Program Overview Program Tuition
Program Structure Admission Requirements
Curriculum Applying
Program Delivery Graduation
Assessment  

 

Program Overview

Executive Master of Science in Finance

1-year Program


Global financial markets and corporations have grown increasingly complex. Virtually each business day witnesses the dawning of new and more sophisticated forms of financing, financially engineered products, and tools for risk management. How can today's financial executive thrive amidst this sea of change?

The Baruch Executive Master of Science in Finance Program is uniquely designed to help financial executives master cutting-edge financial analytical tools and strengthen their judgment to use these tools effectively. This program can provide finance professionals with the critical advantage needed for career advancement and professional development.

During the past decade, fundamental change has swept through the world of finance presenting significant challenges for the financial services industry. Finance professionals have found it difficult to keep current, let alone develop the competitive edge necessary for success in the 21st century. Located in the heart of New York City, the global capital of finance and home to the world’s largest banks and financial institution, Baruch College is one of the most important hubs of intellectual influence that incorporates Wall Street experience in the areas of banking, finance , accounting and investment.

This 1-year program teaches modern finance theory, applications, and analytic skills, providing professionals with the tools needed to cope effectively with today's changing markets. Within the comfortable environment of the classroom, executives learn real world financial and investment decision-making under different market conditions. This innovative program blends theory with advanced financial management problems and teaches essential up-to-date knowledge now used by the most successful professionals in finance. This practical degree is ideal for professionals interested in upgrading their technical finance skills or for those with strong quantitative backgrounds seeking to change careers. This exceptional educational experience is designed to produce highly effective performers in today's fast-changing world of finance. Program learning is facilitated by small class size and an emphasis on group work, enabling a student to work closely with faculty and peers rich in professional experience. Students preparing for the CFA examinations will gain an advantage as most of the CFA subject areas are covered in the curriculum.

Classes are taught by faculty who are experts in modern financial theory and its applications. Baruch's professors are known for blending cutting edge theories with practical business applications to make each class an exciting and rewarding experience. Students follow the program as a cohort further enhancing the learning experience and results in a network of future business relationships.

Program Structure

The entire Executive Master of Science in Finance program comprises 10 graduate courses.

In compliance with university policy, students must complete all 10 courses in order to graduate. No exemption will be granted from any course of the program.

Each course of the program comprises 36 contact hours with the visiting university faculty.

All courses are taught by overseas faculty from Baruch College, City University of New York.

The classes for each course are usually conducted in the follow manner over a 2-week period:

Weekdays evenings:
7:00pm – 10:00pm

Saturday Afternoons:
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Sundays:
9:00am – 6:00pm


Program time schedule will be published prior to the commencement of the program, and the university will keep student informed of the detail timetable for each individual course.


Executive Master of Science in Finance (Curriculum)

  • 10 of these courses are offered in this Executive Program
  • Curriculum is subject to change by the Zicklin School of Business
  • Most of the CFA subject areas are covered in this program except for ethical and professional standards. Students who plan to study for both qualifications will enjoy an advantage

    ECO 9705 Managerial Economics
    Application of basic economic concepts to the decision problems of the firm. Demand, supply, cost and profit functions, and capital budgeting are analyzed conceptually and with the use of quantitative tools to give them empirical content.

    FIN 9771 Corporate Financial Theory and Applications
    This course offers an introduction to corporate finance, with a strong emphasis on fundamental principles. Topics include capital budgeting under certainty and uncertainty, capital structure, dividend policy, external financing, financial distress, and the use of financial engineering to raise capital.

    FIN 9772 Quantitative Tools for Finance
    This is a course in applied financial econometrics. The course will familiarize students with a number of tools needed to statistically analyze financial data and expose students to a number of important financial databases. The use of spreadsheets to facilitate analysis will be developed. Tests of asset pricing models will be discussed.

    FIN 9773 Investment Theory and Applications
    A variety of financial instruments and their valuation will be explored. Topics include the basis of financial engineering, dividend discount models, modern portfolio theory, bond valuation, and the management of interest rate risk. Concepts such as no-arbitrage pricing and diversification will be developed and applied.

    FIN 9759 Mergers and Acquisitions
    Why and how firms merge and restructure and the effects on stock prices, capital structure (debt versus equity), and market power. The legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects of mergers will also be considered.

    FIN 9786 International Financial Markets
    Covers such topics as foreign exchange markets and their role in international movements of funds; Eurocurrency; Eurobonds; international stock markets, interaction among and integration of national and international money and stock markets; and regulation of Eurocurrency markets and flow of funds.

    FIN 9792 Advanced Managerial Finance
    Advanced analysis of special problems of financial management with particular emphasis on decision making under uncertainty. Applicable articles, problems, and cases will be assigned.

