With financial careers booming across the country, personalizing a business career by earning credentials from accredited finance degree programs in Tennessee will increase job possibilities for business graduates. The state’s reputation as an expanding financial center in urban areas has led to significant growth in related jobs. For example, in 2013 major banks like USB and Wells Fargo announced plans to expand in the state over the next several years. This increase in jobs also means an increase in the demands for qualified candidates with the right credentials to hold them. In view of this, accredited programs in Tennessee have expanded to include or improve course offerings leading to Master of Business Administration or Master of Science degrees with specializations in finance.

Christian Brothers University

Graduate Business

Christian Brothers University is a private, co-educational institution that offers programs at the baccalaureate and graduate levels to students of all backgrounds. CBU consistently rates highly in measures of affordability and educational programming by publications like Forbes magazine, U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review. Additionally, The school’s graduate business programs are highly regarded in the southern region for their high academic standards. Flexible scheduling also appeals to business professionals looking to enhance their careers with credentials to advance in a competitive, global, financial market. Several specializations are offered to personalize MBA programs, including a finance concentration.

MBA (Finance Concentration)

This MBA program builds on traditional, instructional approaches and experiential learning to apply business concepts in real-world settings. The 35 credit program rotates sequentially around evening classes allowing for program completion in a little over two years. Students participate in small cohort groups which provide continuity and support through the learning process. Candidates complete core classes covering: business ethics, economics, management principles, financial strategies, analytical business research, and marketing foundations. Elective courses and a capstone project in the area of concentration round out the curriculum. Specialization coursework focuses on global financial management, domestic and international investments, and current financial management trends.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)

Contacts
Christian Brothers University
650 East Parkway South
Memphis, Tennessee 38104
Daisy Laird
Administrator/Recruiter
Graduate Business Programs
Phone: (901) 321-3562
Email: dlaird1@cbu.edu
Website: http://www.cbu.edu/mba/mbaformat.html

Lipscomb University

College of Business, Graduate Programs

Lipscomb’s personalized educational experience stems from its background as a private, Christian school that integrates academic excellence with faith practices to advance community service. The school conducts classes on three campuses in and around the Nashville area. Its master’s programs ranked in the top 20 of regional, southern universities for U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 list of America’s best colleges. Additionally, its business programs are widely known for promoting targeted, leadership skills designed for career advancement. To reach the most students possible, Lipscomb’s MBA programs offer a variety of concentrations and formats from which students can focus their degree.

MBA or PMBA (Financial Services Concentration)

Lipscomb is one of several accredited finance degree programs in Tennessee that personalizes options for earning a master’s with financial specialization. Candidates may choose from three tracks for earning an MBA with a concentration in Financial Services:

  • Evening MBA – This option requires no minimum work experience in the field and generally can be completed in 12-24 months, though some may take longer. Studies emphasize a global business perspective and flexible scheduling to accommodate working professionals.
  • MBA at Cool Springs – This MBA is offered at one of Lipscomb’s regional campuses. Students will have some degree of business work experience and are looking to specialize their careers in the finance sector. The program uses a peer-based, cohort approach to facilitate collaborative, experiential learning.
  • Professional MBA (PMBA) – This program is for experienced business professionals who are looking to advance careers in the financial sector. The degree takes about 16 months to complete through a hybrid program of classroom and web-based instruction. Students participate in an international trip emphasizing global business strategies and hone their skills in a business consulting project relating to an employer’s strategic initiatives.

All options entail 36 credits, 27 from core business applications and nine from electives in finance. Concentration studies focus on investment valuation, investment fund management and financial statement analysis.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

Lipscomb University
Graduate Studies in Business
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
Phone: (615) 966-1833
Email: onedegreeaway@lipscomb.edu
Website: http://www.lipscomb.edu/business/pmba-concentrations

Southern Adventist University

School of Business and Management

Southern Adventist has been building a co-educational community since 1892 as a private, faith-based institution of higher learning. Built on rigorous academic foundations, programs at SAU promote excellence in work ethics, leadership skills, hospitality and service to others. Since 2001, Southern Adventist has been ranked every year as a top school for academic quality by U.S. News & World Report, currently standing at number 34 for regionally ranked southern colleges. The School of Business and Management offers a master’s in financial management for students with a baccalaureate in finance or accounting, and also for undergraduates who are enrolled in a dual degree finance program.

Master of Financial Management, M.F.M.

