The Master of Science in Finance is a 36-credit, fully online program designed for students interested in developing and improving their professional competencies and skills in various finance related disciplines to increase their marketability. The program has a well-designed and rigorous curriculum with a focus on international perspectives and a strong commitment to the high ethical standards required in the finance field. The program provides students with state-of-the-art skills and the knowledge necessary to compete in an increasingly challenging business environment. Additionally, as an affiliated university program¹ of the CFA Institute (CFA)^®, a significant portion of the core curriculum, with appropriate electives, covers the Institute’s Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK)^®.

The program is ideal for those working or planning to work in the following areas:

• Commercial and retail banking
• Investment and insurance companies
• Security analysis, security trading and brokerage
• Corporate finance, venture capital, and private equity
• Corporate restructuring, merger and acquisition (M&A)
• Portfolio management and risk management
• Financial services and consulting
• Government financial auditors
• Financial information systems and data providers
• Financial data analysis

Program Design

This program is delivered through online instruction (asynchronous), providing flexibility and convenience for working professionals and adult learners. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule. Full-time students may complete the program in 20 months if they enroll in 9 credits in the fall and spring terms and 3 to 6 credits during the summer terms. Part-time students may complete the program in 24-27 months.

Program Delivery and Tuition Rate

This master’s program is delivered through online courses (asynchronous) and is billed at the non-MBA rate.

Course Materials Fee

The MS in Finance program requires access to online financial data. The School for Graduate Studies will provide access to this data via the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) web application for a fee, charged at the time of course registrations.

®

The Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) is a registered trademark owned by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA).

¹

Completion of the MS in Finance program does not guarantee acceptance into or passage of any of CFA Institute’s programs.

Admission Overview

Admission to the Master of Science in Finance program is selective. This program enrolls new students in the Fall and Spring terms.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, preferably in business or a related field, and demonstrate readiness for advanced study in financial analysis, investment strategy, and financial decision‑making.

Prerequisite Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants should have completed coursework (or equivalent) in:

• 3 credits of financial accounting
• 3-6 credits of economics (microeconomics or macroeconomics)
• 3 credits of statistics

A candidate who has not completed these prerequisites may still be accepted, but admission will be contingent on completing the required prerequisite courses within the first year of enrollment.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
• Personal Statement, describing academic goals, professional experience, and interest in finance
• Resume, documenting employment history, education, and relevant experience
• $50 nonrefundable orientation fee

Applications are reviewed only when all required materials have been received, including all official transcripts.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of:

• Academic history and GPA, especially in quantitative or business‑related coursework
• Quality and clarity of the Personal Statement
• Alignment between professional goals and program objectives

Start Terms

This program admits new students in the:

• Fall
• Spring

Deadlines

Applications are reviewed regularly throughout the year, but only when all required materials—including all previous college transcripts—have been received.

To guarantee review for the term of your choice, all application materials must be submitted before the posted general deadline.

Applications submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed first. Applicants who complete their materials early may receive an earlier admission decision and have a better chance of securing a seat in their preferred term.

If an application becomes complete but space is no longer available, the applicant will be considered for the next available term.

For specific deadlines, please see the Graduate Admissions Deadline page.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the SUNY Empire application portal and select Graduate:

https://www.sunyempire.edu/application.html

Complete the online application, upload required documents and arrange for all official transcripts to be sent directly to SUNY Empire. Applications are reviewed only when all required materials have been received.

SUNY Empire alumni and current students do not need to request their Empire transcript.

International Applicants

This is a 100% online program; international applicants may apply. In addition to standard materials, they must also submit:

• A NACES‑member course‑by‑course evaluation (e.g., WES) for all non‑U.S. transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS), unless exempt

Additional Information

Please see the Graduate Admission section of this catalog for a complete listing of materials required to complete a graduate application.

