Degree Requirements

• Visa regulations usually require international students to take nine (9) or more credits per semester.
• The degree program is designed to be completed by full-time students in three regular semesters (Fall, Spring, Fall), though some students choose to complete the program in four regular semesters. Students with exceptional preparation or taking courses in the summer semester may be able to complete the program in one year.
• Students should consult the Registrar for the deadlines for registration, add/drop, withdrawal, and refunds.
• The final exam project in Math 16:642:623, 624, or 625 can serve as the basis for the master's degree essay.
• Students are encouraged to seek financial industry internships and cooperative training programs.
• Students may take more than the minimum 30 credits and there are no restrictions on choices of courses taken in excess of degree requirements.
• Summer courses are not recommended, as they are rarely taught by regular faculty members and the class schedule is too compressed to allow a good learning experience.
• Except for some Business School electives, which are often taught at either the New Brunswick/Livingston or Newark campuses, courses are taught at the New Brunswick/Busch Campus.
• Courses are offered through-out the day. We recommend taking no more than six (6) credits during the semester in which you expect to graduate if applying for full-time positions.
• If a special permission number (SPN) or prerequisite override is required to register for a course, please consult the Program Administrator.

Balancing Study with Part or Full-Time Employment

For students with work authorization (on or off campus), part or full time employment is an important method of financing educational expenses. However, to ensure satisfactory academic progress, please understand the need to maintain a realistic balance between the number of work and study hours per week. The graduate courses in our program are intensive and you should budget at least ten (10) uninterrupted hours per week for each course, including lecture hours. The following guidelines are intended as a rough guide only and actual recommendations will vary from student to student:

Many employers allow a flexible schedule and time off for office hours or exam preparation, in addition to tuition benefits. However, if you experience difficulty finding time to complete homework assignments or prepare for exams or find that your homework or exam grades are falling below average (B), you should either reduce the number of employment hours per week or reduce the number of courses per semester, keeping in mind that the Graduate School requires students to complete their master's degrees within three (3) years. It is the responsibility of the student to be informed of the Registrar's calendar of drop or withdrawal dates.