BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In recognition of the analytical and technical competencies possessed by its graduates and the contributions they can make to employers, the in-residence Master of Science in Finance program at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business is now STEM-designated.
Beginning with those earning degrees this spring, graduates of the program will carry the extra designation of being Science, Technology, Engineering and Math certified.
When Kelley’s Master of Science in Finance program was launched in 2018, it was designed to meet the needs of many young professionals, including those with undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts, engineering, informatics, the sciences and other disciplines featuring analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills.
Interest in the degree has quickly grown and enrollment has as well, by nearly three-fold, from an inaugural class of 16 to 55 students beginning the program this summer. One guide used by prospective students, Master’s in Finance Degree Guide, ranked Kelley’s Master of Science in Finance degree first among Big Ten schools, second among public institutions and sixth overall.
“The STEM designation opens up more opportunities for our students, and it also confirms what we already know about our graduates — they have the critical thinking skills and technical proficiencies that businesses in every industry are looking for,” said Idalene “Idie” Kesner, dean of the Kelley School and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management.
Ash Soni, executive associate dean for academic programs, professor of operations and decision technologies, and the SungKyunKwan Professor, said he expects enrollment in the program to grow now that it is STEM-designated, based on previous inquiries, as well as one that is more diverse.
“One thing that sets our Master of Science in Finance program apart from our competitors is that we provide students who followed a passion in their undergraduate major to add a year of intensive finance training so they can offer a more compelling combination to recruiters in their chosen career path,” Soni said.