The Department of Finance and the Hollo School of Real Estate in the Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Graduate School of Business at Florida International University have a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Master of Master of Science in International Real Estate degree (MSIRE), and a Master of Science in Finance degree (MSF). Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. The joint degree pathway uses existing faculty, courses, and resources. Important criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:
- Candidates to the joint degree pathway must meet the entrance requirements established by each individual program.
- Applications for a joint degree pathway will not be accepted from candidates who have already completed either degree. MSIRE or MSF students must apply and be admitted by no later than the second to last semester in which they are expected to complete their original degree requirements.
- Candidates must satisfy all requirements for each degree. To obtain the MSF degree, the student will be required to take eleven (12) finance courses. This includes the three finance courses in the MSIRE program, plus nine finance courses from the MSF fast track program, for a total of 33 credit hours. Four of the nine MSF courses will be used to satisfy part of the elective requirements of the MSIRE program. To obtain the MSIRE degree, the student will have to fulfill all the MSIRE program requirements. The two degrees will have 3 common courses. Courses transferred between degrees must be completed with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. MSF courses transferred to meet MSIRE elective credit must be approved by the University Curriculum Committee. Directors of the MSIRE and MSF degree programs may adjust these exact course requirements as a result of future changes to the MSIRE or MSF curriculums.
- Joint degree pathways candidates will not receive either degree until all requirements for both programs have been satisfied. Students deciding against completing a second degree must satisfy all first degree program requirements as if the student had never been a joint degree pathway candidate.
- With the joint degree pathway students will take a total of up to 57 credit hours to get both degrees. Without the joint degree pathway students will need to take 66 credit hours to get both degrees. Thus, MSIRE students who have taken nine credits of MSF fast track common courses may obtain an MSF degree with only an additional 18 credits. MSF students who have taken 12 credits of MSIRE core finance courses may obtain an MSIRE degree with only an additional 18 credits.
For more information, contact the appropriate academic department or program manager.