Mathematical Finance (MS) at University of Southern California

Programme overview

The MS in Mathematical Finance provides a rigorous foundation in the economic theory and mathematical modeling of financial markets through an integrated curriculum spanning economics, mathematics, econometrics/statistics and computational/numerical analysis. It is designed for recent graduates in applied mathematics, physics and engineering, or in economics, business and finance with strong mathematical backgrounds, who want quantitative careers in financial institutions, industry or government.

Duration: 31 units | Study mode: full-time | Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

What you will study

Thirty-one units: six core courses (MATH 530a/b Stochastic Calculus and Mathematical Finance, MATH 512 Financial Informatics and Simulation, ECON 515 Time Series Analysis, ECON 577 Foundations of Financial Economics, and 1 unit of MATH 590 Directed Research as a summative experience) and four electives across computational and empirical finance, statistics or numerical methods, and financial economics. A practicum (MATH 593) is also required.

Career pathways

Quantitatively oriented careers in financial institutions, industry or government.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

All applicants are recommended to take the GRE General Test. Complete undergraduate and any graduate transcripts, a statement of purpose and three recommendation letters are required. A substantial undergraduate mathematics background is required, including one semester each of real analysis or advanced calculus, linear algebra and advanced probability/statistics; candidates with weaker backgrounds may be required to take mathematics classes before admission. Knowledge of microeconomics, macroeconomics and partial differential equations is helpful but not required, and some Matlab and C/C++ programming experience is useful.

Duration: 31 units

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