024 Spring A 2025 Spring B 2025 Summer A 2025 Summer B 2025 Fall A 2025 Fall B 2025
Courses Beyond Core

21 Credit Hours. MNGT 6366 must be completed last.

Courses
Duration
Credits
ACCT 6302 - Contemporary Control Systems
8 weeks
3
A study of the design, implementation, and evaluation of control systems intended to support and direct strategic objectives of various organizations. Prerequisite(s): ACCT 6302 or ACCT 6305 or ACCT 6315 or ACCT 6316
Prerequisites: ACCT 6301 - Accounting Analysis
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer B 2024 Fall B 2024 Spring B 2025 Summer B 2025
MNGT 6320 - Production & Operations Management
8 weeks
3
The role of the operations management function within the context of an organization, be it public or private, profit or nonprofit, manufacturing or service. The course emphasizes the application of concepts of in process analysis, material management, and quality management. Both quantitative and behavioral perspectives are presented.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer A 2024 Summer B 2024 Fall A 2024 Fall B 2024
BLAW 6301 - Legal Environment of Business
8 weeks
3
A foundation in the role of law in our system of business and commerce both facilitating and constraining business decision-making. In addition, this course will introduce the operation of legal institutions and the fundamentals of legal reasoning.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer A 2024 Summer B 2024
FINA 6321 - Corporate Finance & Strategy
8 weeks
3
Intermediate-level course covering modern corporate finance concepts. Course topics include advance capital budgeting and financing techniques as well as financial risk management and various asset valuation techniques including concepts related to Mergers and Acquisitions. Prerequisite(s): FINA 6320 or the equivalent
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer A 2024 Summer B 2024
MNGT 6366 - Strategic Management
8 weeks
3
Opportunity for development and implementation of knowledge from multiple disciplines and integration of viewpoints of different functions of an organization. Case evaluation and discussion are stressed.
Prerequisites: ACCT 6302 - Contemporary Control Systems BLAW 6301 - Legal Environment of Business FINA 6321 - Corporate Finance & Strategy BUSI 6302 - Business Analytics MNGT 6320 - Production & Operations Management BUSI 6325 - International Business
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer B 2024 Fall A 2024 Fall B 2024 Spring A 2025 Spring B 2025 Summer A 2025 Summer B 2025 Fall A 2025 Fall B 2025
BUSI 6302 - Business Analytics
8 weeks
3
This course introduces the practical and advanced data analytics for all business majors. The course covers topics of script programming, data/statistical analysis, and data visualization. Students will practice data analytic methods and use related software to solve real-world business questions.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: N/A
BUSI 6325 - International Business
8 weeks
3
The course investigates government and businesses across borders and the dynamics between countries/regions, including country profiles, national economic policies, regional integration, trade, law, and foreign direct investment. This course is macro in nature and focuses on international business and its overriding theories, and how to apply them in management decisions. Cross-listed with MRKT 6301.
Prerequisites: N/A
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Summer B 2024 Fall B 2024 Spring B 2025 Summer A 2025 Summer B 2025 Fall A 2025 Fall B 2025
Specialty Courses

Required 9 credit hours. Must be FINA 6000 level. Internship cannot be used.