    FIN 9793 Advanced Investment Analysis
    Security valuation and portfolio management and analysis, empirical evidence, imperfections, and institutional implications. Applicable articles, cases, and problems will be assigned.

    FIN 9797 Options Markets
    Study of options, including the following topics: the structure and operation of organized exchanges, investment strategies under different market scenarios, arbitrage pricing, the valuation of options as a mechanism to price corporate securities, portfolio insurance as a trading strategy, and recent developments in the options markets.

    FIN 9720 Risk Management and Control: Bond Markets
    The course begins with an examination of the various types of bonds that can be purchased or issued and their characteristics. Calculation of price and yield are covered next. The implied forward curve is examined for indications of the direction interest rates will be moving and identifying the appropriate strategy for the interest rate forecast. The course splits into controlling risk in floating rate notes and then fixed rate notes. Libor based derivatives are applied to controlling interest rate risk. Then credit spread derivatives are applied to control credit premia risk and default risk. Emphasis next turns to the fixed rate bond and how to control interest rate risk using Treasury futures and Futures options. Lastly focuses turns to the possibility of international investments, and the need for currency hedging.

    FIN 9983 Selected Topics in Investment: Financial Statement and Analysis
    In-depth study of the analysis and interpretation of financial statements by external decision makers. The course includes measures of liquidity, solvency, capital structure, return on investments, and operating performance. The impact of accounting conventions and alternative standards on analytical measures is also explored.

Program Delivery

The classes will be delivered via face-to-face lectures with professors from the United States. The professors will usually stay in Hong Kong for 2 to 3 weeks and are available for additional academic consultation with students outside classroom hours.

Hong Kong-based students will also enjoy online access to the award-winning William and Anita Newman Library in New York.

The library was awarded the Best College Library in America 2003 by ACRL.

Assessment

Students will be assessed using a combination of examinations, assignments and case studies.

The course professor will inform the students at the commencement of the class on the actual assessment methods that would be used for that specific course.

Different professors have different teaching styles and different assessment preferences.

However, students should expect the assessments to be rigorous and challenging, in keeping with the demands of an advanced degree program from a leading American university.

Grades awarded by the professor will be final and will be part of the official student record lodged at Baruch College, City University of New York.

Students should treat their course assessments seriously and put in the requisite time and efforts to secure a good grading in order to graduate.


Program Tuition

The program fee covers lectures, tutorials, textbooks, course materials, seminars, assignments, tests, examinations and academic assistance. The program is 100% taught by professional faculty from Baruch College, City University of New York. University professors are flown in on a scheduled basis to deliver the various courses in Hong Kong over the academic year.

Students may pay in 4 quarterly instalments over the period of the 1-year program, with the first instalment due upon acceptance into the program.

This program is eligible for the Hong Kong Government Non-means Tested Loan Scheme. Prospective students should enquire directly with the Student Financial Assistance Agency at http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/ for details.

Prospective students are advised to attend the program previews to get the latest; information and updates.


Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to this program, candidates should possess at least the followings:

  • A recognized undergraduate degree or its equivalent plus at least 3 years of working experience at an executive or management level; or,
  • A 3-year Higher Diploma from an accredited university plus at least 5 years of working experience at an executive or management level, plus
  • A satisfactory GMAT score

A limited number of candidates without a university degree or who do not meet the minimum academic requirements may be considered on the basis of the length and level of their management experience. Admission to the Program is competitive and the University will select those who demonstrate a high promise of success.


How to apply:

All applications must be submitted to the Baruch College's representative of Hong Kong Office before the closing date. Each application package must contain the following:

  • A duly completed "Application for Admission" to Graduate Studies (click here to download the form)
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae
  • Testimonial or proof of working experience
  • Official transcripts of undergraduate or previously studies
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Application fee
  • Two recent photos
  • Copy of HKID
  • GMAT score report (if applicable)


  • When your application file is completed, please send the package to:-

    Program Director
    Charter Management Association
    Official Exclusive Representative
    City University of New York
    Unit 4, 25/F, 168 Plaza,
    168 Sai Yeung Choi Street,
    Mong Kok, Hong Kong.
    Tel: (852) 2308-1188
    Fax: (852) 2308-1138



Graduation

To be eligible to graduate, students must complete all 10 graduate courses for a concentration (30 credit hours), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and satisfy all policies, rules and regulations of Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.

Successful students will be awarded the Executive Master of Science degree from Baruch College, The City University of New York. This Master degree is identical to the degree awarded to on-campus students.

Graduation ceremonies are conducted in Hong Kong and New York on an annual basis.

Students can choose to graduate in Hong Kong or New York or both.

In the case of overseas graduation, traveling expenses will have to be borne by the students.