Masters in Banking & Finance in USA

Advances in technology are shaking up the financial services industry in big ways. New positions now require not just knowledge of finance but also analytical and technical skills. In the D’Amore-McKim MS in Finance (Quantitative Finance), you’ll build your expertise in fintech—a combination of finance and technology—and business analytics.

Here, you’ll become a well-rounded financial professional through a blend of classroom instruction and experience-powered learning opportunities, such as building applied investment experience through our student-led mutual fund—the 360 Huntington Fund. Working with our world-class faculty, you’ll refine your communication skills, learning how to inspire trust and forge a strong rapport with others—critical to your success in the digital economy.

The program’s STEM designation means that international graduates may be eligible to apply for work eligibility in the U.S. for up to 36 months. We welcome global learners with a foundation in business or a data-focused science field to apply.

The Finance MS program is designed for students who wish to obtain a comprehensive graduate-level education in the field of finance, but do not wish to take the extra time required to complete the broader-based MBA program with a concentration in finance. The MS in finance program provides two tracks of study—financial management and quantitative finance.

The STEM eligible Master of Science degree in Finance is designed to provide students with expertise to make effective managerial and investment decisions. Compared to similar programs at other schools, the MSF program at St. John’s aims to be more practical in nature, focusing on the application of quantitative methods and techniques to enhance decision making.

All MSF students automatically become Fellows of the Applied Finance Institute, which grants them preferential access to external speakers, scholarships, and events. The Investment Management track is affiliated with the CFA Institute and, with six faculty members who are CFA charter-holders, we are able to grant 24 scholarships annually to students who want to pursue the coveted charter.

The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation is globally regarded as the most recognized and respected investment credential. Since 2015, our Master of Arts in Financial Economics (MAFE) has been part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which currently includes 228 universities in the U.S. (12 universities in Ohio). As one of the three affiliated master programs in Financial Economics in Ohio, it gives YSU students access to scholarships and additional resources. This affiliation recognizes that our curricula incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). “The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential is the professional standard of choice for more than 31,000 investment firms worldwide,” according to the CFA Institute. “When hiring, leading firms demand investment professionals with real-world analytical skills, technical competence, and the highest professional standards, often requiring the CFA credential for consideration.” Our MAFE program is ranked the 9th in the nation by the TFE Time.

The Master of Science in Finance program is intended to provide an opportunity to students to have a well-rounded understanding of finance.

Our program will provide students with specialized knowledge of financial securities, financial markets and institutions, foreign exchange markets, risk metrics investment criteria, capital budgeting techniques and hedging strategies.

It can also help to prepare students for numerous professional certifications, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program provides post-baccalaureate students pursuing a career in investments with a high-quality master-level education in the field of investment. The objective is to educate post-baccalaureate students to be experts in investment analysis and portfolio management. The Master of Science in Finance is open to all qualified students regardless of undergraduate major.

A Master of Science degree in Finance with a specialization in Financial Analysis prepares individuals for rewarding career progression in the fields of securities analysis and investment management.  The program of study develops the ethical framework and analytical skills to evaluate investment products, navigate financial markets, and manage the portfolios of individual and institutional clients.  In pursuing these competencies, the Financial Analysis specialization incorporates the curriculum of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Program administered by CFA Institute, where NJCU is an affiliated university. Students are encouraged to earn the globally recognized CFA credential along with their MS in Finance degree.

The Master of Science in Finance develops quantitative and analytical skills demanded in today's competitive marketplace. The STEM-oriented curriculum integrates modeling, analytics, information technology, and quantitative methods into all of the finance courses. Students are able to personalize the curriculum by choosing course "clusters" that match their learning needs and areas of interest. Sample course clusters include:

• Corporate Finance
• Fintech
• Investment & Portfolio Management
• Wealth Management
• International Finance
• Financial Analytics
• Psychology of Financial Markets
• Sustainable Finance
• Real Estate Investments

The objective of the concentration is to provide the student with the necessary analytical tools required to make value-creating financial decisions. The corporate finance-focused courses in the concentration develop the requisite skills needed for analyzing the financial and operating performance of the organization, assessing its financial health, along with developing financial planning and working capital management policies consistent with the long-run success of the organization. The investments course focuses, in part, on the valuation of real and financial assets along with developing strategies to support the funding needs of the organization. Additionally, students will gain exposure to security analysis, portfolio risk management and capital structure theory.

The Master’s of Science in Finance offers a specialized curriculum with focused training in finance. The degree is designed to offer advanced, applied and theoretical experience in investment banking, corporate finance, actuarial science and/or financial derivatives. 

The course of study is designed to provide insight into the following topics:

• The important role of financial intermediaries
• The management of financial intermediaries and an understanding of the markets in which they participate
• The valuation of financial assets such as stocks, bonds, derivatives, and other specialized assets and how they are managed in a portfolio
• The determination and behavior of interest rates and rates of return on assets
• The incentives and determinants of corporate behavior.