Master of Science Programs

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The Frank G. Zarb School of Business offers programs leading to the Master of Science with majors in the following areas:

Objectives of the Master of Science Programs

The Master of Science programs are designed for students seeking to specialize in a selected business area by acquiring an in-depth conceptual understanding as well as the skills to analyze problems and develop appropriate solutions.

Admission Criteria

Applicants for admission to the MS programs in business analytics , business operations and healthcare analytics , cybersecurity , finance , information systems , marketing , and must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Applicants for admission to the MS in accounting must hold a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in business from an accredited institution. While preference is given to students with a baccalaureate degree in accounting, others will be considered. Applicants for admission to the MS program in taxation must hold a baccalaureate degree in accounting or the equivalent from an accredited institution. NOTE: Previous course work is evaluated by the Graduate Programs Office of the Zarb School of Business upon a student’s admission. Students who have not taken the necessary prerequisite courses will be required to do so.

Applicants for admission are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), which is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Applicants are encouraged to take the GMAT well in advance of applying to a graduate program. To schedule an appointment to take the GMAT, applicants may call 1-800-462-8669 or visit the GMAC website at mba.com. Scores obtained on the GRE are also acceptable in lieu of the GMAT. In addition, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination is required of international applicants and typically cannot be waived.

Applicants for the MS in Taxation program may substitute the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) if they are currently enrolled in the Hofstra Law School or have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school.

All applications for admission are considered on the basis of their own merits, with weight given to the strength of a student’s previous academic performance, scores obtained on the GMAT, professional experiences indicating increasing levels of responsibility, and any other pertinent information which the candidate for admission may provide to the Committee on Admissions.

Internal Program Transfer

Students admitted to the Full-time Day MBA or Flex MBA program who choose to transfer to one of the MS business programs must have successfully completed 18 credits of graduate course work in the MBA program and meet the admission requirements of the MS program to which they apply for admission unless waived by the department chair.

Requirements for MS Programs

Pre-program Competencies (Zarb School of Business) – No Credits

Pre-program competencies evaluate the readiness of admitted students to start the M.S. program with the appropriate level of essential business skills. Full-time students must complete these requirements during the first semester in which they begin their program. Part-time students must complete these requirements within the first two semesters of enrolling in the program. Documentation of completion must be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office in order for students to register for the subsequent semester. Specific skills are evaluated for MS Programs in the following areas –

Statistics (for students in all MS Programs) – Students are expected to have an understanding of the basic statistical concepts. Demonstration of this proficiency can be satisfied either through previous coursework in statistics or by completing an online, self-paced module covering basic concepts in statistics.
Spreadsheet Skills (for students in all MS Programs) – students are expected to register for an online module and complete an assessment exam.
Calculus (for students in the MS Business Analytics, Finance, and Information Systems programs only) – Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency through an online, proficiency exam as part of a self-paced module. Those students who do not complete the calculus proficiency exam with a satisfactory score and others who feel a need to refresh their knowledge of calculus are encouraged to take an appropriate course to help them gain the needed knowledge.
Economics (for students in the MS Finance program only) – Students are expected to have an understanding of basic concepts in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Demonstration of this proficiency can be satisfied by completing an online, self-paced module. The module will be available as a knowledge base to all students in the MS Finance program.

No costs are associated with any of the above modules. The competencies in Statistics and Calculus can be satisfied by previous equivalent undergraduate or graduate course work taken within the preceding period of five years, with a B or better grade at an accredited college or university. Students will receive, with their letter of admission, information about which skill sets have been met through prior course work.

*English Proficiency Requirement is for international students

In addition, newly admitted international students are required to take an English placement exam during fall and spring orientation. The exam consists of a short writing task on a topic of general interest and a standardized test including listening comprehension, grammar and reading comprehension. Results are reviewed by the Hofstra English Language Program (ELP) faculty, who make the decision if students must take ELP 235 (2.0 s.h.). All international students who are placed in ELP 235 (2.0 s.h.) must complete the course during the first semester in which they begin an MBA/MS program and must receive a grade of P (Pass). ELP 235 (2.0 s.h.) will carry no degree credit. A fee equivalent to 2.0 s.h. is charged for this course. A grade of P (pass) is required or the course has to be repeated the following semester. The same fee equivalent will be charged for the repeated course.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: Minimum 30-33

A minimum of 30-33 semester hours of graduate course work are required (depending on program) for the MS degree.

NOTE: These requirements are not inclusive of course prerequisites. Please see actual course descriptions in this Bulletin for prerequisites.

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