Orientation Programs

All Specialized Master’s Programs students kick off their degrees with a multipronged orientation program designed to prepare them for academic, personal and professional success.

Students will participate in Passport, Career Stamp, and SMP Start, and they will complete foundational courses during the summer prior to beginning their fall semester at Olin.

Students new to the United States and non-native English speakers begin with Passport, during which they will acclimate to the Olin Business School culture and strengthen their English and business communication skills. The entire cohort of students will participate in Career Stamp, which serves as a catalyst for students to help them get started in their career search and preparation processes, and SMP Start, which orients everyone to the ins and outs of Washington University. Finally, students complete SMP Graduate Orientation (GO) Week, which includes workshops and events to help students with their final preparations before the start of their first semester. These programs are packed with opportunities for students to bond with their program cohort and to connect with their peers in all of the Specialized Master’s Programs.

Simultaneously, students will complete online, asynchronous foundation courses to bolster their background and maximize their academic preparation before the start of their degree program. 

​Required Courses

Students must complete the following courses:

• ACCT 503 Business Analysis Using Financial Statements (1.5 credits)
• ACCT 503B Advanced Business Analysis Using Financial Statements (1.5 credits)
• FIN 500Q Quantitative Risk Management (3 credits)
• FIN 524 Options & Futures (1.5 credits)
• FIN 524B Derivative Securities (1.5 credits)
• FIN 525 Fixed Income Securities (1.5 credits)
• FIN 528 Investments Praxis (3 credits)
• FIN 532 Investment Theory (1.5 credits)
• FIN 532B Data Analysis for Investments (1.5 credits)
• FIN 534 Advanced Corporate Finance - I (1.5 credits)
• FIN 538 Stochastic Foundations for Finance (1.5 credits)
• MGT 537 Financial Industry Platform (0 credits)
• MGT 560F Professional Business Communication (1.5 credits)
• DAT 560G Database Design and SQL (1.5 credits)
• DAT 561 Introduction to Python & Data Science (3 credits)

Students also choose one of the following courses:

• FIN 560A Research Methods in Finance; strongly recommended (3 credits)
• DAT 537 Data Analysis, Forecasting and Risk Analysis (3 credits)

Elective Courses

Students choose three or more of the following elective courses:

• FIN 500W Venture Capital Methods (1.5 credits)
• FIN 500X Venture Capital Practice (1.5 credits)
• FIN 500Y Private Equity Methods (1.5 credits)
• FIN 500Z Private Equity Practice (1.5 credits)
• FIN 550A Legal, Compliance & Taxation Aspects of Wealth Management (1.5 credits)
• FIN 550B Wealth Management Practice (1.5 credits)
• FIN 550C Endowments, Foundations & Philanthropy (1.5 credits)
• FIN 550D Hedge Fund Strategies (1.5 credits)
• FIN 550E Behavioral Finance (1.5 credits)

Other Electives and Experiential Courses

Students select one of the following options:

Option A:

• 1.5 experiential course credits plus
• 4.5 approved elective credits

Option B:

• 3 experiential course credits plus
• 3 approved elective credits