Monorojo

Hi,

Just wondering how much math would be minimum for a masters in Finance. I am not talking financial engineering, as I understand that would require at minimum a minor in math and in most cases, a major in math.I also understand it likely depends on the program, etc..etc..I am simply looking for a baseline here.

So would Calc I-III, Linear Algebra and a semester of Differential Equations suffice to get accepted into a Top 25 MS Finance program (assuming high GRE and such)? Also is there research available in finance or would it be better to simply intern in a finance related field?

Thank you for your time and consideration

b@r!um

Are you looking at finance programs in business schools, or finance programs housed in math or economics departments?

If you are going for an MBA, you'll first and foremost need a strong foundation in statistics and probability. A background in calculus and linear algebra will help with statistics.

Finance programs housed in math or economics departments "strongly recommend" upper-level math training in addition to all of the classes you have listed plus statistics and probability.

Monorojo

I'm looking at finance programs in business school [Corporate Finance] but I don't necessarily want an MBA and have heard it is nearly impossible to get into a top MBA without 2 years of work experience.

My goal is to get into a MS Finance program (ideally with at least partial funding) directly after my completion of undergrad, join the workforce a few years and then get either an MBA or go for a PHD in Finance.

Currently I am shooting for B.A. in Mathematical Economics and Economic Theory and minoring in Finance (while also going for Honors which includes 2 semesters of research and a senior thesis)

To clarify, this is all the math related courses I will be taking if I take this route...

Calc I-III
Intro to Linear Algebra
Ordinary Differential Equations I (364A)
Probability and Statistics (380)
Mathematical Statistics (381)
Econometrics I+II

With the minor in finance, I will be taking what I assume are the pre-reqs for most Masters in Finance programs (Business Finance, Investment Principles, Derivatives, Portfolio Analysis, etc..).

So my new question is the minor in finance substantially less useful than a minor in math (which would include 5-6 more upper level math courses instead of the finance courses) or is the path I am taking sufficient preparation?

Even better, should I change my major completely to finance and then minor in math?

For reference, these are the top 5 programs I am looking into currently

Fisher College (Ohio State - Specialized Master in Finance)
Olin Business School (Wash U. - MS Finance [Corporate Finance])
Owen Graduate School of Management (Vanderbilt - MS Finance [Corporate Finance])
Dearborn College (U of Michigan - MS in Finance)
Freeman School of Business (Tulane - MS Finance)

And I plan on applying to UCLA/UCSD/USC/Cal Berkeley and the other random schools in the Top 15 in the nation

Tulane's site explicitly states that "College coursework demonstrating exceptional quantitative abilities is required" which kind of scares me into minoring in math...