Even though Minnesota is well-known for its status as headquarters for major retail chains like the Target Corporation and the larger than life retail establishment Mall of America, the accredited finance degree programs in Minnesota also draw people to the state. Additionally, the Minnesota has well-recognized financial institutions that present potential internship and employment opportunities for students participating in finance degree programs in the state. Many of Minnesota’s business schools feature both undergraduate and advanced degree programs in a variety of flexible formats. Here are some prominent finance programs offered in the state for those qualified to pursue advanced finance degrees.

Capella University

School of Business and Technology

Capella University is a premier online university, and it’s School of Business and Technology offers accredited undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs especially designed for working professionals. The faculty members at Capella realize that each professional is different, but they all have one thing in common; they do not want to waste valuable study time focusing on topics which they have already mastered. As a result, select Capella business and technology programs follow a curriculum format called FlexPath which allows students to quickly move through familiar study topics while heavily focusing on lesser known ones. Capella’s School of Business and Technology remains relevant to its students because its program curricula are created and updated based upon industry standards via partnerships with professional associations.

Master of Business Administration, Finance Specialization

Careers in finance are in high demand by employers operating across all industries, and Capella has an advanced degree program designed to help students learn the skills needed for industry success. The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a Finance Specialization presents students with opportunities to fine tune their knowledge of general business functions and integrate that knowledge to address advanced financial topics. Most importantly the program introduces graduate students to financial principles that are relevant to today’s business environment. Upon completion, students know how to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to common financial management challenges. The results of financial analysis is used by executive level managers for critical strategic decision-making so students who learn this particularly valuable skill have the potential to add value to the companies for which they work.

Accreditation

  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
225 S 6th St
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 339-865)
Email
Website: http://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/mba-finance/

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

The Graduate School offers students a rich mix of academic majors in business and information systems that focuses on developing industry leaders with global perspectives. Areas of study include traditional degree programs like business administration, information technology management and accountancy as well as some unconventional ones like geographic information science (GIS), philanthropy and development, and public safety administration. Other academic programs include doctoral degrees and certificate programs in GIS and project management. Some of the academic majors are conveniently offered in an online format.

Master of Business Administration, Finance Specialization

The M.B.A. programs offered by this school allow students to choose between an advanced degree curriculum that focuses on general business management or one that features a specialization. The M.B.A. with a Finance Specialization is a comprehensive 33 credit hour program that includes prerequisite, foundational, M.B.A. core classes and specialization elective courses. Some required prerequisite classes cover topics like accounting, marketing and economics. The foundational courses include ones pertaining to statistics, quantitative analysis and business writing. Some of the core and specialization courses are managerial accounting, corporate accounting and ethical leadership. Some career options available to those who complete this degree program include investment fund managers, chief financial officers, finance directors and financial planners.

Accreditation

  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
  • The Higher Learning Commission, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403
Phone; (612) 728-5100
Email: tc-admissions@smumn.edu
Website: http://www.smumn.edu/graduate-home/areas-of-study/graduate-school-of-business-technology/master-of-business-administration-mba

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus

Curtis L. Carlson School of Management

The University of Minnesota’s School of Business was founded in 1919, and it was the precursor to the Curtis L. Carlson School of Management. Over the years, the Carlson School of Management continued to gain an excellent reputation through its accomplished faculty, innovative curricula and talented student body. For example, the Carlson School of Management is credited with being one of the first schools that incorporated a mandatory study abroad program into its curricula. The school’s faculty is also known to have developed the well-known “Four Ps of Marketing Mix” that includes product, price, promotion and place.

Master of Business Administration

The Carlson M.B.A. program is offered in three convenient formats including an executive level, full-time and part-time M.B.A. Students participating in the Executive M.B.A. program are generally senior level professionals who want an advanced degree business program that fosters the leadership skills needed to propel their careers into the executive ranks. The program offers extensive networking opportunities and skill enhancing course work. The full and part-time M.B.A. programs are both configured for working professionals who want to learn advanced business concepts that are immediately applicable to their work environments. The full-time program is for students who have time to invest in an intense, two-year M.B.A. program that brings the realism of actual corporate projects into the classroom. The part-time M.B.A. program gives students the most flexibility in class scheduling and curriculum customization. For example, part time M.B.A. students can create Finance Specializations for their M.B.A. experience by taking electives that feature course topics like portfolio management, derivative securities and corporate financial decisions. This program is designed for completion in three and a half years, and it was recently ranked 11th in the U.S. News and World Report survey of “Best Business Schools in 2014.”

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact

321 19th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (877) 625-6468
Email: csom@umn.edu
Website: http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/mba/

Walden University

School of Management

Walden’s School of Management is one of the earliest online, accredited schools that offer a number of quality undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. The School of Management’s mission is to develop skilled leaders who bring about positive change within industry and society. The school includes degree programs in the areas of business administration, human resource management, project management, leadership, accounting and communication. Walden University continues to innovate when it comes to curriculum format and delivery options. For example, podcasts of courses can be downloaded by students to their smart phones, and students with mobile computing devices can place textual course materials on their hard drives for later use without needing continuous internet access.

Master of Business Administration, Corporate Finance Specialization

The Walden University M.B.A. with a Corporate Finance Specialization consists of 36 credit hours of core, concentration and capstone courses. Students enrolled in this degree program learn about the key issues within the financial markets and how to conduct market risk analysis to help guide corporate financial decisions. The courses cover topics like common financial management principles and industry standard finance theories. Capstone courses for this M.B.A. program allow students to apply the principles they learned in the classroom environment to corporation inspired, faculty guided projects. The estimated time to complete this interactive M.B.A. in Corporate Finance degree program is two years. During the program, students gain the critical thinking and problem solving skills to introduce enterprise level business solutions for challenging corporate issues.

Accreditation

  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA HLC)

Contact
100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 900
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (866) 492-5336
Email
Website: http://www.waldenu.edu/masters/master-of-business-administration?tab=curriculum&subtab=corporate-finance#tabs

While Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” finance students also recognize it as the home of a variety of advanced business degree options. Whether one prefers online or traditional learning environments, there are quality, accredited finance degree programs in Minnesota.

Related Resource: What Are the Best Jobs for Someone With a Master’s in Finance?