BS/MS Finance ADD Program
BS/MS Finance ADD Program
B.S. in Finance/M.S. in Finance ADD/4+1
Build on your undergraduate Finance preparation by beginning the M.S. in Finance before completing your bachelor’s degree.
Rowan University’s B.S. in Finance/M.S. in Finance Accelerated Dual Degree (ADD/4+1) allows eligible students to complete 12 approved graduate Finance credits during undergraduate study. These courses fulfill approved B.S. in Finance requirements or electives and also apply toward the M.S. in Finance.
After earning the B.S. in Finance and transitioning to graduate status, students complete the remaining 18 M.S. in Finance credits. Full-time students may commonly finish this portion in approximately one additional year. Part-time study is also available, and students have up to five years after transitioning to graduate status to complete the master’s degree.
Finance ADD/4+1 at a Glance
- B.S. in Finance: 120 credits
- M.S. in Finance: 30 credits
- Shared graduate credits: 12
- Combined pathway: 138 credits
- M.S. in Finance credits remaining after the bachelor’s degree: 18
- Common full-time graduate timeline: Approximately one additional year
- Part-time completion: Up to five years after transition to graduate status
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Save Nearly $14,000 in Graduate Tuition and Fees By completing 12 approved M.S. in Finance credits during undergraduate study, Finance ADD/4+1 students pay the graduate tuition and fee rate for only the remaining 18 credits. Based on 2025-2026 tuition and required fees, that represents nearly $14,000 in graduate tuition and fee savings compared with completing the degrees separately. |
Start Planning Early
Completing the full pathway depends on academic preparation, course sequencing, eligibility, and preserving room for four graduate Finance courses within the undergraduate degree plan.
Build Advanced Finance Expertise and Career Momentum
The B.S. in Finance develops broad preparation in business, financial analysis, investments, markets, accounting, economics, and quantitative methods. The M.S. in Finance takes that preparation further through advanced analytical and applied Finance study.
Graduate coursework builds deeper capabilities in:
- financial modeling and decision-making;
- investment and portfolio analysis;
- financial statement analysis;
- financial institutions and markets;
- financial planning;
- derivatives and financial risk management; and
- multinational Finance.
These capabilities can strengthen preparation for more specialized and higher-responsibility work across corporate Finance and financial planning and analysis, investments and asset management, banking and financial institutions, financial planning and wealth management, risk management, and financial technology.
Students who continue directly into the remaining 18 graduate credits can build on knowledge that is current and complete the graduate credential while their academic momentum is strong. For students already considering the M.S. in Finance, the shared-credit structure makes that next step more efficient and significantly more affordable.
How the Finance ADD/4+1 Pathway Works
1. Prepare During the B.S. in Finance
Students complete the undergraduate Finance curriculum, the M.S. in Finance Foundation preparation, and the upper-level coursework needed to begin graduate Finance study.
Early planning helps students create room for four shared graduate courses while preserving the undergraduate academic, internship, and professional-development experiences that prepare them for advanced study.
2. Complete 12 Shared Graduate Credits
Eligible students complete four approved graduate Finance courses while enrolled as undergraduates.
Depending on the approved academic plan, the courses may fulfill B.S. in Finance requirements, Finance electives, or other approved business electives. Each course must have a defined role in both degrees.
The shared credits are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate and later apply toward the M.S. in Finance.
3. Transition Into the M.S. in Finance
After completing all B.S. in Finance requirements, students apply for undergraduate graduation and work with the program team to submit the ADD Transition Form.
Students who entered the ADD, completed the approved academic plan, and remain eligible do not submit a separate full application to the connected M.S. in Finance. After transitioning to graduate status, they complete the remaining six graduate courses, totaling 18 credits.
Plan for Eligibility and Entry
Students should begin discussing the Finance ADD/4+1 during the first or second year. The formal agreement process occurs later, but early planning provides more flexibility in prerequisite sequencing, electives, internships, and graduate-course placement.Complete the Foundation Preparation
The B.S. in Finance includes the undergraduate preparation required for the M.S. in Finance:
- Principles of Accounting I and II
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
- Calculus
- Statistics I
- Principles of Finance
Students must earn at least a C in the applicable courses for them to satisfy the related M.S. in Finance Foundation requirements.
Meet the Academic Standards
Students need:
- a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to enter the Finance ADD/4+1;
- appropriate undergraduate Finance and quantitative preparation; and
- a grade of B or higher in each shared graduate course for the course to apply toward the M.S. in Finance.
A cumulative GPA of approximately 3.3 or higher is preferred as students prepare to begin graduate-level coursework.
Complete the Finance ADD Agreement Process
The formal entry process generally begins after a student has earned approximately 60 credits and completed the appropriate Finance preparation.
Students work with the Finance and Graduate Business teams to:
- Confirm eligibility and develop a preliminary academic plan.
- Complete the ADD Student Agreement and Confirmation Form.
- Submit the Finance program’s statement of purpose and two recommendations.
- Obtain the required program approvals.
- Have the completed agreement submitted for Registrar processing.
The statement of purpose should explain the student’s interest in advanced Finance study, academic preparation, professional direction, and readiness for graduate coursework.
This is an ADD program review and university-record process. It is not a separate full application to the M.S. in Finance.
Contact Graduate Business Studies to Begin Finance ADD/4+1 Planning
Planning for Transfer Students
Transfer students are welcome to pursue the Finance ADD/4+1. The strongest plans begin before transfer, when students may still be able to choose courses that support admission to the Finance major, satisfy M.S. in Finance Foundation requirements, and preserve room for the shared graduate credits.
