Applied Financial Mathematics Program Overview

Program Overview

What is the Professional Master's Degree in Applied Financial Mathematics?

Demand for people who can apply mathematics skills in business and financial environments is growing rapidly, but a typical undergraduate mathematics degree may not adequately prepare a student to work effectively in a business environment.

The University of Connecticut's Professional Master's in Applied Financial Mathematics prepares a graduate for work in an analytic capacity across a wide spectrum of the financial service industry - investment banks, hedge funds, consulting firms, investment firms, insurance companies, commercial banks, brokerage houses and other corporations.

The program emphasizes finance, applied mathematics, problem-solving and communication skills that dramatically increase the graduate's value to an employer. The program grows from interdisciplinary and academic/private sector partnerships to upgrade the talent pool in this expanding field, with faculty members spanning three departments, internships in area financial services firms, and local corporations providing Advisory Board guidance and support.

The degree program combines traditional MS level coursework in Mathematics (formal mastery) and Statistics (effective computing and applications) with traditional MBA level coursework in Finance (markets, instruments, value, and management). The program also includes cross training in skills and background knowledge needed for successful performance in a business or corporate environment.

The degree requires at least 30 credits, including 24 credits from subject area coursework, and 3 credits in professional master's cohort courses (communications skills, business and financial practices, frontiers in mathematics application to finance) and a 3 credit industry internship. An innovative exit exam requiring an independent piece of work individually tailored to the career plan or aspirations of each candidate completes the degree requirements.

A unique aspect of the program is optional exposure to the growing biosciences industry, with sister professional master's programs in Applied Genomics and Microbial Systems Analysis.

You can complete the degree in two years (four semesters) of full-time study, somewhat longer if you choose to attend part-time. The program has its foundations in the existing strengths of faculty members across the three participating departments, who conduct research and teaching in financial modeling, analysis and understanding.

Is this degree program the right one for me?

The target students have bachelor's degrees in mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, quantitative economics, or other related fields and want a career applying their strong mathematical knowledge and skills to the solution of financial or investment problems. No prior knowledge of finance or investments is required. While most are recent graduates, we also welcome returning students who wish to upgrade their skills to enter new careers or advance with current employers.