Queens Collaborates with Industry Partners to Launch Unique Data Program

Queens University is gearing up to welcome its first cohort of the Master of Science in Finance and Analytics (MSFA) program, a unique collaboration between Queens University and industry partners that will help fill gaps within the finance industry.

The program’s first cohort will begin in August. The MSFA program, the only one of its kind in North Carolina, will teach students to analyze data sets using financial theory and analytical methods while also teaching them to translate data to help businesses make better decisions. Industry leaders from companies such as Accenture, Ally and Bank of America serve on the program’s advisory board.

“We wanted a program that would be marketable, that would be respected by employers and a program that would attract students’ interest,” said Katerina Ivanov, Ph.D., director of the MSFA program. “Banks and other institutions are sitting on these large data sets, and they need people who will be able to analyze these data sets while also telling the story behind the data.”

MSFA courses include Machine Learning and AI, Economic and Financial Forecasting, Investment Analysis and others. The program can be completed in one to two years, and students can take their courses in both an online and hybrid format. Students will have access to some of the top industry minds through mentorships, executive-in-residence programs and guest speakers.

“This program is a unique addition to the Queens Graduate School since it is entirely focused on building workers who can meet the unique demands of the finance industry’s big data sets,” says Melissa McCartney, Ed.D., associate provost for digital learning and dean of the Queens University Graduate School. “The connection to Charlotte’s high-level executives helps ensure students will be equipped to find a job after graduation, and we think it’s going to make a big shift in the Charlotte business industry.”

The program is has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Visit the Queens website for more information on the program.