Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics

The mission of the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics is to foster scholarship and to offer distinctive, innovative educational opportunities related to the successful management and leadership of organizations operating in an environment of scarce resources, rapid change, global competition, and advances in technology.

The Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics offers graduate degrees in the following disciplines: Accounting; Business Administration (MBA); Economics; Economic Education; Finance; Financial Services Analytics; Hospitality Business Management; Information Systems and Technology Management; and International Business. The following dual master degree programs are offered: MBA/MS: Accounting; MBA/MA: Economics; MBA/MS: Finance; MBA/MS: Information Systems and Technology Management; MBA/MS: International Business; MBA/MAS: Civil Engineering, MBA/Master of Civil Engineering; MBA/Master of Chemical Engineering; MBA/Master of Engineering: Mechanical; MBA/Master of Materials Science & Engineering; MBA/MS: Mechanical Engineering; MBA/MS: Electrical and Computer Engineering; MBA/PhD Biological Sciences.

A robust, accelerated Online MBA Program designed to be completed in 15 months was introduced in March 2013. PhD Biological Sciences/MBA students must be actively and successfully pursuing the PhD in Biological Sciences before applying to the MBA.

The Lerner College also offers a PhD in Economics, a PhD in Economic Education, and a PhD in Financial Services Analytics.

The objective of the MS in Accounting program is to extend the education of qualified students into advanced study in each of the major areas of the field of accounting (financial, managerial, information systems, auditing, and taxation), as well as in the supporting fields of finance and quantitative methods. In taking students beyond the level of study offered by an undergraduate program in accounting, the MS provides additional preparation for careers in public accounting, industry, and government and establishes a foundation for further study at the PhD level in preparation for an academic career. The Lerner College also offers a dual degree MBA/MS in Accounting and an Accelerated MS Accounting Program.

The Master of Accounting Practice (MAP) is designed for those students who did not major in accounting as an undergraduate but who want to pursue the professional practice of accountancy through graduate study and prepare to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination.

The MBA program provides a highly select group of students with a relevant, advanced business management education. Coursework integrates the functional areas of business, while preparing graduates for positions of greater responsibility in corporations, small businesses, consulting firms, government, or non-profit organizations. The core of the program provides students with the tools, analytics, and frameworks necessary to drive effective evidence based decision-making. This set of skills, knowledge, and competencies allows for the successful management and leadership of organizations operating in an environment of scarce resources, rapid change, and global competition.

The MS in Economics and Applied Econometrics is focused on the application of analytical techniques and economic research in government and private industry. It is primarily oriented toward students pursuing a career in applied economics as well as providing an excellent foundation for further work in a PhD program. An MA option in Economics is also available, as is an MBA/MA Economics dual degree. The PhD in Economics builds upon the MS degree. This program develops quantitative skills required to conduct applied economic research. This program prepares graduates for careers in the public and private sectors as well as academia.

The MA program in Economics and Entrepreneurship for Educators is a two-year, hybrid on-campus/e-learning program, equipping educators with both a solid foundation in economic theory and a set of strategies and methods for effectively teaching economics, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. Participating teachers are immediately connected to a network of educators, from whom they can draw on-going inspiration and support. As part of their curriculum, MA-EEE students design projects to expand and enrich economic education in their own regions. Graduates are master teachers who serve as agents of change. They influence far-reaching educational policy; author curriculum that is being used locally, nationally, and internationally; and conduct research that is changing the face of related instruction throughout the world.

The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Design (ENTD) gives students the knowledge, skills, connections and access to resources needed to manifest innovation and thrive in a rapidly changing world. The program includes interdisciplinary, experiential courses focused on entrepreneurship, creativity & design and prototyping & new product development. Courses are augmented by enrichment opportunities such as funding competitions, mentoring programs, networking events and a variety of entrepreneur-based resources.

The purpose of the MS in Finance program is to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to be innovative, well-informed, and experienced finance professionals. The curriculum is based on the financial theory and empirical methods employed by professionals practicing corporate finance, financial security valuation, financial modeling, portfolio management, financial services management, financial risk management, and corporate governance. In addition, students are expected to leverage the educational opportunities afforded by the Lerner Trading Center and the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance. As a result, students will obtain training and experience valued by corporations, financial service firms, consulting firms, and government agencies. Additionally, if desired, students may tailor their program to enhance progress through a subsequent doctoral degree program. For students who qualify, an MBA/MS Finance dual degree is available.

The MS in Hospitality Business Management is an innovative program that integrates emerging information age trends across functional areas of the hospitality industry and enables the application of decision making skills to solve problems and evaluate opportunities. The program offers high-quality, professional-level instruction for current and prospective hospitality managers seeking to further their education by applying technology and decision making aids in operational settings. It is also designed to provide students interested in future doctoral work in hospitality and tourism management a sound foundation toward that goal.

The objective of the MS in Information Systems and Technology Management (IS & TM) is to produce students who possess the combination of management and technical skills needed to bring about the effective deployment and administration of information technology to achieve business success in today’s highly competitive global environment. The Lerner College also offers a dual degree MBA/MS in IS & TM.

