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Accelerated Mathematical Finance Master's Degree Planning for Rutgers Undergraduate Students

The accelerated degree program for the Master of Science (MS) in Mathematics with Option in Mathematical Finance is intended for students who wish to earn the MS degree, following their undergraduate degree, with minimum additional time and expense. With careful planning, best begun during the sophomore year, a full-time student can complete an undergraduate degree in four years and the MS in just one academic year (two regular semesters or 9 months).

This information page is provided to help Rutgers undergraduate students plan their coursework to ensure they will satisfy our admission prerequisites and can take advantage of the accelerated MS program. Students with any undergraduate major can
The master's degree requirements are completion of 30 credits (10 three-credit graduate courses) from a menu of courses and a master's essay. The accelerated degree program allows students to count towards the MS degree up to 12 credits of graduate coursework taken while an undergraduate, provided they were in excess of requirements for the undergraduate degree. A full-time graduate student can complete the remaining credits in one year (two regular semesters); a part-time student is allowed to take up to three years to complete the MS degree. The accelerated MS degree program allows significant cost savings:
  • Tuition for the Mathematical Finance Option is higher than undergraduate tuition rates and 45% higher than the standard Graduate School-New Brunswick rate.
  • Up to 12 excess credits can be transferred from the undergraduate record.
  • Some corporations, as part of their employee benefits package, contribute towards graduate student tuition.
  • Summer school tuition rates are discounted from regular undergraduate tuition rates.
A student who would like to obtain the MS degree under the accelerated program should:
  1. During the sophomore year, meet the Mathematics Undergraduate Vice Chair or Mathematics Head Advisor and ensure
  1. Prerequisites for at least two of our required graduate courses will be completed by the end of your junior year, and
  2. All our undergraduate prerequisites will be completed by the end of your senior year.
  1. During the senior year, take at least two (but most four) of the seven required graduate courses: Mathematics 621-622, Mathematics 573-574, Statistics 563-565, or 583. Students may consult the Mathematical Finance Program Director for advice on course selection. Special permission is needed to register for graduate courses.
  2. Schedule a GRE General Test in time for ETS to send results to Rutgers before the application deadline.
  3. Submit an application well in advance of the deadline for Fall admission for the Mathematical Finance Option.
These guidelines are designed for students who plan to complete their undergraduate degree in four years and their master's degree in one additional year. We advise students to begin planning early, before the end of their sophomore year if possible. However, interested students are welcome at any time to seek the advice of the
  • Mathematical Finance Master's Program Director (finmath (at) rci.rutgers.edu),
  • Mathematics Undergraduate Vice Chair (ugvc (at) math.rutgers.edu), or
  • Mathematics Head Advisor (advisor (at) math.rutgers.edu).
Students are encouraged to use Summer school, especially following the junior and senior years, to ensure their courses are completed on schedule. The Departments of Mathematics and Statistics offer most of the advanced prerequisite undergraduate courses during the Summer semesters, and some graduate courses (for example, Statistics 16:960:563 and 16:960:583). Summer school tuition rates are discounted from regular undergraduate tuition rates and some courses are offered during the evening.