From big banks to small hedge funds, companies in the financial space seek professionals who can help the enterprise understand, assess and solve the challenges facing an industry that has been transformed entirely by new and emerging technology.
The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Financial Engineering at Stevens prepares students to become thoughtful researchers who can think about creative applications of technology and quantitative methods in building innovative solutions, designing new models, predicting risk and optimizing portfolios.
Graduates of the program go on to executive-level positions at companies such as Prudential and Goldman Sachs, where they apply engineering techniques in creating opportunities that drive the economy forward. The program's business orientation adds additional credibility for students eager to take on leadership roles in industry after graduating.
Who Should Apply
The Stevens Ph.D. in Financial Engineering is suitable for full-time students who are interested in pursuing careers in academia; however, most graduates go on to top-level positions in the financial industry, where they create new models or approaches to solve complex problems. Alumni of this program have gone on to executive-level positions at companies such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Prudential.
Curriculum
Unlike many doctoral programs, the Ph.D. in Financial Engineering at the School of Business is specifically tailored to students interested in pursuing careers in industry upon graduation. While a Stevens doctoral degree in Financial Engineering is also suitable to those who wish to pursue academic careers, the unique bent of the courses in this program ensures students can compete for jobs at the highest levels in the finance industry, where their research will help companies create and refine new products and develop strategies to ensure competitive advantage in a quickly evolving industry.
While coursework is extremely challenging, students benefit from a supportive environment, working closely with both faculty mentors and fellow doctoral candidates. They also attend research colloquia that give fresh insight into the financial engineering challenges faced in industry and the tools and methods researchers are using to move the industry forward.
The other defining feature of the curriculum is its heavy emphasis on new technologies available through the Hanlon Financial Systems Center. Classes and lab courses go beyond basics in Bloomberg, OneTick, Thomson Reuters and more to ensure mastery of financial data sets and the ability to visualize real-time data to make better choices.
To complete the Ph.D., a student must earn at least 84 credits beyond the bachelor's level. A maximum of 30 credits is awarded for a master's degree.