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Experiential Learning

The Institute for Research in Advanced Financial Technology (IRAFT), a center of excellence, provides students with an environment where academic theories are brought to life through the combination of real-time and simulated exercises. Students are able to analyze present day financial problems as well as see the results of their decisions in the marketplace.
 

The Student Managed Fund (SMF) allows students, working within teams, to manage an investment fund of $100,000 or more using various investment styles. This experience covers the following sequence of events in managing an investment fund:

  • Business Cycle Analysis
  • Industry Analysis
  • Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance Screening
  • Security and Portfolio Analysis
  • Compliance
  • Portfolio Performance Reporting


The Villanova School of Business Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of, and ability to apply, the professional competencies you need for a successful career in the financial services industry. 

A key component of developing that skill set is your involvement with VSB's Applied Finance Lab, a virtual trading floor located in our business school, which provides state-of-the-art research tools and resources used by professionals on Wall Street.

The simulated trading floor combines the latest technology of real-time financial data, which, among other features, enables you to analyze financial problems and see the results of your decisions in the marketplace. This facility features:

  • Group work areas equipped with desktop systems and flat-panel monitors
  • Ticker displays
  • Dell LCD TVs
  • Bloomberg terminal displaying financial information for you to use in making financial decisions

The Applied Finance Lab (AFL) is a state-of-the-art facility that provides extensive information resources:

  • Centralized data management system
  • Data services including Reuters, Compustat, CRSP, Bloomberg, and SDC Platinum
  • Computer lab and virtual private network
  • Ticker displays
  • Real-time software for visualizing and tracking the market