M.S. in Financial Technology and Anlaytics

Program Overview

The M.S. in Financial Technology and Analytics is a 30-credit program, typically completed within 12 to 18 months for full-time students. The curriculum is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of both the fundamental financial concepts and the advanced technological tools transforming the industry. It comprises core courses, concentration courses, and electives, allowing for a personalized path tailored to individual career goals. Students can choose to specialize in areas like Financial Data Science or Financial Technology. The program culminates in a capstone consulting or research experience, providing hands-on application of knowledge to real-world scenarios. It is available on campus and also fully online through StevensOnline, offering significant flexibility. Stevens highlights excellent job placement and high salaries for its graduates, emphasizing its strong ties to Wall Street and the FinTech sector.

STEM-designated: Yes, the Stevens Institute of Technology M.S. in Financial Technology and Analytics program is unequivocally STEM-designated. This is a significant advantage, particularly for international students. The STEM designation makes them eligible for a 24-month extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the United States, allowing for a total of up to three years of valuable post-graduation work experience. This designation clearly reflects the program's rigorous quantitative, analytical, and technological focus, which is highly valued by employers in the data-driven financial industry.

Curriculum: The 30-credit curriculum provides a robust blend of financial principles, data science, and emerging financial technologies. Core courses typically include: Foundations of Financial Data Science, Practical Aspects of Database Design, Statistical Learning in Finance, and Project in Financial Analytics. Depending on their chosen concentration, students delve into specialized topics. The Financial Data Science concentration focuses on areas like Applied Statistics with Applications in Finance, Time Series with Applications to Finance, and Machine Learning in Finance. The Financial Technology concentration explores Blockchain Technologies and Decentralized Finance, Digital Payment Technologies and Trends, and more. The curriculum integrates hands-on experience with industry-standard data analysis and visualization tools used on Wall Street, such as Bloomberg and Thomson-Reuters terminals, R, and Python. It also covers topics in AI-powered trading algorithms, fraud detection models, and automated risk management systems.

Research Focus: The M.S. in Financial Technology and Analytics program at Stevens has a strong applied research focus, closely integrated with the Hanlon Financial Systems Lab and the Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT), which is the first FinTech-focused Industry University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) funded by the National Science Foundation, a collaboration between Stevens and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Faculty members are actively exploring new concepts in machine learning, data modeling, optimization in finance, AI applications in quantitative finance, fraud detection, and high-frequency trading. Students have opportunities to delve into research in areas such as blockchain technologies, decentralized finance, and the impact of artificial intelligence on financial processes, gaining hands-on experience in real-time market analysis and financial forecasting through leading-edge resources.

Industry Engagement: Stevens Institute of Technology places an extremely high priority on industry engagement for its Financial Technology and Analytics program. Its unparalleled location in Hoboken, New Jersey, provides direct access to Wall Street and the vast network of financial institutions, hedge funds, FinTech startups, and major corporations in New York City. The curriculum is continuously updated in collaboration with industry experts to reflect the latest trends and demands, including the impact of AI on financial technology. Faculty members often bring extensive professional experience, providing invaluable real-world case studies and connections. The university's state-of-the-art financial labs offer hands-on experience with the same tools used on Wall Street. Stevens' strong alumni network and robust Career Center facilitate extensive networking opportunities, internships, and job placements, ensuring graduates are job-ready and well-connected within the financial industry.

Global Perspective: Stevens Institute of Technology fosters a strong global perspective within its M.S. in Financial Technology and Analytics program. This is naturally cultivated through its diverse international student body, which brings varied insights into global financial markets, international regulatory frameworks, and cross-cultural applications of financial technologies. The inherent nature of FinTech is global, impacting cross-border payments, international trading, and decentralized finance networks worldwide. The program prepares graduates to understand and navigate global financial landscapes, develop solutions for international markets, and contribute to the rapidly evolving global FinTech ecosystem. This global outlook, combined with Stevens' rigorous technical education and hands-on exposure to industry tools, ensures graduates are well-equipped for impactful careers in an interconnected global financial sector.