Program Overview

Finance Master of Science Degree

Overview

The master of science in finance unlocks emerging FinTech fields (algorithmic trading, blockchain, and cryptocurrency) as finance industries become more data-driven and analytics-based.

Why Study RIT’s Master of Science in Finance

• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
• Manage an investment portfolio with the Finance Management Association.
• Highly flexible program includes exposure to software including Python, R, Tableau, Matlab, SAS, and SQL.
• The curriculum is designed to prepare you to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.

RIT’s Finance Master’s Degree

Today’s finance industries are data-driven and analytics-based. As a result, RIT’s finance master’s degree includes projects and teaching materials that expose you to financial analytics skills and software. In this highly flexible program, you’ll complete courses in accounting, corporate finance, investments, risk management, and more. In addition, you'll choose elective courses in other areas of finance such as banking, algorithmic trading, and financial modeling, as well as data-related courses such as financial analytics. Students also have access to data courses offered elsewhere in our college and build skills on specific languages such as Python or SQL. Top finance master's programs, like RIT's master of science in finance, prepare you to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam–the most respected and recognized investment management designation in the world.

Leading Finance Faculty

Saunders’ finance faculty are prestigious researchers who actively contribute to elite research journals, covering traditional finance topics and cutting-edge areas such as high-frequency trading, stock/option trading strategies, NFT, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain. Our faculty members bring valuable industry expertise to their classrooms while maintaining solid connections with industry professionals.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Credit Risk Analyst
• Controller
• Data Analyst
• Director, Corporate Strategy
• Director, Financial Planning and Analysis
• Financial Advisor
• Financial Analyst
• Finance Director
• Financial Engineer
• Financial Planner
• Investment Banker
• Loan Officer
• Portfolio Manager
• Quantitative Analyst
• Quantitative Investment Analyst
• Research Associate
• Risk Analyst
• Trader
• Vice President, Finance

Cooperative Education and Internships

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Business co-ops provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your knowledge of business, management, finance, accounting, and related fields in professional settings. You'll make valuable connections between course work and real-world applications as you build a network of professional contacts.

Cooperative education is optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the finance program.

Finance Careers

Graduates of RIT's master of science in finance are prepared for outstanding career opportunities in a range of finance positions. Our alumni are employed at diverse firms such as AMG Technology, T3 Trading Group, LLC, TD Securities, MAI Capital Management, and more. Our Finance Industry Advisory Board helps students prepare for their careers by ensuring the curriculum is continuously updated to meet employers needs while providing networking and mentorship opportunities.

Our alumni are employed at diverse firms such as AMG Technology, Citi Group, Fannie Mae, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, MAI Capital Management, Paychex, T3 Trading Group, LLC, TD Securities, and more.

Featured Work and Profiles

• RIT students win international Bloomberg trading competition
• Citi, Buffalo, NY
• Siemens, Houston, TX
• Research Insights: Benefits of a Seeming Monopoly
• Goldman Sachs, Dallas, Texas
• Research Insights: Board Reforms Improve Financial Reporting

Curriculum

Finance, MS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • ACCT-603: Accounting for Decision Makers
  • FINC-721: Financial Analysis for Managers
  • FINC-725: Securities and Investment Analysis
  • FINC-740: Options and Futures
  • FINC-790: Field Exam Preparatory
  • Finance Electives
  • STEM Electives

Finance electives

• FINC-610: Financial Risk Management and Analysis
• FINC-722: Financial Management II
• FINC-732: Portfolio Management
• FINC-742: Financial Modeling and Analysis
• FINC-758: Seminar in Finance
• FINC-760: International Finance
• FINC-761: Stock Market Algorithmic Trading
• FINC-772: Equity Analysis
• FINC-780: Financial Analytics
• FINC-795: Computational Finance Experience

STEM electives

• ACCT-745: Accounting Information and Analytics
• ACCT-796: Accounting Capstone Experience
• BANA-680: Data Management for Business Analytics
• BANA-780: Advanced Business Analytics
• MGIS-650: Introduction to Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
• MGIS-725: Data Management and Analytics
• FINC-610: Financial Risk Management and Analysis
• FINC-742: Financial Modeling and Analysis
• FINC-761: Stock Market Algorithmic Trading
• FINC-780: Financial Analytics
• FINC-795: Computational Finance Experience

Admissions and Financial Aid

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Finance MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
• Letters of recommendation are optional.
• Entrance exam requirements: GRE or GMAT is optional, but recommended for individuals with degrees from international universities. No minimum score requirement.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

• TOEFL: 88
• IELTS: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 60

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers with significant hearing loss do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

Faculty

• John Curran: Adjunct Faculty
• Archana Jain: Department Chair
• Zhijian Huang: Associate Professor

Related News

• February 7, 2025: Bloomberg Enriches Financial Education for 10,000 Students through Global Trading Challenge
• January 2, 2025: RIT trio triumphs in global trading challenge
• August 21, 2024: Livingston County students awarded Saunders College endowed scholarships to attend RIT