Master of Science in Quantitative Finance

Overview

The Master of Science in Quantitative Finance is a STEM-designated program designed to meet the growing demand for finance professionals equipped to implement state-of-the-art analytical techniques in support of financial decision-making.

About The Program

• Offered weeknights in Arlington, the MS in Quantitative Finance program is the only program of its kind in the DFW Metroplex. This 36-credit hour program focuses on areas including economic theory, financial modeling, econometrics, and finance theory in addition to elective options that allow the pursuit of future interests.
• The quantitative background appropriate to begin the program includes at least six credit hours of calculus and three credit hours each in linear algebra, statistics, and computer programming. Additional coursework would include at least three credit hours each of microeconomics and finance.

Curriculum

The M.S. in Quantitative Finance is designed to provide a specialized, highly analytical graduate education to financial managers, financial analysts, and technical personnel. The program consists of 36 credit hours of coursework in finance, economics, mathematics, statistics, and computer science. All students will complete a twenty-four-hour set of foundation classes consisting of:

• FINA 5323 -- Investments -- 3
• FINA 5327 -- Financial Derivatives -- 3
• FINA 5350 -- Mathematical Finance -- 3
• FINA 5351 -- Financial Modeling For Investments -- 3
• FINA 5352 -- Financial Modeling For Corporate Analysis -- 3
• FINA 5376 -- Financial Data Analytics -- 3
• ECON 5336 -- Applied Business And Economics Data Analysis I -- 3
• INSY 5336 -- Python Programming -- 3

Total Hours -- 24

The remaining twelve hours of coursework are selected by the student, subject to the approval of the program advisor. Courses will be chosen from a list that includes:

1. finance elective classes (international finance, financial institutions, capital markets, real options, and capital budgeting),
2. economics (macroeconomic theory, econometrics, time series analysis),
3. mathematics (advanced calculus, real analysis, differential equations, stochastic processes, and numerical methods),
4. statistics (probability theory, mathematical statistics), and
5. computer science (programming languages, numerical methods, parallel processing, software engineering).

Students who do not have the appropriate background may have to take additional foundation coursework. Quantitative background appropriate to begin the MSQF program consists of a minimum of 6 credit hours of calculus and 3 credit hours each in linear algebra, statistics, and computer programming. Other foundation coursework would include at least 3 credit hours each of microeconomics and finance.

Career Opportunities

• Financial Engineer
• Risk Manager
• Dertivatives Trader
• Asset Manager
• Fund Manager
• Consultant

Why Choose Us?

• No. 39 MS in Quantitative Finance program (The Financial Engineer (TFE Times), 2020)
• Sam Mahrouq Financial Markets Lab located within the College of Business
• Average graduate first-year salary of $80,229
• AACSB accredited (top 5% of business programs globally)
• College of Business alumni network of over 55,000 and counting

Admission Requirements

Admission to the M.S. in Quantitative Finance (MSQF) program is based upon the completion of the general graduate admission requirements of the University. For admission into the MSQF program, an acceptable score in the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and acceptable undergraduate performance are required. The GMAT is strongly preferred. Preference is given to individuals having extensive mathematics or computer science backgrounds. Students whose native language is not English must also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), TOEFL iBT, Test of Spoken English (TSE), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). International applicants scoring below acceptable levels on verbal portions of entrance examinations may be admitted conditional upon passing an English proficiency exam or upon completing the University’s Graduate English Skills Program prior to beginning graduate coursework. The GMAT or GRE score shall not be used as the sole criterion for admitting applicants or the primary criterion for denying an applicant’s admission into the MSQF program. Specifically, multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Unconditional acceptance is based on consideration of all the information listed below, and the decision to deny admission is not based on any single criterion.

Applicants are encouraged to submit with their application a resume that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise, and leadership experience.

Along with the grade point average and GMAT or GRE scores, admission criteria include the following:

1. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by Graduate Admissions. The grade point average is calculated on your undergraduate degree using approximately the last 60 hours. A graduate grade point average is used along with GMAT scores when it is a 3.0 or above and based on at least 24 hours.
2. GMAT or GRE sub-scores (verbal and quantitative) are also considered in the admission decision. A typical successful candidate will score at or above the 75th percentile on the quantitative portion, and at or above the 40th percentile on the verbal portion of either exam.
3. International Applicants must submit a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a score of at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 16 for the listening section to meet this requirement.
4. Grades in specified undergraduate business and non-business courses (math, accounting, economics, statistics, for example)
5. Mathematics coursework ).
6. General and specific program accreditation status of the degree-granting institution.
7. Professional work experience.
8. Professional certification or licensure.