March 7, 2024
Sacramento State College of Business currently offers a master's degree for students who wish to specialize in investment management and financial analysis.
The accelerated 12-month Master of Science in Finance program combines in-person and distance learning that follows much of the curriculum to become a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), preparing graduates pursuing a rigorous and advanced qualification. give an advantageous position. considered certified.
“We're in Sacramento, and we have two of the largest public pension funds in the country: CalPERS and CalSTRS,” said Lan Liu, a professor in the School of Finance. “A significant number of graduate and undergraduate students will be working for them and we have heard about the need for junior investment officers.
“There's a lot of talent here as well. Sac State students are very enthusiastic, and many want to start careers in investing.”
The intensive program is cohort-based, meaning each group of new students takes the same set of four-week courses together. The first group of eight students she graduated in August.
Classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate most work schedules.
Students also have the opportunity to network with peers from programs such as the Sac State University Executive MBA and interact with industry leaders who serve as guest speakers.
Unlike the MBA program, which includes classes in marketing and management, the new program's classes are all related to finance, Liu said.
“Some students say it's a good fit for them. They like numbers and the finance classes are what they were looking for,” she said.
Approximately half of the students enrolled in the program are working professionals who already work in the financial industry and want to learn more about investing or advance their careers.
The remaining half are new graduates.
“They are quick learners and are looking for an edge to stand out among their peers,” Liu said.
This program also aligns with the CFA curriculum. Many of the College of Business's faculty hold CFA degrees, and about half of the first MS Finance graduates pursue the CFA designation, Liu said. Becoming a CFA can make you more attractive to employers because of the higher standards of qualification.
Sac State is one of only three CSU campuses to offer a master's degree in finance, joining CSU San Bernardino and CSU Long Beach.
The new program was ideal for California Debt Investment Advisory Council (CDIAC) manager Kelly Joy, one of the first graduates. She already had a master's degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego, and was looking for a graduate program with a focus on finance.
As a working mother of a 6-year-old boy, Joy needed a local program that was affordable and fit around her work schedule.
“It wasn’t until I got the job at CDIAC that I realized how much I loved finance,” Joy said. “However, the economics-related parts of my job came more naturally to me, and I also realized that I needed to do more research and reading on the finance parts.
“I wanted to build a foundation that I could build on top of all the learning I was doing on the job.”
The MS Finance program at Sac State University was everything she hoped for and more. Joy said that in addition to the quality of instructors and faculty, the cohort system fosters a close-knit learning environment.
“We became like a little family, or a close-knit team, supporting each other,” Joy said. “All the professors were great and very supportive.”
The program also focused on connecting students with employers and industry professionals.
“This helped me build the bridge to become an emerging leader in public finance,” Joy said. “Although it was difficult, the way the program worked allowed me to achieve my goals while maintaining and maintaining some balance for the rest of my life.”
“It was a really special moment to have my son watch me graduate and share the importance of going to college.”