The M.F.M. requires completion of 30 credits: 18 coming from core business finance classes in analysis and management practices, and 12 coming from specialized coursework in advanced accounting and finance applications. Candidates learn to integrate ethical work practices into overseeing the complex rules governing federal and state taxation programs, capital management scenarios and investment procedures. Graduates with this degree are highly marketable and will be prepared to work in a number of high profile, competitive financial settings both at home and abroad.

Accreditation

  • The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • The Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges, and Universities
  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Contact

Southern Adventist University
Graduate Studies
PO Box 370
Collegedale, Tennessee 37315
Lisa Kuhlman
Graduate Enrollment Counselor
Phone: (423) 236-2527
Email: kuhlmanlisa@southern.edu
Website: https://www.southern.edu/graduatestudies/graduate-degrees/Pages/masters-in-business.aspx#

Tennessee State University

College of Business

Tennessee State University is a thriving campus in the heart of Nashville seeking to provide its graduates with the career skills and drive to move their communities forward. This historically black, co-educational university reaches out to a diverse student population, offering a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. Programming foundations emphasize high academic and research standards along with experiential learning to prepare graduates for being leaders in the workplace. In 2014, Educate to Career and Great Value Colleges both rated TSU as one of the best colleges in the country for affordability. It was also noted by Washington Monthly in the areas of research, social mobility and community research.

Like other accredited finance degree programs in Tennessee, TSU’s College of Business allows students to personalize their MBA degree by choosing electives that specialize in finance. Flexible MBA programs suit full- or part-time students, those coming into a master’s program from a non-traditional business background, or working business professionals looking to further their careers through the financial sector.

MBA (Finance Concentration)

The Master of Business Administration with a Finance concentration is offered through TSU’s traditional MBA program options. The 36 credit program spans 12 classes: nine that cover core business theory and management principles, and three that focus on finance specialization topics. Graduates are prepared to apply business and finance skills in domestic and global settings, including: managerial accounting practices, evaluation of information systems, organizational behavior, marketing strategies, asset and investment management, financial institutions, commercial banking, portfolio management, and financial structure management.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contacts
Tennessee State University
College of Business
330 10th Avenue North
4th Floor, Suite J-402
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Anis Mnif, Director
Office of Graduate Programs
(615) 963-7295
amnif@tnstate.edu
http://www.tnstate.edu/mba/mbatraditional.aspx

Tennessee Tech University

College of Graduate Studies: College of Business

TTU invests in state-of-the-art technology to enhance the academic environment for all students. Partnering with the community, programs provide multiple opportunities for interactive, relevant learning experiences that build up foundational leadership skills for future career success. Tennessee Tech ranks highly for affordability and return on investment in education by publications like Washington Monthly. The school is also consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review for being one of the top regional colleges in the South. Along these lines, TTU’s College of Business has some of the most highly regarded master’s programs in the region.

Master of Business Administration, MBA (Finance Concentration)

A globally designed program, this MBA is suited for everyone: working business professionals, graduates with a business degree or those with a non-business background. Full-time students can finish the 30 credit-hour program in a year. Those needing flexible schedules can take classes part-time over a longer time period. Coursework may be completed in traditional campus settings or online.

Twenty-one hours of classes focus on traditional business theory and principles required for an MBA, targeting topics in accounting, finance, organizational leadership, human resources, marketing and analytical decision making. The remaining nine hours for the finance concentration are taken from investment, risk management, insurance or multinational finance options.

Accreditations
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (COC-SACS)
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contacts
Tennessee Tech University
College of Graduate Studies
1 William L. Jones Drive
Cookeville, Tennessee 38505
Sheila Kendrick, Graduate Studies Administrator
Derryberry Hall 306, Box 5012
Phone: (931) 372-3808
Email: SKendrick@tntech.edu
Website: http://catalog.tntech.edu//preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=1995&returnto=3373

The University of Memphis

Graduate School: Fogelman College of Business and Economics

This metropolitan university is noted for its innovative, research programs and strong academic programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Capitalizing on its urban setting, the University of Memphis brings real-world challenges into the classroom to offer students problem-solving opportunities. Some of the best and brightest ideas come out of U of M’s Fogelman College of Business and Economics, where business leaders of tomorrow learn cutting-edge techniques to enhance their careers.