The number of credits Rowan accepts is only one part of the review. Students also need to understand how those credits apply to the B.S. in Finance and which prerequisite sequences remain.
Prepare for Admission to the B.S. in Finance
The undergraduate transfer-admission standards include:
- a minimum 2.5 cumulative transfer GPA; and
- Calculus I and Statistics I completed with grades of C- or better.
Students currently completing Calculus or Statistics may use the approved conditional-admission process.
Students who have not yet begun one or both courses may enter through pre-business, complete the missing requirements, and receive guaranteed internal transfer into the Finance major after satisfying the approved prerequisites with the required grades.
Protect Your M.S. in Finance Foundation Waivers
The undergraduate transfer-admission standard and the graduate Foundation standard are not identical:
- C- or better in Calculus and Statistics: may satisfy the undergraduate RCB transfer-admission requirement.
- C or better in applicable Accounting, Economics, Finance, Calculus, and Statistics coursework: is required for M.S. in Finance Foundation waivers.
A student admitted to the Finance major with a C- in Calculus or Statistics may therefore need additional Foundation planning before beginning graduate Finance study.
Plan Beyond Admission
Transfer students considering the Finance ADD/4+1 should request an academic-plan review that considers:
- how accepted coursework applies to the B.S. in Finance;
- which Finance and business requirements remain;
- whether all M.S. in Finance Foundation areas will be satisfied;
- whether upper-level Finance prerequisite sequences can be completed on time; and
- whether four approved graduate courses can fit within the undergraduate plan.
The key question is not simply how many credits transfer. It is how those credits support the complete Finance pathway.
Plan and Complete the Shared Graduate Courses
Students develop an approved four-course plan with the Finance and Graduate Business teams.
Course selection should consider:
- completed prerequisites;
- the undergraduate requirement each course will fulfill;
- the remaining M.S. in Finance sequence;
- scheduling and course availability;
- the student’s academic preparation; and
- the student’s professional interests.
The four-course plan may vary by student. The page should not imply that every student will complete the same courses or that every graduate Finance course will be available in every term.
Register Through the Approved Process
Students remain classified as undergraduates while completing the shared graduate courses and generally cannot register for those courses independently.
After the course and its placement within the academic plan have been approved, the designated advisor or coordinator submits the graduate-course registration request.
Students should verify that each course appears correctly in their record after registration.
Review the Detailed Curriculum Plan
Review the B.S. in Finance/M.S. in Finance Program Curriculum Guide (PDF)
The webpage provides the principal planning guidance in accessible HTML. The curriculum guide provides the detailed course map for students and advisors developing an individual plan.
Complete the Transition to Graduate Study
As students approach completion of the B.S. in Finance, they should confirm that all undergraduate requirements, shared-course placements, and required grades have been satisfied.
The transition process is:
- Apply for B.S. in Finance graduation.
- Work with the program team to submit the ADD Transition Form.
- Transition from undergraduate to graduate status.
- Complete the remaining 18 M.S. in Finance credits.
Graduate courses completed during undergraduate study transfer to the graduate record after the transition.
A grade of B or higher is required for a shared graduate course to apply toward the M.S. in Finance. The course and credits transfer to the graduate record, but the grade earned while the student was an undergraduate does not become part of the graduate cumulative GPA.
Full-time students may commonly complete the remaining graduate requirements in approximately one additional year. Students may also continue part time and have up to five years after transitioning to graduate status to finish the M.S. in Finance.
If Your Plans or Timeline Change
The Finance ADD/4+1 is one route into graduate Finance study, not the only route.Finance Certificate of Graduate Study
Students who complete an approved group of graduate Finance courses but do not continue immediately into the full M.S. in Finance may be eligible for the Finance Certificate of Graduate Study.
Eligibility depends on the courses completed, the grades earned, and the applicable academic and administrative requirements. Students should confirm their options with Graduate Business Studies.
Senior Privilege
Senior Privilege is a separate option for eligible fourth-year Rowan undergraduates who want to take limited graduate coursework but are not completing the full ADD/4+1 pathway.
Students using Senior Privilege to take an RCB graduate business course may take one graduate business course per semester, subject to eligibility, program approval, prerequisites, and available space.
Senior Privilege does not recreate the 12-credit ADD structure. Students participating in the Finance ADD/4+1 should not use Senior Privilege to add graduate credits beyond the approved ADD plan.
Apply to the M.S. in Finance Later
Students may complete the B.S. in Finance and later apply to the M.S. in Finance through the standard graduate admission process.
This route may be appropriate when the full ADD structure does not fit the student’s academic plan, preparation, or preferred timeline.
Information Sessions and Planning Support
Finance ADD/4+1 information sessions help prospective and current students understand eligibility, transfer preparation, course planning, shared graduate credits, and the transition into the M.S. in Finance.
Sessions may be designed for current Rowan students, prospective transfer students, or broader audiences. Review the session description before registering.
View Finance ADD/4+1 Information Sessions
For individualized support:
- Undergraduate Finance planning: B.S. in Finance requirements, course sequencing, transfer-course application, and undergraduate requirement placement
- Graduate Business planning: M.S. in Finance Foundations, graduate-course selection, registration, transition, and remaining graduate requirements
- Transfer admission and official credit evaluation: Rowan Transfer Admissions
- General ADD/4+1 questions and contact routing: GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu
