The objective of the MS in Financial Engineering program is the training of graduate students with engineering, applied mathematics or physics backgrounds in the application of mathematical and engineering tools to finance.
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.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
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: 18 units
- 2 advisor-approved electives in the areas of finance, business, and economics: 6-8 units
- 2 advisor-approved electives in the areas of optimization, simulations, and stochastic systems: 6-8 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring 2023 | September 15, 2022 |
| Fall 2023 | December 15, 2022* |
* DEN@Viterbi (Online Delivery) Deadline Extension: An application extension for Fall 2023 is available for online DEN@Viterbi applicants who intend to pursue their entire degree program online and do not require a visa sponsorship. Please email den@viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension.
On-campus students who apply by published deadlines will be considered for scholarships if admitted.
Online DEN@Viterbi applicants can view the Master's Scholarships (DEN@Viterbi) page for scholarship opportunities.
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Ready to Apply page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering and many business and science disciplines including but not limited to: Finance, Mathematics, Financial Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Business Administration, and Accounting.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement: The personal statement should describe succinctly 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.
- GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2023
- 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.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. 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. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.
APPLY NOW - USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
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 2022 - Summer 2023* | $2,309 | $6,927 | $9,236 |
| Fall 2021 - Summer 2022* | $2,199 | $6,597 | $8,796 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students |
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE – 30 UNIT PROGRAM
MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2022/23
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
| Student Health Center Fee | $527/semester | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | | |
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2022: $805
Spring 2023: $1,468 | | |
Visit Tuition & Fees for more information
JIAQI LAI
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
I chose the MFE program at USC because I am interested in learning more technical skills to be applied in the financial industry. MFE’s curriculum is a combination of Math, Stats and Engineering, which was really appealing to me. I liked the variety of elective courses from the Viterbi School of Engineering and Marshall School of Business that this program offers.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
1. I wrote my first-ever research paper, which studied using PCA to do asset allocation
2. I accepted a full-time offer as an actuarial assistant after graduation
3. I received the Outstanding Mentoring Award from the Viterbi School
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
I was a mentor for 3 semesters at USC under the Viterbi Graduate Mentorship Program. Also attended many of the events hosted by the Viterbi Graduate Student Association.
What advice would you give future Viterbi School students?
Explore and utilizes as many as resources you can at USC. Some experiences can be life-changing for you. Proactively communicate with faculty, staff, and peers. Don’t be shy and speak up. Go forth, and blossom!
YEN SEE CHEN
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
I have always had my passion to do better and to help others live better. When I was working as a financial analyst, I found that there were topics that had not been covered by professors at school which made me want to find solutions so I can serve my clients better. Even though I passed all three levels of the CFA test, the problems are still there. In 2021, I researched to see if I could find a program that combines finance, math, and technology and here it is-master in financial engineering. USC has been the pioneer of online learning. The way that USC combines top-notch professors and the opportunity for online learning made this program become the goal of my life.
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
Even though I have been taking courses online, I can still engage with my professors and TAs just as the other students on campus. The thorough lectures and patience of the faculty are the reasons that I keep highly motivated in every class. I also have access to the USC library, which is my favorite part of being a remote USC student because I can research all kinds of topics in my own house or office. How comfortable is that?
.
Alumni Employment
- Amazon Web Services - Software Development Engineer
- BlackRock, Inc. - Analyst
- Bualuang Securities - Financial Engineer
- China International Capital Corporation
- CICC - Anaylst
- Dhhl Investment Llc - Quantitative Researcher
- Guotai Junan Securities - Debt Financing assistant
- IAN Financial Group
- ICBC - SA
- iFDC, Inc.
- Jialin Group Inc.
- Journey To Remember
- Keck Hospital of USC - Business Analyst Intern
- KPMG
- Merrill Lynch
- Ocean Tomo - Expert Testimony Analyst
- Paranat Thirawattanawong
- PitchBook Data - Research Associate
- Procyon Ventures
- Purewrist
- PwC - Part-Time Assistant
- Qualitest
- Rebellion Research
- Rocket Mortgage - Pricing Strategist
- Space Auto Group, Inc.
- Student Medicover - Operation Specialist
- Tokio Marine America, Inc.
- Triangle Accounting, Inc.
- Tripalink Corp.
- Union Apartment LLC
- University of Southern California
- Versailles Group, LTD.
- Vertex Trading Corporation
- Wanyue Liu
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
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@Viterbi
Detailed 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 (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 Engineering (4 units) |
| Do NOT register for the 2-unit version of GSBA 548. |
| Elective Courses |
| Two Courses from each area - 6-8 units from each respective area total. |
| Finance, Business, and Economics Area |
| FBE 543 | Forecasting and Risk Analysis (3 units) |
| FBE 555 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (3 units) |
| Optimization, Simulations, and Stochastic Systems Area |
| CSCI 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design or CS 570 (4 units) |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms or CS 455 (4 units) |
| ISE 525 | Design of Experiments (3 units) |
| ISE 536 | Linear Programming and Extensions (3 units) |
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