James Madison University offers excellent academic and career opportunities for international students. With a top 100 ranking (#97 nationally) for its College of Business, the university is committed to developing students’ business knowledge and skills to prepare them for the future (U.S. News & World Report, 2021).
Two undergraduate degrees – Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Finance – within the JMU College of Business are STEM-designated degrees, offering the potential for students to extend their stays in the U.S. through additional Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Computer Information Systems
JMU’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) program is earning attention across the nation. In April, a group of CIS majors earned second place in the HP Design Thinking Competition at the AIS 2021 Student Chapter Leadership Conference Competitions. Furthermore,
Students choosing the CIS major from JMU will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. This program teaches students skills in application development; architecture, networking and security; business intelligence; and consulting. Students may choose a concentration in information systems or business analytics with the CIS program.
Quantitative Finance
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Quantitative Finance (QFIN) is unique in its position as a STEM-designated degree. Hui Sono, head of the JMU Finance Department, said, “Most finance programs with a STEM designation are masters of science programs. Our QFIN program is one of the few finance programs in the nation at the undergraduate level for STEM.”
A QFIN graduate from JMU earns an average starting salary of US $69,825 (JMU Class of 2018 data). This impressive salary amount is supported by the academic quality delivered by JMU’s faculty. When selecting QFIN as their major, students will learn about the design, development, and implementation of innovative financial processes to creatively solve financial problems, and they can choose to concentrate in either financial analysis or risk management. Students will graduate with either a B.S. in QFIN with minors in economics and mathematics, or a double major in QFIN and mathematics. In addition to economics and mathematics, students will enhance their knowledge with electives in statistics and finance.
Contact your Study Group Sales Lead or email us at naqueries@studygroup.com to learn more about your students’ OPT options via the CIS and QFIN programs at JMU.
