Alternative investments specialization launches at GSB

Areas of Study , Coursework , Finance , Finance Society , Stories Student Organizations & Clubs | Oct 12, 2012 | Nicole Gesualdo

by Faye Kulik (GSB ’13)

A new specialization in alternative investments — launching in spring 2013 — aims to give Gabelli School of Business students an even greater competitive edge in starting their careers.

Coursework in alternative investments will cover private equity, mutual funds, venture capital, commodities, real estate investment management, and hedge fund investing.

The specialization, developed by Professor Kevin Mirabile, will require students to complete three courses: two electives — chosen among Hedge Funds, Venture Capital or Real Estate — plus a capstone course in alternative investment strategies.

Professor Mirabile’s course on alternative investment strategies will cover about 60 percent of the content for the Level 1 Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) exam. It also will better prepare students for careers in the alternative investments industry.

“Many hedge funds do not recruit students directly from undergrad,” Professor Mirabile explains. “By preparing well-trained students, these firms will want to hire them right away.”

“The New York metro area also has the highest concentration of alternative investment firms, so it makes sense for us to develop this specialization and create networking opportunities for students,” he adds.

Professor Mirabile and the Gabelli School administration hope the program will meet with the same success enjoyed by the new value investing specialization, which debuted last year, and the Finance Scholars program.

Launching in parallel with the alternative investments coursework is a student organization called the Alternative Investments Club, a sub-group of the Fordham Finance Society.

The club plans to:

• Build industry relationships and partnerships with organizations such as the Hedge Fund Association, CAIA and 100 Women in Hedge Funds
• Develop a mentoring system with New York based hedge fund firms
• Sponsor a series of guest lectures that will include a networking component.
• Offer skill-based workshops in areas such as using the Bloomberg terminal and Microsoft Excel
• Help students develop their networking and interviewing abilities
• Create and distribute a monthly reading list to enable further discussion among members

Anthony Walters (GSB ’13), president of both the Finance Society and the new Alternative Investments Club, says that students are welcome to join both organizations, and that “there will be many synergies between the two clubs.”

Come to the club’s official kickoff meeting on Monday, October 15, at 5:30 p.m. in Hughes Hall Room C04-A (lower level).