Graduate School Bulletin

Spring 2025

MS in Finance

The Master of Science in Finance is a unique opportunity to further your education in the field of finance. This 30 credit program is well suited to financial professionals who seek advanced finance skills, as well as students from other disciplines who seek to strengthen their finance expertise.  The Master of Science in Finance focuses on finance-specific topics, requiring ten finance based courses culminating in an expertise of the discipline.   This program will focus on developing an understanding of financial concepts and applications, preparing students to work in various areas of commercial finance such as, banking, investments and corporate finance. 

Course Requirements for the MS in Finance

MBA 502 Finance

FIN 536 Financial Management

FIN 539 Investment Analysis

FIN 540 Probability & Statistics for Finance

FIN 541 Bank Management

FIN 549 Risk Management

FIN 552 Mergers and Acquisitions

FIN 562 Data Analysis for Finance

FIN 578 Behavioral Finance

FIN 580 Finance Capstone Course

Requirements for the MBA in Finance

Finance lies at the heart of both corporate and governmental success. Critical financial decisions involving the creation of capital, its day-to-day management, and its redeployment into more productive areas of companies and the economy are central to the continued prosperity of businesses and nations around the world. Stony Brook’s MBA in Finance will prepare students for positions in corporate finance, investment banking, financial management, broker-dealer firms, consulting firms, commercial banks, financial markets, securities firms and government agencies.

The 48 credit MBA in Finance track curriculum requires 16 three-credit courses. Within the 16 three- credit courses, students take 11 required core courses and 5 elective courses. Four of these electives must be FIN courses.

The 36 credit MBA in Finance track requires 12 three-credit courses. Within the 12 courses, students take 6 required core courses and 6 elective courses. Five of these electives must be FIN courses. *Students will not have to take the following core courses: MBA 502, 504, 505, 589, or 592.*

Core Course Requirements for the MBA in Finance

*MBA 502 - Finance

MBA 503 - Data Analysis & Decision Making

*MBA 504 - Financial Accounting

*MBA 505 - Marketing

MBA 506 - Leadership & Team Effectiveness & Communications

MBA 507 - Ethics in Management

MBA 511 - Technological Innovations or BUS 510: Biotechnology Startups and Operations

MBA 512 - Bus Planning & Strat Mgt

MBA 543 – Business Analytics

*MBA 589 - Operations Management

*MBA 592 - Organizational Behavior

Elective courses:

36 credit track: Students in the 36 credit track will take a total of six 500-level MBA elective courses, five of these must be FIN courses.

48 credit program: Students in the 48 credit program must take five elective courses, four of these must be FIN courses.

Certificate Programs

Applications for the Advanced Graduate Certificate Programs are available through the School of Professional Development Admission into an AGC does not guarantee admission into the MBA program. Students must submit a separate application directly to the MBA program or MS in Finance Program to be considered for admission. Students who are accepted into a Master’s program may apply up to 12 credits towards their degree program. Students must declare their decision to matriculate into a master’s program before the completion of 12 credits.

Note that, although it is a valuable academic credential, an Advanced Graduate Certificate is not a degree.

Certificate Program in Finance

The 18-credit Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) in Finance prepares students for careers in financial management, including financial analysis, portfolio management, investment banking and corporate financial associate positions. The curriculum places an emphasis on developing financial analytical skills. It offers in-depth knowledge of the principles and techniques of finance and accounting needed to understand how corporate financial objectives are developed, measured and reported, as well as the central issues in government regulation, taxation and financial reporting.

The AGC in Finance is a part-time program designed for working professionals. Courses are scheduled in the evening, and several of them are offered completely online.

MBA Program

Certificate students may choose to pursue admission into the University's MBA in Finance program, which has a separate application and additional admissions requirements. Students interested in the MBA program must apply prior to completing 12 credits in the certificate program. Acceptance into the MBA program is not guaranteed, but certificate credits are transferable into the MBA program.

Financial Aid Information

This advanced graduate certificate program is eligible for financial aid . View the federally mandated Gainful Employment Disclosure Information .

AGC in Finance Admissions

  1. Personal statement. 
  2. A bachelor’s degree, with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average.
  3. 3 letters of recommendation
  4. A GMAT exam is required for applicants who have less than a 3.2 cumulative undergraduate GPA. We will accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT. A GMAT waiver may be considered for applicants earning below a 3.2 if they have significant and relevant work experience. This will be determined through a resume review and letters of recommendation.
  5. In those cases where the departmental admissions committee deems it desirable, personal interviews with departmental representatives may be necessary.

Finance Certificate Requirements

The curriculum consists of 18 credits (6 courses; 3 credits each). Students complete two required courses and choose elective courses that explore the broad frontier of modern finance.

Required Courses

  • MBA 502 Finance
  • MBA 504 Financial Accounting

Electives (Choose any 4 courses listed below)

  • FIN 525 Portfolio Management
  • FIN 536 Financial Management
  • FIN 539 Investment Analysis
  • FIN 541 Bank Management
  • FIN 545 Capital Markets and Financial Institutions
  • FIN 552 Mergers & Acquisitions
  • FIN 576 Real Estate Finance
  • FIN 578 Behavioral Finance

Time to Completion

All certificate requirements must be completed within three (3) years from the semester date of admission as a matriculated student unless the student is also matriculated in a master's degree program. Master's students have five (5) years to complete the certificate requirements.