Required courses in the QF M.S. program

The standard program of study for the M.S. degree specializing in quantitative finance consists of:

Elective courses in the QF M.S. program

Quantitative Finance Track Electives (students must take at least  2 elective courses to achieve at least  36 graduate credits along with the required courses):

  • AMS 515 Case Studies in Quantitative Finance
  • AMS 522 Bayesian Methods in Finance
  • AMS 523 Mathematics of High Frequency Finance
  • AMS 530 Principles of Parallel Computing
  • AMS 542 Analysis of Algorithms
  • AMS 569 Probability Theory I
  • AMS 570 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics
  • AMS 572 Data Analysis
  • AMS 578 Regression Theory
  • AMS 586 Time Series Analysis
  • AMS 593 Interest Rate and Credit Modeling
  • AMS 595 Fundamentals of Computing (3 credits)
  • AMS 598 Big Data Analysis
  • AMS 600  Socially Responsible Investing
  • AMS 601  Risk Management and Business Risk Control in BRIC Countries
  • AMS 603 Risk Measures for Finance and Data Analysis
  • CSE 532 Theory of Database Systems (Computer Science Graduate Course)

Five focus areas in the QF M.S. program

We propose the following focus areas in the QF program. Students can choose one of the following areas to further improve their quantitative skills.

(A) Stochastic calculus, optimization, and operation research

  • AMS 550 Operations research: Stochastic models
  • AMS 553 Simulation and modeling
  • AMS 540 Linear programming

(B) Statistics and data analytics

  • AMS 516 Statistical methods in finance
  • AMS 586 Time series analysis
  • AMS 578 Regression theory
  • AMS 522 Bayesian methods in finance
  • AMS 570 Introduction to mathematical statistics/li>
  • AMS 588 Failure and survival data analysis

(C) Computational methods and algorithms

  • AMS 530 Principles in parallel computing
  • AMS 562 Introduction to Scientific Programming in C++
  • AMS 595 Fundamentals of computing

(D) Advanced topics in risk management, high frequency trading

  • AMS 523 Mathematics of high frequency finance
  • AMS 515 Case studies in quantitative finance
  • AMS 593 Interest rate and credit modeling
  • AMS 603 Risk measures for finance and data analysis

(E) Machine learning and big data

  • AMS 560 Big data systems, algorithms and networks
  • AMS 598 Big data analysis/li>
  • AMS xxx Case studies on big data in finance

Suggested course sequences for the QF M.S. program

(1) Typical course sequence for focus area (A)

(2) Typical course sequence for focus area (B)

(3) Typical course sequence for focus area (C)

(4) Typical course sequence for focus area (D)

(5) Typical course sequence for focus area (E)

For Ph.D. requirements please click here.

Quantitative Finance Opportunities for Applied Mathematics Graduate Students in Other Tracks
Any strong student (3.5+ GPA in first-semester core courses) in another track may enroll in AMS 511, Foundations in Quantitative Finance.  Selected students, with the permission of the Director of the Center for Quantitative Finance, may take additional quantitative finance courses. Students are eligible to earn an  Advanced Certificate in Quantitative Finance. You must formally apply for the secondary certificate program prior to taking the required courses. Only a maximum of six credits taken prior to enrolling in the certificate program may be used towards the requirements. Please note that credits used toward your primary program may not be used toward the certificate program. The 15-credit advanced certificate requires  AMS 511,  AMS 512,  AMS 513,  one additional Quantitative Finance Graduate course elective, and one additional Applied Mathematics course chosen with an advisor’s approval. To apply download the registration form,  please click here.