SUMMERDALE, Pa., June 30, 2014 ― Beginning fall 2014, Central Penn College will offer a new concentration in financial analysis as part of its organizational leadership master’s degree. The financial analysis concentration will prepare graduates to advance to a leadership role within the field of financial services, in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
“Although a bachelor’s degree is an acceptable degree for someone in the field of accounting, finance or business/economics, those aiming to work at a higher level will typically be required to hold a master’s degree,” says Barbara Maroney, Ph.D., dean of graduate and professional studies at Central Penn College. “Central Penn’s Master of Professional Studies degree program in organizational leadership is an applied field of study, which means that the student’s work is focused, hands-on and action-oriented. Basically, students will graduate with practical skills that they can automatically start using in their careers.”
Students will complete the degree on a part-time basis via 11-week accelerated terms, and through a combination of on-site and online coursework. Designed for students to take two classes per term, the degree can be completed in as little as six terms. The master’s degree in organizational leadership provides students with the knowledge and skills to become effective leaders of change in a global economy.
While specializing in financial analysis, students will develop foundations in ethical leadership, communication, research and management. With courses in organizational financial management, advanced budgeting systems, contemporary risk management and topics in financial models, this degree program was designed for those interested in serving as: upper-level managers, management analysts, financial advisors/consultants, risk analysts or corporate financial leaders. Completion of the degree also satisfies the academic requirements for the certified public accountant exam.
Market research for interest in an organizational leadership master’s degree in the field of finance is upwardly trending in the Harrisburg area for 2014. Also, nearly half of the top 20 occupations projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for job growth from 2012 to 2022 require a master’s degree for employment. Specifically, there is a faster than average expected 16 percent growth in employment for a financial analyst career from 2010 to 2020.
Last June, Central Penn began to offer its Master of Professional Studies degree in organizational leadership, the college’s first graduate degree-level program. The college is an institutional member of the Association of Leadership Educators and the International Leadership Association, based out of the University of Maryland.
Central Penn is currently accepting applications for the master’s degree in organizational leadership. Prospective students have the option to select one of the following three concentrations: financial analysis, information systems management or organizational development. To learn more, visit www.centralpenn.edu/masters or contact Rebecca Bowman at 1-800-759-2727 or rebeccabowman@centralpenn.edu.
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Central Penn College has been helping students turn potential into career success since 1881, now offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of accounting, business administration, criminal justice, communications, healthcare, homeland security, information technology, legal studies and organizational leadership. The college, currently serving students at its Summerdale, Lancaster, Lehigh Valley and online locations, attributes its high rate of student success to a caring faculty and its hands-on learning approach. Based on Central Penn’s most recent One-Year Graduate Survey, 87.8 percent of graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation. Central Penn College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. www.centralpenn.edu