As the global economy expands, so does the need for specialists who can understand it, navigate it and drive it forward. The Master of Science in International Business develops the competencies and capabilities of students who work or intend to work in a company that has international operations or a global orientation. The curriculum consists of two complementary sets of coursework: (1) an 18-credit international module that develops your ability to assess, understand, interpret and apply principles and practices of global management, all according to your personal interests and professional ambitions and (2) a business module that consists of 12 credits of student selected coursework in areas such as accounting, economics, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, healthcare management and analytics.  The MSIB degree can be completed entirely on campus, entirely online, or as a hybrid of online and campus based coursework.

The Ph.D. in Economic Education is a joint program of the Economics Department and the College of Education and Human Development, designed to train the next generation of leaders in this fast-growing field. The curriculum is evenly balanced between coursework in economics and education. The elective options allow students to specialize in one area or the other, depending on their interests and strengths. Graduates have a wide range of professional and academic employment opportunities. These include university departments of economics and education, councils and centers for economic education, education units within regional Federal Reserve banks, private sector businesses and foundations with an interest in economic and financial education, school districts and state departments of education, and education consulting and evaluation firms.

The Ph.D. in Financial Services Analytics is offered as a University-wide multi-disciplinary graduate program with scientific curriculum that builds upon the research and educational strengths of departments across the College of Engineering, and the Lerner College of Business and Economics. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Financial Services Analytics are researchers and professionals, who play key roles in multi and interdisciplinary teams, bridging the financial services industry, and data and operational sciences. The Program provides students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and tactics to turn data into value.

Financial Services Analytics (PhD)

Financial Services Analytics
Telephone: (302) 831-2756

Program Overview

Financial Services Analytics is an emerging multi-disciplinary field that studies information systems design, analysis, and techniques utilizing data produced and used in the financial services industry, with a primary focus on scientific inquiry, innovation in business functions, and ultimately improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial services industry for economic and societal benefit. It is a rapidly expanding field where business, engineering, technology, management science, finance and economics disciplines converge.

The financial services industry supports society’s processes and institutions, including financial markets, by creating, distributing and intermediating financial products and services globally. The industry includes banks and similar institutions that take deposits and make loans, investment banks, investment companies, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital, brokerages, trading firms, securities, commodities and derivatives exchanges and over-the-counter markets, government sponsored entities, insurance companies, consumer finance and other similar producers or intermediaries of financial products.

The financial services industry is fast moving and innovative, an industry where new products are developed, brought to market, and commoditized perhaps more quickly than in any other industry. Technology has always been essential to the financial services industry.

The Ph.D. in Financial Services Analytics is offered as a university-wide multi-disciplinary graduate program with scientific curriculum that builds upon the research and educational strengths of departments across the College of Engineering, and the Lerner College of Business and Economics. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Financial Services Analytics Program are researchers and professionals, who play key roles in multi- and interdisciplinary teams, bridging the financial services industry and data and operational sciences. The Program provides students with the knowledge, skills, tools and tactics to turn data into value.

Requirements For Admission

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in Financial Services Analytics may have undergraduate degrees from business or engineering, computational science, or other disciplines. Candidates for admission need not have majored in any specific field, but well-qualified students will have:

• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Substantial quantitative coursework and/or hands-on experience with software development.

Admission to graduate programs at the University of Delaware is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. Students deficient in any of the admission requirements may be admitted on conditional status and required to complete prerequisite non-degree coursework.

The following should be considered the minimum requirements for consideration for admission:

• Comply with all of the requirements in the Graduate Admissions section of this catalog;
• Hold the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0);
• The following GRE scores are competitive: Quantitative: 670, Verbal + Quantitative: 1200 if taken prior to August 1, 2011 or Quantitative: 163, Verbal + Quantitative: 307 if taken after August 1, 2011. [No GRE subject test is required];
• International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not the first language. International applicants must have an official TOEFL score of at least 232 on computer-based or 90 on Internet-based tests. TOEFL scores more than two years old cannot be considered official. Alternatively, IELTS can be accepted in place of the TOEFL. The minimum IELTS score is 6.5 overall with no individual sub-score below 6.0;
• A completed University of Delaware Graduate Studies application including;
• Official transcripts of all previous academic work;
• Three (3) letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a professor, other letters can be from employers or others who have had a supervisory relationship with the applicant and are able to assess the applicant’s potential for success in graduate studies;
• A resume outlining work and academic experience;
• An application essay consisting of the answers to the following questions:

1. What educational background and scientific research or employment experience prepare you for this degree program?
2. What are your long-term professional objectives?
3. What specific attributes of the program make you feel that this degree is appropriate to help you achieve your professional objectives?

See Graduate Admissions  for additional information, particularly for application procedures and deadlines.

Departments and Programs

Programs

• Financial Services Analytics (PhD)

• Accounting (MBA/MS)
• Chemical Engineering (MBA/MCHE)
• Civil Engineering (MBA/MAS)
• Civil Engineering (MBA/MCE)
• Doctor of Medicine (in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson University - Jefferson Medical College) (MD/MBA)
• Economics (MBA/MA)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering (MBA/MS)
• Finance (MBA/MS)
• Hospitality Business Management (MBA/MS)
• Information Systems & Technology Management (MBA/MS)
• International Business (MBA/MS)
• Materials Science & Engineering (MBA/MMSE)
• Mechanical Engineering (MBA/MSME)