Question: Are There Master's in Finance Programs That Have 100% Online Instruction?

Answer: Yes, there are master’s in finance degree programs offered by accredited, non-profit colleges and universities that are fully online and that do not require students to attend campus-based instructional sessions. There are also online programs that require students to attend a limited number of in-person sessions on campus or at another location. Students who would prefer not to travel in order to earn a master’s in finance degree should look for programs that are 100% online. Students who would like the opportunity to attend a limited number of in-person instructional sessions with faculty and other students may want to pursue an online program that includes one or two required campus visits.

The structure of online master’s programs varies by school, by program, and by field of study. One key area of structural variation among online programs regards required campus visits, which may be referred to as immersion sessions, intensives, or residencies. These campus-based activities can be an integral component of an online master’s program curriculum and may be considered necessary or advantageous in some disciplines. They can include introductory sessions, group seminars, guest lectures, hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, and other instructional events. They may be held at the beginning, middle, or end of a program, and they can last for a weekend or as many as seven to ten days. Online students who attend these campus sessions typically have opportunities for face-to-face meetings with instructors, in-person interactions with classmates, and other activities that are difficult to facilitate online.

However, even a limited number of campus-based sessions may pose scheduling conflicts for some students, and students can incur expenses in additional to a program’s tuition and fees while traveling to and attending campus-based sessions. For students who would prefer an online master’s in finance program that does not require attending in-person instructional activities, there are programs that are offered 100% online. These programs provide all of their required coursework online through distance learning technologies and online learning platforms, which allow students to view lectures and presentations, interact with instructors, participate in discussion groups, and receive and submit assignments and exams through a secure Internet connection.

Examples of 100% Online Master’s in Finance Programs

Master’s in finance programs that are classified as online by the schools that offer them may, as noted above, include a limited number of required campus visits, typically between one and three. Programs that require students to attend more than three or four campus-based sessions per year are generally designated as “blended” or “hybrid” programs. The following online master’s in finance programs offer 100% of their required coursework online:

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): SNHU offers a 100% online Master of Science (MS) in Finance program that has two concentrations: Corporate Finance, and Investments & Securities. Students who complete two courses per ten-week term can graduate from this program in as few as 15 months without having to attend any campus-based sessions.

Northeastern University: Northeastern University offers a fully online MS in Finance program with tracks in Corporate Finance and Investment Finance. The program, which can be completed in 16 months, is offered through Northeastern’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business and does not have any required campus visits.

University of Miami: The MS in Finance offered by the University of Miami is fully online and does not require students to attend campus events. However, students who enroll in this 16-month master’s program have the option of attending an on-campus orientation at the start of the program and on-campus networking sessions during the program if they choose to do so.

In contrast to the 100% online programs detailed above, Georgetown University offers an online MS in Finance program that incorporates two required campus residency sessions at the school’s Washington DC campus, as well as a Global Consulting project that concludes with a weeklong visit to a foreign city. Each of the Georgetown University program’s campus residencies last for a week, during which students have the opportunity to meet with instructors and work with other students on group projects.

For additional details regarding online master’s in finance programs, refer to our Online Master’s in Finance Degree Programs page.

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