Master of Science in Financial Engineering
Application Deadlines
Spring 2018: September 15, 2017
Fall 2018: January 15, 2018
USC GRADUATE APPLICATION- Program Overview
- Application Information
- Tuition & Fees
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
This multidisciplinary education program involves the Viterbi School of Engineering, the Marshall School of Business and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (Department of Economics). Financial engineering uses tools from finance and economics, engineering, applied mathematics, and statistics to address problems such as derivative securities valuation, strategic planning and dynamic investment strategies, risk management, etc. Graduates with these skills are of interest to investment and commercial banks, trading companies, hedge funds, insurance companies, corporate risk managers, and regulatory agencies etc.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 30 units is required for the MS in Financial Engineering degree
- Every plan of study requires prior written approval by the contact faculty of the program
- Required courses: 17 units
- 2 advisor-approved electives in the areas of finance, business, and economics: 6-7 units
- 2 advisor-approved electives in the areas of optimization, simulations, and stochastic systems: 6-7 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Fall 2019 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | December 15, 2018 |
| Fall 2019 (Final Deadline) | January 15, 2019 |
| Spring 2019 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | August 31, 2018 |
| Spring 2019 (Final Deadline) | September 15, 2018 |
- An undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science from a regionally-accredited university
- Applicants with undergraduate degrees in finance, accounting and similar are eligible to apply for this program. Applicants with a bachelor of science in economics are also eligible to apply
- Background in probability and linear algebra at the upper division level preferred
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average)
- Satisfactory GRE test scores. All scores must be officially reported to the university directly by ETS. GMAT scores are not accepted
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
GRE General Test: Satisfactory and valid test scores. Valid GRE scores must be dated within five years of the start of the intended application semester. The fall semester starts in August, and the spring semester starts in January. Official scores must be reported from ETS directly to USC using ETS school code 4852. A department code is not required.
Resume/CV (Required)
Letters of Recommendation (Optional): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
Statement of Purpose (Optional): The statement of purpose should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
English Language Proficiency: In addition to the general admission criteria listed above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS examination to be considered a candidate for admission. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. For more details on English Proficiency Criteria for the University of Southern California, please visit USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 | $1,937 | $5,811 | $7,748 |
| Fall 2018 - Summer 2019 | $2,005 | $6,015 | $8,020 |
TUITION & SAMPLE COURSE PLAN FOR 30 UNIT PROGRAM (Residential Students Only)
STUDENT FEES
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Fees (approximate) | Fall 2017: $450 Spring 2018: $400 | ||
| Health Insurance | Fall 2017: $646 Spring 2018: $1,170 | ||
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | ||
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $75/semester | ||
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $35/semester | ||
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course |
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@ViterbiDetailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Required Courses |
| All Courses Required – 17 units total. |
| GSBA 548 | Corporate Finance (2,3 units) |
| ISE 563 | Financial Engineering (3 units) |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 512 | Stochastic Processes (3 units) |
| EE 518 | Mathematics and Tools for Financial Engineers (4 units) |
| Elective Courses |
| Two Courses from each area – 6-7 units from each area total. |
| Finance, Business, and Economics Area |
| ECON 500 | Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (4 units) |
| ECON 501 | Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy (4 units) |
| FBE 555 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (3 units) |
| ISE 566 | Financial Accounting Analysis for Engineering (3 units) |
| Optimization, Simulations, and Stochastic Systems Area |
| CSCI 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4 units) |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units) |
| EE 562 | Random Processes in Engineering (3 units) |
| ISE 520 | Optimization: Theory and Algorithms (3 units) |
| ISE 536 | Linear Programming and Extensions (3 units) |
| ISE 538 | Markov Models for Performance Analysis (3 units) |
| ISE 539 | Stochastic Elements of Simulation (3 units) |