MS in Finance Program Overview
Training Future Executives in Financial Management
What do most Fortune 500 company executives have in common? Backgrounds in finance. As the only discipline tying all actions of an organization to its profitability and growth, finance is an essential area to master if you aspire to an executive-level business position. UT Permian Basin’s online Master of Science in Finance immerses you in the world of managerial finance, giving you the comprehensive perspective you need to become an effective executive or excel in any finance-related career. Our MS in finance offers more focused attention to the unique circumstances of financial management than a broader MBA program and builds the executive decision-making skills you’ll need to thrive in the constantly evolving corporate world and the finance industry in general.
An Accredited, Accessible, Affordable Program
Our MS in finance is one of only a handful of Texas university programs of its kind to hold STEM certification, a designation to which employers pay specific attention. Offered 100% online through our AACSB-accredited College of Business, our program enables you to complete your studies on your own schedule from virtually any location in the world. Each online course is taught by the same PhD business professionals who teach on campus. There’s no better way to maintain your professional and personal commitments while earning a career-enhancing master’s degree. We also make it easy to afford your online degree program, with some of the most competitive tuition rates in the country.
Enhanced Career Potential
Earning a master’s degree can deliver real professional perks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, master’s degree holders garner about 18% higher earnings than those who’ve earned a bachelor’s degree alone. In addition, master’s degree holders enjoy higher employment rates than those with an undergraduate degree. Considered to be one of the most valuable business-related master degrees, an MS in finance will prepare you for all executive positions in addition to a variety of other rewarding professional roles, including:
Required leveling course unless a student comes into the program with sufficient statistical proficiency 3 credit hours.
Required 6 credit hours.
Required 6 credit hours.
Required 12 credit hours.
Required 6 credit hours at FINA 6000 level.
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
- Bachelor’s degree from 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, the GMAT is required for readmission
- No elective course may be taken by a student in conditional status
Conditional Admission With Dean’s Approval
- Bachelor’s degree from 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 MS in finance 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.
Application Fee
The application fee is $40.
Veterans and Active Duty Military: Your application fee is waived for this program. Get details now.
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 University. Dr. 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 Research. He 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.
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.
