STEM Designation
The MSF is a graduate degree program with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) designation. Due to the demand of graduates with expertise in STEM fields, the Department of Homeland Security permits international students graduating from STEM programs to apply for a 24 month extension of their initial year of Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more detailed information, please visit the ISSO webpage.
Curriculum
11-14 Courses (MSF Portion Only)
31-35.5 Credits
*See the Law School Academic Catalog for specific JD requirements
Required Introductory Course (1 credit)
Must be taken in first semester of program.
| FIN-601 | Introduction to Statistics, Accounting, and Finance Intensive | 1 |
Prerequisite Courses (4.5 credits)
May be waived.
| MBA-615 | Economics | 1.5 |
| MBA-641 | Financial Information for Business Management | 1.5 |
| MBA-651 | Financial Management for Business Decisions | 1.5 |
Finance Core Courses (15 credits)
| FIN-800 | Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| FIN-808 | General Theory in Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN-810 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
| FIN-814 | Options and Futures | 3 |
| FIN-818 | Financial Econometrics | 3 |
Capstone Course (3 credits)
Should be taken as late in the program as possible.
Concentration Descriptions and Applicable Elective Courses (12 credits)
Choose four (4) elective courses from the approved MSF electives list. Courses must be taken within the Sawyer Business School, 800-level or above (exception MBA-740).
Students may declare a concentration in Corporate Finance, Financial Services and Banking, FinTech, Investments or Risk Management. If a concentration in Corporate Finance or Investments is declared, three electives must be in one concentration area.
If a concentration in Financial Services and Banking is declared students must complete FIN-816 and two approved Financial Services and Banking electives. If a concentration in FinTech is declared students must complete ISOM-631, FIN-830, one approved FIN elective and one approved ISOM elective. If a concentration in Risk Management is declared students must complete FIN-816, FIN-882 and one approved FIN elective. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered vary by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Program Concentration Request form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before they declare a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
Corporate Finance Concentration
Choose three courses from the following list: (9 credits)
Financial Services and Banking Concentration
Required Course (3 credits)
| FIN-816 | Risk Management in Banking and Finance | 3 |
Electives: (2 courses, 6 credits)
Take two courses from the following list of electives:
FinTech Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
Finance Elective Course (1 course, 3 credits)
Take one from the following list of electives:
| FIN-882 | Applied Risk Management | 3 |
| FIN-890 | Data Analytics and Credit Risk | 3 |
ISOM Elective (1 course, 3 credits)
Take one from the following list of electives:
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-827 | Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
Investments Concentration
Choose three courses from the following list: (9 credits)
Risk Management Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
| FIN-816 | Risk Management in Banking and Finance | 3 |
| FIN-882 | Applied Risk Management | 3 |
Elective Course: (1 course, 3 credits)
Take one from the following list of electives:
Approved Finance Electives
Note: Students wishing to take SBS 920 for an elective in the MSF Program must consult with the MSF Advisor for guidance on how to be considered for this option.
Electives
Waiver Policy
To waive an MSF prerequisite course, a student must successfully complete equivalent coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MSF/JD matriculation, with a grade of “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
To substitute an approved elective for an MSF Core Course, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MSF/JD matriculation, with a “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All waiver and substitution requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MSF/JD program. All MSF/JD students must complete a minimum of 31 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Any candidate seeking transfer credits, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These credits may be considered for elective course transfer only and if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree.
Transfer credits must have earned a grade of “B” or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MSF/JD program. However, at the discretion of the MSF program director, MSF required core courses or elective courses may not be transferred if the subject material has changed significantly since completion. A maximum of three (3) credits may be considered for transfer.
Students who leave the area may also be able to complete a portion of their Suffolk MSF on a part-time basis online.