Financial and Investor Communications Emphasis

The Newhouse School’s Financial and Investor Communications Emphasis prepares students for communications careers in the financial sector, including financial services, investor relations, corporate communications or the financial media. Through specialized coursework and experiences, students learn how to effectively communicate the valuation, business and financial story of a company to members of the Wall Street community, including the news media, financial analysts and shareholders.

The program is open to all Newhouse students who have declared a dual major or minor in finance in the Whitman School of Management, or in economics or mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students majoring in public relations, broadcast and digital journalism, magazine or newspaper and online journalism are particularly well-suited for the program.

The program is also open to Whitman School students wishing to take public relations or journalism courses in the Newhouse School, and students from the College of Arts and Sciences who are majoring in economics, mathematics or related fields and who have taken at least one public relations or journalism course. Graduate students who have taken finance or economic courses at the undergraduate level may also be eligible.

To earn this Emphasis:

1. Complete a minor or major in finance through the Whitman School of Management, or in economics, mathematics or related majors through the College of Arts and Sciences. Masters students can participate in the program if they have completed a previous degree in a business discipline with finance course work or a degree in economics. 
2. Complete PRL 206, Principles of Public Relations; or NEW 205 News Writing; or JNL 211 Cross-Media News Writing (all are 3 credits).
3. Complete the following:
   • PRL 431, Introduction to Financial and Investor Communication, offered each fall semester, 1.5 credits
   • PRL 432, Writing for Financial Communications and Investor Relations, offered each spring semester, 1.5 credits
4. Participate in a Financial Communication Benchmark Trip to New York City or complete the NYC semester and participate in coordinated visits to financial services-related corporations. 
5. Complete an internship in financial communication/investor relations or financial media.  
6. Populate an ePortfolio with work samples related to financial communication.

For more information about the emphasis or to pre-register, contact Anthony D’Angelo or email your name, year and major to nhfice@syr.edu.