Courses
Duration
Credits
FINA 6322 - Management of Financial Institutions
8 weeks
3
This course is a study of management of financial institutions in a global financial services environment. The course covers risk identification, measurement, and management; regulatory compliance; capital adequacy; liquidity; and profitability from the perspective of an executive financial manager.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Spring B 2025
FINA 6325 - Financial Derivatives
16 weeks
3
Introduction to derivative assets including futures, forward contracts, options and their markets, including how these derivatives are created and traded. The course covers how businesses can use these contracts to hedge corporate and investment portfolio risk. Students are introduced to the principles of valuation and pricing for these securities and the mathematical models that apply. Prerequisite(s): FINA 6320
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Spring B 2024 Whole Fall 2024
FINA 6327 - Investments
16 weeks
3
This course conveys comprehensive investigation of modern investments and portfolio theory. Concepts include different trading techniques, portfolio construction, asset valuation using a variety of pricing models, market timing, fundamental security analysis, technical security analysis and behavioral finance concepts.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Whole Spring 2024
FINA 6330 - International Finance
8 weeks
3
This course is a comprehensive study of the management of multinational firms and international financial markets. Some of the topics include global risk management, currency exchange rate mechanisms, corporate exchange rate exposure measurement & management, exchange-rate arbitrage, and hedging using a variety of currency-based derivatives.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Summer B 2024 Summer B 2025
FINA 6331 - Energy Finance
8 weeks
3
This course introduces students to the principal concepts and application in energy finance. Topics include: fundamentals of petroleum and value chain, oil and gas financial statement analysis, financing energy companies and projects, O&G database application, and energy risk management using derivative instruments. Students will complete an energy project incorporating major components of the course to tackle real-world problems. Prerequisite(s): FINA 6320 or equivalent.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Summer A 2024
FINA 6335 - Energy Investments
8 weeks
3
This course is designed as an introduction to the Energy Commodity, Equity, Bond, and Derivatives markets. Students will learn the unique nature of energy-related assets as hedging and speculative tools while understanding the volatility and dependence interactions between energy commodities and other conventional markets.
Prerequisites: FINA 6320 - Financial Management
Semesters Offered: Summer A 2024

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • GPA of 3.00 or better in the last 60 credit hours

Conditional Admission

  • Official transcripts certifying a bachelor’s degree awarded by an accredited college or university
  • GPA between 2.99 and 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours of coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree
  • 2 letters of recommendation or professional email references
  • Allowed to take up to 12 credit hours as advised and must earn a B or better
    • If student earns below a B, GMAT is required for readmission
  • No elective course may be taken by a student in conditional status

Conditional Admission With Dean’s Approval

  • Official transcripts certifying a bachelor’s degree awarded by an accredited college or university
  • GPA between 2.49 and 2.25 in the last 60 credit hours of coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree
  • GMAT with minimum score of 500 (based on GPA)
  • Essay expressing interest may be requested
  • 2 letters of recommendation or professional email references
  • Allowed to take up to 12 credit hours and must earn a B or better
  • No elective course may be taken by a student in conditional status

Students granted conditional status will be changed to regular status upon successful completion of a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of MBA coursework with a grade of B or better in each course taken.

Official Transcripts

Copies of official transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope and can be mailed to: 

UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies Office
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762

Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to gradstudies@utpb.edu

Supporting Documents

All supporting documents related to a graduate program, such as letters of recommendation, essays, statements of interest, resumes, professional work experience, and awards should be sent to the Graduate Studies Office:

UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001

Electronic versions of supporting documents may be emailed to gradstudies@utpb.edu. 

Waiver Policy

If you have an undergraduate degree in business, you may be able to complete the program with as few as 33 credit hours. If your undergraduate degree is not in business, you will have to complete all 42 credit hours.

Application Fee

The application fee is $40.
Veterans and Active Duty Military: Your application fee is waived for this program. Get details now.

Faculty Bios

Chair of the Accounting, Finance, and Economics Department
Associate Professor of Finance
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington
MS, Texas Tech University
gormus_a@utpb.edu

Alper Gormus, PhD, is the chair of the accounting, finance, and economics department and an associate professor in finance. He is also a Jack D. Ladd Fellow and the coordinator of energy and finance programs. He has an MS in economics from Texas Tech University and a PhD in finance from The University of Texas at Arlington. Prior to his start at UTPB, he worked as faculty, teaching classes at The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University. On the corporate side, Dr. Gormus has worked for several high-profile companies in various roles related to investments and financial analytics. His research interests include energy investments and international markets. His work has been published in several global academic journals including Energy Economics, Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Economic Letters, and Global Finance Journal. Dr. Gormus teaches Energy Investments, Investments, and Corporate Finance.

“I strongly believe student success must be the driving factor for all we do in academia. In terms of how I contribute, combining my industry experience with academics has always served me well in the classroom. While I have worked in numerous projects across many areas in finance and economics, a large portion of my research has been in energy investments. I was fortunate enough to publish my research in some of the top academic journals in the field and I try to bring that expertise into the classroom.”

