MS Finance Degree Earns Coveted STEM Designation

Full STEM Ahead

MS Finance Degree Earns Coveted Designation

Another degree offered by the Naveen Jindal School of Management has earned the state-certified Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) designation. Beginning in fall 2018, the MS in Finance program joined seven other graduate and two undergraduate programs in Jindal School with the distinction.

Dr. Carolyn Reichert, clinical associate professor and director of the MS/Finance program, said the effort for STEM designation was undertaken because of employer and student feedback. There was a need for a program that focused on the quantitative and technical skills increasingly required for financial work.

“STEM skills are part of the finance industry, and this is a continuing progression that’s not going to change,” Reichert said. “The designation tells employers about the quantitative nature of the program and helps students highlight their forward-looking skills.”

Collaborating with the UT Dallas Office of Assessment and others in The University of Texas System, the Jindal School finance faculty made changes to the curriculum to strengthen and emphasize technical and statistical elements of courses in preparation for the designation. Reichert said the master’s degree already had a quantitative focus, but the curriculum changes along with the academically rigorous reputation of Jindal School and UT Dallas, helped secure the STEM distinction.

In addition to increased technical knowledge and employability for all students, the STEM degree offers opportunities for international graduates to qualify to work in the United States for up to 24 months.

Reichert said the STEM designation would benefit students and the University, especially as the finance industry evolves.

“This really helps our program maintain our competitive edge in a rapidly changing educational landscape, while our students feel more prepared for the changing workforce and the technical skills they are going to need,” she said.