Master of Science in Business Administration, Finance Concentration

Offered through the Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, this master’s degree is a minimum of 33 credits combined from foundational business classes, finance studies, and approved electives. Coursework includes emphasis on: global financial enterprises, information systems, managerial and financial accounting, portfolio management, investment strategies, and quantitative applications for finance. As with other accredited finance degree programs in Tennessee, this master’s degree is designed to open doors to a broad variety of jobs within the finance industry by providing degree holders with the leadership and analytical skills that business employers seek.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

The University of Memphis
Attention: Leslie Mathis, CFA
Finance Master’s Program Coordinator
Fogelman Administration Building, Room 446
Memphis, TN 38152
Phone: (901) 678-4642
Email: lmathis@memphis.edu
Website: http://www.memphis.edu/gradcatalog/degreeprog/fcbe/fin.php

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

College of Business Administration

UT at Knoxville is ranked by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a top research school in the state of Tennessee. This research emphasis can be seen throughout the experiential learning that is part of all UT programs. Students are directly engaged in problem-solving and analytical reasoning to enhance decision-making skills. The school’s College of Business Administration has been in operation for a century, influencing financial markets worldwide. Its full-time MBA program continually earns high marks and ratings from noted publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Poets and Quant, Bloomberg Businessweek and Information Week.

Full-Time MBA Program, Finance Concentration

This degree is geared towards business professionals who can build upon their current expertise to refine their career goals. The program encompasses core business principles, financial specialization studies, an experiential internship and participation in an international global seminar. In addition, students will complete a capstone project. Graduates with this degree will find numerous global opportunities for career advancement in the banking industry or corporate financial management and investment management programs.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Dr. James Wansley, Department Head
428 Stokely Management Center
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
Phone: (865) 974-3216
Email: jwansley@utk.edu
Website: http://mba.bus.utk.edu/program-basics/finance.asp

Vanderbilt University

Owen Graduate School of Management

Vanderbilt has been inspiring students to achieve great careers since 1873. Students engage in numerous activities, internships and experiences that build leadership skills while connecting university programs with the community. As a premier research institution, Vanderbilt is also recognized as one of the best colleges in the country, showing up yearly on national rankings from major publications. Its MBA degrees are also highly regarded and have earned acknowledgments for excellence from Financial Times and Bloomberg Businessweek. Students wishing to specialize in a finance career can choose from three graduate programs depending upon their career interests and goals. Vanderbilt’s finance programs were rated number 29 in “The 30 Best Master of Finance Degree Programs under $22,000 per year” by our editors.

Master of Business Administration, Corporate Finance Career Specialization

Professionals working with corporations need targeted coursework in advanced financial principles and strategies to advance into administrative positions. Forty-four of the degree’s 62 credits focus on advanced business theory, covering: management, accounting, marketing, operations and economics. The remaining 20 credits specialize in financial topics relevant to administrative financial business goals, including: financial reporting, taxation, investments, corporate valuation and policy, derivatives markets, and mergers and acquisitions.

Master of Business Administration, Finance Concentration

This degree allows professionals or recent business graduates to focus more analytically on financial strategies in relation to all business outcomes. Students complete the same 44 credits in core business requirements as for the MBA with Finance Career Specialization. They complete the degree by taking an additional 12 credits from a broad range of financial topics, including: investments, valuation, equities, bonds, derivatives, real estate, risk management, financial data analysis, portfolio analysis, taxation of mergers and acquisitions, hedge funds or corporate restructuring.

MS Finance

The Master of Science in Finance is a 32 credit program designed from a more data-based, analytical perspective. Candidates with strong math abilities may especially like the approach of this curriculum. The program spans only nine months so it appeals to many working professionals and recent graduates who wish to earn a degree quickly. Coursework rotates among modules, combining required classes with electives in chosen areas of interest. Examples of topics studied include: econometrics, financial accounting and modeling, derivatives markets, corporate valuation, real estate analysis, game theory and business strategy, negotiation and corporate financial policy.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact

Vanderbilt University
Owen Graduate School of Management
401 21st Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Christie St. John, Director of Admissions
MBA and MS Finance programs
Phone: (615) 343-8085
Website:

With growth in the financial sector increasing nationwide, new positions are being created for aspiring candidates with the right business credentials. These new jobs require employees to possess strong academic backgrounds in accounting, finance, economics, and marketing principles. Master’s degrees, especially those with business and finance specializations, will command attention from employers and gain career advancement for those who hold them. As a result, qualified graduates from accredited finance degree programs in Tennessee will be in demand by employers to manage the numerous financial programs and resources that drive businesses to success.