University of the Philippines (College of Business Administration)

MS in Finance

Financial institutions undertake the financial sector's mobilization of resources. Crucial to the sector's growth is its managerial manpower.

The effort in developing such managers had been through MBA programs that offer elective courses in financial management. However, MBA programs remain mainly oriented toward training generalist business managers. As a result, substantial resources are still expended in non-formal special training in finance.

Furthermore, the growing size and complexity of the Philippine finance sector have created the need for a specialized degree program in finance.

In accordance with UP's mandate to be at the forefront of learning and advanced education, the University became convinced about the financial services industry's need for a master's program in finance.

In June 1995, with the strong representations from prospective students and finance practitioners, UP finance faculty members conceptualized and designed a master's program in finance. This proposal was later refined by the faculty of the Department of Accounting, Finance, Economics and Law, and by the business community. The latter group included officers and members of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) and the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).

Visiting professors from US and Canadian universities with which UP has academic linkages further reviewed the proposed program. All these inputs, taken together, led to the final design of the "MS in Finance Program."

This Program's theoretical orientation is blended with a significant amount of attention for a pragmatic application. Each course is structured around a theoretical framework and gives greater emphasis on current research and literature.

The Master of Science in Finance degree Program aims to prepare the student for a career in financial management, specifically to undertake the various financial management functions in managing financial institutions, as well as the functions of the financial manager or the treasurer in non-financial institutions. The Program also intends to prepare the student for responsibilities in regulatory and policy-making functions affecting financial markets and institutions.

To prepare the student for a finance career, he/she shall pursue studies that shall provide a solid foundation in finance and a mastery of the relevant literature, theory, and application. The Program provides the student with a strong foundation on theory, principles, and concepts of finance. In addition, the student is introduced to analytical tools and perspectives that shall provide a firm basis for financial decision-making. The Program has rigorous course requirements and demands high levels of energy and commitment from the student. The student shall work in depth in each course through proper balancing of finance theory and research literature (on one hand) with the practical aspects of financial management (on the other). Empirical research work shall be combined with the case-study approach.

Although anchored on concepts, theories, tools, and techniques, the Program has a decision-making orientation because it is dedicated to the development of the managerial manpower for the finance sector.

The target students are those performing (or who shall perform) key managerial functions in firms in the financial services sector, or their counterparts in the non-financial sectors (particularly those performing finance and treasury functions) and in government.