The Clark University School of Management (SOM) has been accepted into the prestigious CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. SOM’s Master’s of Science in Finance (MSF) program has been acknowledged as incorporating the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program. Clark’s MSF program positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.

Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that Clark’s MSF curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations.  Through participation in this program, the School of Management is eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Program each year.

The CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide.  It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program.

Clark’s MSF program is a cohort program that builds upon a strong conceptual framework, essential quantitative skills, and analytics approaches to solving problems in finance. Students learn various numerical methods used in financial engineering, gain a fundamental understanding of industry-standard technologies such as Bloomberg Professional, MATLAB, and Bloomberg’s Launchpad, grow their critical thinking skills, and graduate prepared for careers in any financial environment worldwide.

“We are thrilled to see our business school and MSF program earn this significant affiliation,” said Alan Eisner, dean of the School of Management. “I am incredibly thankful for the hard work of our faculty and staff that went into making this happen. It’s fantastic to see the support and opportunities for our students and graduates continue to grow.”

In an important benefit to students, scholarships will be available to offset the costs of the CFA registration and exam fees. SOM staff and faculty will also receive access to many CFA Institute educational resources to supplement student services and classroom teaching.

The School of Management also offers a dual degree with its Master’s in Finance and MBA program. Students gain an in-depth knowledge of finance with a broad foundation in global business theory and practice while taking fewer courses than what would be required in earning the two degrees separately.

Accredited by AACSB International, the School of Management (SOM) at Clark University is a small, academically rigorous business school that offers a personalized, collaborative learning experience.  Launched in 1982, Clark’s SOM — previously known as the Graduate School of Management (GSOM) —has experienced outstanding growth and continues to embody its mission of developing and preparing a diverse community of learners, researchers, business professionals, and future leaders to think critically, manage collaboratively and contribute to their organizations and society.