Management of risk is a necessity in today’s highly leveraged, highly competitive, global economy. Using advanced quantitative methods and path-breaking concepts of strategic planning, financial engineering has emerged as a specialized discipline. Financial Engineering focuses on designing, evaluating, and managing financial products and using quantitative methods. This intensive degree program prepares graduates for careers in a broad range of specialties including risk management, portfolio management, investment banking, corporate finance, and data analysis.
The Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSFE) can be completed in three semesters, although many students choose to spread the degree over four semesters. Students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis and are given the flexibility to switch between either. All students are advised to plan their schedules carefully since most courses are only offered during the day.
Admission requirements are detailed in the Admission section of the Bulletin.
Degree Requirements
Coursework. The program requires 40 units of coursework.
New students are required to show competency in Financial Accounting and Probability prior to enrollment in coursework via the following options:
- Demonstrate that they have taken a Financial Accounting course in their undergraduate coursework or recently online
- Pass a probability waiver exam or have taken a Probability course in their undergraduate coursework or recently in a community college, college or university
New students are required to have successfully passed both courses prior to the start of the program or within the past 5 years and received a grade of a B or better. Students who do not fulfill the competency requirements will have to take the course(s) at CGU and pay the required tuition (4 units for each course).
MSFE Unit Breakdown (assuming competency is fulfilled)
| Finance Core Courses |
14 Units |
| Mathematics Core Courses |
14 Units |
| Elective Courses |
12 Units |
| Total Degree |
40 Units |
Mathematics. Four courses in mathematics are required.
- Statistical Theory or Financial Time Series
- Stochastic Processes
- Mathematical Finance
- Quantitative Risk Management
Management. Four courses in management are required.
- Introduction to Risk Management
- Corporate Finance*
- Financial Engineering Practicum
- Derivatives
*Most MSFE students start in the Fall and take the more rigorous FINEN 335 section of Corporate Finance; however, students starting in the Spring may either waive out of the requirement or take first the MGT 335 (MBA) section of Corporate Finance followed up by four (elective) units of MGT 373 in the Fall to fulfill the Corporate Finance degree requirement.
Students with a sufficiently strong academic or professional background may request a waiver of one or more of the required courses above.
Electives. 12 units of elective courses listed on the financial engineering schedule or approved by faculty.
Tool. The Financial Engineering Coding Bootcamp is required during their first fall semester in the program. The Coding Bootcamp aims to ensure that all Financial Engineering students have a working knowledge of at least one of the two most popular open-source programming languages that are being used right now in financial engineering and data analytics: R and Python. Students are required to complete at least one of the two tracks–R or Python–but are encouraged to do both. Completion of this requirement will be recorded via the Research Tool Approval form (available on the Registrar’s Form Index) and appear as a non-course milestone on students’ official transcripts.
Internship. All students in the Financial Engineering, MS program are required to complete at least one internship or experiential learning activity during the program. This milestone will allow students to immediately apply knowledge and skills gained in the program. Options to fulfill this milestone include:
- Internship (paid or unpaid) in a relevant field
- Participation in a Math Clinic
- A research project as part of an independent study
- Professional work
Data Analytics Concentration (Optional). The concentration focuses on the theory and tools needed to understand, extract, and model data. Students will learn the concepts for financial markets and economic data, will work with real data exercises, and will integrate graphical and analytical methods for modeling and diagnosing modeling errors.
Students who wish to earn a concentration in Data Analytics are required to take 12 units of approved electives. Please see the MSFE Handbook or schedule for a list of approved courses in a given semester.
FinTech Concentration (Optional).
FinTech is a portmanteau of the words Financial Technology and refers to the application of new technologies and innovative new processes to the provision of financial services. It includes areas such as electronic and mobile payments, robo-advising and automated investing, online and mobile banking, peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, etc., to name a few.
Students who wish to earn a concentration in FinTech are required to take a total of 12 units of approved concentration courses. All FinTech concentration students must take FinTech and at least one of the following courses: Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurial Finance, or Quantum Computing and Applications.
Satisfactory Academic Progress. University policies on satisfactory academic progress apply. Students must maintain an average grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better in the 48 required units to qualify for the degree. Students whose GPAs fall below 3.0 or who do not make satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree may be dismissed by the faculty.
University Policies. University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.
Program Opportunities
Dual Degree Programs. Dual degree programs allow CGU students to work toward and earn two degrees at the same time.
For the MSFE degree, dual degree students must complete a minimum of 32 financial engineering units. These units are separate from the units required for the second degree. Upon approval, the MSFE Program may accept up to 8 units from the second degree program to meet the 40 units required for the MSFE degree.
You may apply units of your Financial Engineering coursework toward your second degree; the exact number of units depends on the rules established by the department conferring the second degree.
Students interested in a dual degree with MSFE should meet with the Financial Engineering program coordinator. Dual degree program models are available for students in Mathematics, MS , Economics, MA , and the Business Administration, MBA programs.
For complete information regarding dual degrees, refer to the Academic Policies - Enrollment in Multiple Programs section of the Bulletin.
International Exchange Program. Financial Engineering students have the option of participating in a semester-long exchange program with our partner school University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The Management office notifies MSFE students of the application process for the international exchange program. Only a limited number of students may be accepted into the exchange program. Students will be required to pay tuition to CGU. All cost of living and travel expenses are the responsibility of the student. Students in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 and above) and have completed both Fall and Spring semester at CGU may apply to an international exchange program.
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