FINANCE
Why Vanderbilt?
bringing to the classroom top academic credentials and deep expertise. Corporate recruiters know that Vanderbilt MBAs receive rigorous training that enables them to accept challenging assignments after graduation. As a result, the school traditionally turns out more finance graduates than any other single discipline.
Curriculum Focus
Hours Required: 12
The most flexible option, with two required finance courses and a variety of electives, allowing you to customize the curriculum to your unique needs.
Corporate Finance Specialization
Hours Required: 20
To prepare for a career providing financial advice and/or facilitating a debt or equity issue, this intensive curriculum sequence of 10 finance courses is designed to provide defined career direction.
Investment Management Specialization
Hours Required: 20
To prepare for a career handling internal finance issues for a corporation, this intensive curriculum sequence of 10 finance courses is designed to provide defined career direction.
Career Opportunities
Explore the wide variety of MBA finance careers, including Investment Banking, Corporate Finance and Capital Markets (Sales & Trading, Risk Management, Private Wealth, & Asset Management).
Selected Companies That Hired Owen Students - Finance
| American Airlines | GE Capital | Pfizer |
| Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Goldman Sachs | PPG Industries |
| Barclays Capital |
HCA | Procter & Gamble |
| Citi | Humana | SunTrust |
| Credit Suisse | Jefferies & Company | UBS |
| Delta Airlines | Johnson & Johnson |
Unum |
| Deutsche Bank | JP Morgan | US Airways |
| Emerson | McKesson | Walmart |
| ExxonMobil | Nissan | Wells Fargo |
| Ford Motor Company |
Faculty
 Clifford BallProfessor of Finance and Statistics Faculty Director, PhD Program |
 Nicolas BollenE. Bronson Ingram Associate Professor in Finance Faculty Director, MS Finance |
 William ChristieFrances Hampton Currey Professor of Management Faculty Director, Executive MBA Professor of Law |
 J. Dewey DaaneThe Frank K. Houston Professor of Finance, Emeritus Senior Advisor, Financial Markets Research Center |
 Craig Lewis, CPAMadison S. Wigginton Professor of Management in Finance |
 Ronald MasulisFrank K. Houston Professor of Finance |
 Alexei OvtchinnikovAssistant Professor of Finance |
 Miguel PalaciosAssistant Professor of Finance |
 David ParsleyE. Bronson Ingram Professor in Economics and Finance |
 Jacob SagiVanderbilt Financial Markets Research Center Associate Professor of Finance |
 Hans StollThe Anne Marie and Thomas B. Walker, Jr., Professor of Finance Director, Financial Markets Research Center |
 Robert E. WhaleyValere Blair Potter Professor of Management in Finance Co-Director, Financial Markets Research Center |
Resume-Building Activities
Case Competitions
Owen students are among the best when pitted against top schools in case competitions. Vanderbilt MBAs placed first in the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Finance Case Competition at Tulane in 2006 and 2008.
Finance Club
The Vanderbilt Finance Club provides members with a range of robust learning and career development opportunities. Benefits include mentoring, resume reviews, mock interviews, modeling/valuation workshops with industry professionals, career panel discussions, alumni networking events, speakers and case studies.
More Resume-Building Activities
Financial Markets Research Center (FMRC)
Discover the latest research from our award-winning finance faculty.
Investment Banking Academy
Enroll in a rigorous preparation program to help you compete for the most sought-after finance jobs.
Max Adler Student Investment Fund
Try your hand at valuing and managing a real investment fund.
New York Interview Day
Interview for New York City internships set up especially for Owen.
Training the Street
Get hands-on training in financial modeling and valuation.
TVA Investment Challenge
Help manage a portfolio of 20 to 30 stocks for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Wall Street Week
Travel to New York City to network with employees at the top firms on Wall Street.
Meet Students & Alumni
Ajibola Akindele
Vanderbilt MBA 2007
Finance Management Associate, Citigroup
“Students at Owen come from diverse racial, cultural, professional and educational backgrounds, and each brings a unique perspective.”
View Profile
Eric Anderson
Vanderbilt MBA 2009
CFO, Triton Boats
“I have reached a career goal I was hoping to attain five years down the road.”
View Profile
Sapna Lathia Boze
Vanderbilt MBA 2010
MBA Intern, FP&A/M&A, McKesson
“My experience at Owen has been amazing. I have learned from so many different people from all around the world.”
View Profile
Aaron Brown
Vanderbilt MBA 2010
Private Wealth Mgmt. Summer Associate, Morgan Stanley
“I quickly gained exposure to industries and job functions I never before considered, and my internship is the perfect fit to help me launch a new career.”
View Profile
Matt Garrett
Vanderbilt MBA 2008
Senior Analyst, Modern Holdings
“Owen is a very student-driven environment. If students have an idea for a program or project they want to undertake, the staff and faculty are very supportive and eager to provide the resources to make you successful.”
View Profile
Industry News & Multimedia
Selected Finance Faculty Research and News
- The Fear Factor: Volatility Index in the Spotlight (Podcast Available)
- Earnings Management: Short Term Gains, Longer Term Costs
- Using Corporate Governance to Shield Executives
- Campaign Contributions Boost ROI
- Routine Inflation of Hedge Fund Returns
- The High Cost of Failing to Exercise Options
- The Myths of Momentum Investing
- Foreign Exchange Risk of Firms in Asia Pacific
- Loyalty and Socially Responsible Investing
Skills Companies Seek
Investment Banking
Focus and knowledge of why you want to enter this career path
Attention to detail
Familiarity with capital markets
Familiarity with financial transactions and financial products
Strong quantitative skills
Knowledge of accounting
Exemplary interpersonal & communication skills
Confidence
Energy/initiative/drive
Curiosity
Leadership
Flexibility
Team skills
Project management
Stamina
Ability to multitask
Unflappability
Corporate Finance
Strong quantitative skills
Strategic thinking
Familiarity with accounting
Financial/operational analysis
Synthesize analysis & make recommendations
Presentation skills
Project management
Flexibility
Leadership
Interpersonal & communication skills
Team skills
Capital Markets
Focus and knowledge of why you want to enter this career path
Familiarity with capital markets and products
Ability to sell - sales or new business development experience
Proven record of performing under pressure
Strong relationship skills
Entrepreneurial
Confidence
Curiosity
Leadership
Flexibility
Exemplary interpersonal & communication skills
Team skills
Ability to multitask
Unflappability