Associate Professor of Finance
PhD, Kent State University
MS, Kent State University
MBA, Kent State University
MComm, Bangalore University
pai_p@utpb.edu

Prakash Pai, PhD, is an associate professor of finance at The University of Texas Permian Basin. He started in the role of assistant professor of finance in 2003. He earned a doctor of philosophy in 2004 from Kent State UniversityDr. Pai has published papers in the Financial Services Review, Insights to a Changing World, Journal of International Finance Studies, Journal of International Finance and Economics, and the International Journal of Business ResearchHe has presented at the Financial Management Association International Annual Meeting, the International Academy of Business and Economics, Financial Management Association, the Academy of Business Research, and the Academy of International Business and Economics. His professional certifications include International Banking Operations Certificate, Banking Diploma, and a Certified Association of the Indian Institution of Bankers.

Professor of Marketing
Director of Graduate Programs, College of Business, UT Permian Basin
saran_a@utpb.edu

Anshu Saran, PhD, is a professor of marketing within the College of Business at The University of Texas Permian Basin. Graduating with his PhD from The University of Texas – Pan American, he joined UTPB in the fall of 2006. Prior to this, he served as faculty and taught at the APS University Rewa, Amity Business School Noida, and The University of Texas – Pan American. His research includes competing in the global marketplace, marketing strategies, social media ad marketing, and cultural differences in international business and marketing. His work has been published in the International Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Business Research, and Journal of Global Marketing. Accumulating work experience for 12 years in different parts of the world, he served as chief operating officer for Tata International Ltd. along with other accolades in India. Dr. Saran currently teaches the following classes within the MBA program: International Business (on-campus and online) and Marketing Strategy.

“My research interests and experience in international business and marketing have supported my academic endeavors and helped me incorporate industry examples in the curriculum, creating value for students and supporting their job and career progression.”

Assistant Professor of Finance
PhD, The University of Texas at Arlington
vafai_n@utpb.edu

Nima Vafai, PhD, is an assistant professor of finance in the College of Business at The University of Texas Permian Basin. He graduated with a PhD in finance from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2021 and joined UT Permian Basin in the same year. He has two graduate degrees: an MBA and a master's degree in economics. His undergraduate degree is in industrial engineering. Prior to teaching at UT Permian Basin, he served as an adjunct and instructor at The University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Tech University and as a business plan developer and product manager in the industry. His research interests include asset pricing, institutional investment, political finance, analysts' forecasts, and cryptocurrencies.

“I have taught various finance, economics, and statistics courses, including financial derivatives, microeconomics, and business statistics. My research is mainly focused on asset pricing and econometrics techniques associated with that area. I am passionate about teaching, not only because I enjoy teaching but also because I enjoy connecting my industry experience to course materials to give students a better learning experience.”

Assistant Professor of Finance
PhD, Florida International University
MBA, University of Florida
velazquez_m@utpb.edu

Marcos Velazquez, PhD, received his undergraduate degree in economics and MBA from the University of Florida. He also received his PhD in finance from Florida International University. Dr. Velazquez's research interests include corporate finance and governance, and he has received several research awards.

We’re pleased to offer program admission on a rolling basis.

Rolling admission refers to our process of accepting and evaluating applications as we receive them and moving any applications that miss the deadline to the next semester. However, if you want to enroll in courses for a specific semester, you will need to make note of the application deadlines found below. If you don’t complete your application and submit the required materials by the deadline, your application will be rolled over to the next semester. 

LengthApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DeadlineFirst Day of ClassLast Day of Class
Spring A1/2/241/8/241/12/241/16/243/8/24
Spring B3/4/243/11/243/15/243/18/245/10/24
SemesterApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DeadlineCourses BeginCourses End
Summer A4/29/245/6/245/10/245/13/246/28/24
Summer B6/17/246/24/246/28/247/1/248/15/24
LengthApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DeadlineCourses BeginCourses End
Fall A8/12/248/19/248/23/248/26/2410/18/24
Fall B10/7/2410/14/2410/18/2410/21/2412/13/24
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