Total credits with emphasis area
45
Core requirements
9 courses
Emphasis requirements
2 general electives + 3 finance emphasis courses
Format
Core courses available online or on campus, emphasis area courses on campus (Thousand Oaks)
Next start date
October 26, 2026
Finance runs through every major business decision, from how a startup raises capital to how a Fortune 500 company manages risk across a global portfolio. The professionals who understand the financial side of business are in demand across every sector, from tech and real estate to health care and government.
This MBA with a finance emphasis area features coursework that covers budgeting, forecasting, investment strategy, mergers and acquisitions and more, all grounded in an MBA’s leadership foundation.
Finance Emphasis Course Options
- Financial Strategy
- Strategic Financial Analysis
- Investment and Portfolio Management
- Real Estate Investments
- Buyouts and Acquisitions
- Behavioral Finance
- Innovations in Financial Technology
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- International Finance
- Advanced Analytics
Visit our curriculum page for a full list of MBA courses or download our brochure.
Request Information
To learn more about the Graduate Degree Programs offered by the Cal Lutheran School of Management and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-521-9856.
Your Finance MBA Roadmap
Students who take the MBA with a Finance emphasis complete 45 credits total. You’ll take your emphasis courses after you complete your core courses.
While the MBA core and capstone courses can be completed either online or on campus, the finance emphasis area electives must be completed on campus in Thousand Oaks.
Who Is the Finance Emphasis For?
This Finance emphasis area suits professionals who work with financial data, budgets or investment decisions and want to move into senior roles, as well as career changers with strong analytical skills who want to formalize and expand their financial expertise. It also works well for entrepreneurs and business owners who want a stronger grasp of the financial side of running a company.
You don’t need an undergraduate background in finance to succeed here. Many students come from business, accounting, economics or entirely different fields.
Where Can an MBA in Finance Take You?
Earning an MBA with a finance focus suits professionals who want to advance into managerial finance roles, move into finance from an adjacent role or bring sharper financial thinking to the work they’re already doing. A few examples of where it can lead:
Frequently Asked Questions: Finance Emphasis Area
The MBA with a Finance emphasis is the full MBA, with finance specialization added through four targeted electives. You’ll complete the same core business coursework as every other MBA student, then use your emphasis courses to focus on finance.
A master’s in finance is a fully finance-focused program. The specifics vary by school, but these programs typically go deeper into the technical side of the discipline and include much less general business coursework. They’re designed for professionals who want a degree built squarely on finance expertise.
If you have questions about what option is best for your personal goals, talk to an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856.
If your goals involve leadership, management or running a business the MBA with an emphasis gives you both the strategic leadership and technical finance skills you need. You’re not choosing between business fluency and financial expertise. You get the full MBA curriculum plus the finance coursework.
The core and capstone courses can be completed online, on campus in Thousand Oaks or through a hybrid approach.
Finance emphasis electives must be completed on campus in Thousand Oaks.
Contact an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 for more information about format options.
Yes. The MBA with an emphasis area is available as a part-time or full-time program. If you’re balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities, we recommend taking no more than two courses per term.
Yes. Cal Lutheran offers funding options from internal and external sources, including scholarships, grants, credit reductions, veterans benefits and employer discounts. Visit our financial aid page for details, or call an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856.
If this is the direction you’ve been looking for, start your application. or talk to an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856.