Program Curriculum

The MS in Finance program's curriculum consists of foundation courses, advanced core courses, electives, and the final capstone. Students must choose four elective courses to reflect their interests and to reinforce the individual focus of their degree, based on their chosen concentration (track). To satisfy this requirement, students may choose one of the three available concentrations below. Students can also incorporate advanced graduate certificates into their master’s degree, without additional course work.¹

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FOUNDATION COURSES
FSMA 6010	Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
FSMA 6015	Financial Economics	3
FSMA 6016	Financial Management	3
ADVANCED CORE COURSES
FSMA 6020	Investment Analysis	3
FSMA 6025	Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
MGMT 6075	International Financial Management	3
FSMA 7015	Strategies of Financial Management	3
ELECTIVES		12
Corporate Finance track
FSMA 6035	Financial Risk Management
FSMA 6040	Mergers & Acquisitions
FSMA 6045	Money Banking & Financial Institutions
FSMA 6050	Financial Analysis & Control
International Finance track
FSMA 6080	International Accounting
FSMA 6095	International Financial Law & Regulation
MGMT 6065	Economics for Global Managers
FSMA 6055	Financial Instruments & Derivatives
General Finance track
Choose four, 3-credit electives*
CAPSTONE
FSMA 7020	Global Financial Strategy	3
Total Credits		36

¹

Students wishing to receive a certificate must apply and be accepted into a certificate program.

electives*

Under the guidance of their academic advisor, students in the General Finance concentration may choose their electives (4) from the following course options:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FSMA 6035	Financial Risk Management	3
FSMA 6040	Mergers & Acquisitions	3
FSMA 6045	Money Banking & Financial Institutions	3
FSMA 6050	Financial Analysis & Control	3
FSMA 6055	Financial Instruments & Derivatives	3
FSMA 6080	International Accounting	3
FSMA 6095	International Financial Law & Regulation	3
MGMT 6065	Economics for Global Managers	3

Enrollment Sequence (part-time)

The following suggested enrollment sequence is based on a fall term start, half-time schedule.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
FSMA 6010	Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
FSMA 6016	Financial Management	3
	Credits	6
Spring
FSMA 6015	Financial Economics	3
MGMT 6075	International Financial Management	3
	Credits	6
Summer
FSMA 7015	Strategies of Financial Management	3
	Credits	3
Second Year
Fall
FSMA 6025	Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
FSMA 6020	Investment Analysis	3
	Credits	6
Spring
Elective 1		3
Elective 2		3
	Credits	6
Summer
Elective 3		3
	Credits	3
Third Year
Fall
Elective 4		3
FSMA 7020	Global Financial Strategy	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

Enrollment Sequence (full-time)

The following suggested enrollment sequence is based on a fall term start, full-time schedule.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
FSMA 6010	Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
FSMA 6016	Financial Management	3
FSMA 6020	Investment Analysis	3
	Credits	9
Spring
FSMA 6015	Financial Economics	3
FSMA 6025	Advanced Quantitative Methods in Finance	3
MGMT 6075	International Financial Management	3
	Credits	9
Summer
FSMA 7015	Strategies of Financial Management	3
Elective 1		3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
Elective 2		3
Elective 3		3
	Credits	6
Spring
Elective 4		3
FSMA 7020	Global Financial Strategy	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Disciplinary Knowledge: Students will be able to integrate core functional knowledge and quantitative methods in the areas of finance to facilitate sound financial decision-making processes.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Students will be able to integrate theory and practice to analyze financial problems through inference and evaluation.
• Strategic Thinking: Students will apply financial management theories and skills to support strategic decision-making in their professional and career roles.
• Leadership: Students will be able to engage individuals and teams in striving for high effectiveness in financial management leadership.
• Ethical Reasoning: Students will be able to apply theory and tools necessary for sound ethical reasoning in finance;
• Global Understanding: Students will be able to understand the interdependencies in a fast-changing global financial environment;
• Managerial Communication: Students will be able to communicate effectively across a comprehensive range of financial contexts and with diverse stakeholders.