WHAT IS A QUANTITATIVE FINANCE MAJOR?

With the rapid increase in sophisticated quantitative and computational techniques employed in financial firms there has been explosive growth in the

quantitative finance field. Our quantitative finance major (QFIN) is an interdisciplinary program covering the design, development and implementation of innovative financial processes that encourages the formulation of creative solutions to problems in finance. As such, it is unique among College of Business offerings, as the course study results in a B.S. degree with minors in economics and math (or a double major with math) rather than a B.B.A.

The required major courses provide quantitative finance majors with the foundation and tools for a variety of financial situations and problem solving. Electives permit the student to emphasize economics, mathematics, statistics or finance.

This major is a highly structured program and students must begin their mathematics courses in their freshman year in order to progress through the major in a timely manner.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS §The College of Business (COB) is one of 5% of business schools with AACSB international accreditation (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)

§Only QFIN program in the state of Virginia

§Gaglioti Capital Markets Laboratory with 11 Bloomberg terminals

§Program is a C.F.A. University Affiliate

§Student-run Madison Investment Fund won the Core Portfolio Competition at Quinnipiac University’s 2019 Global Asset Management Education (G.A.M.E.) IX Forum

RECOMMENDED MINORS

§Computer Science

§Data Analytics

§Physics

§Statistics

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

§Commodities Analyst

§Financial Analyst

§Financial Product Designer

§Financial Risk Manager

§ Investment Analyst

§Mutual Fund Manager

§Portfolio Analyst

§Portfolio Manager

§Quantitative Management Associate

§Securities Trader Underwriter

‘The Quantitative Finance program at JMU is a unique program for undergraduate students that provides rewarding rigor and challenge. This program has given me a vast array of technical skills, and its collaborative environment has allowed me to develop my soft skills such as communication and teamwork.’

Michael HabibJames Madison University ‘17Chief Risk Officer, Madison Investment Fund

QUANTITATIVE FINANCE

For details, visit: jmu.edu/finance

TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDYThere are two major program options in the QFIN major:

§QFIN major with minors in economics and math

§QFIN double major with math

Either major may opt for a concentration in financial analysis or risk management

CO-CURRICULAR ORGANIZATIONS §Madison Investment Fund

§Madison Venture Group

§Financial Management Association

§Beta Alpha Psi

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS CLASS OF 2018 PROFILE

Average Starting Quantitative Finance Salary $69,825Average Starting CoB Salary $57,837% CoB Jobs with Signing Bonus 58%Average CoB Signing Bonus $5,580

95% of CoB graduates are employed, in continuing education or engaged in other career related endeavors.

The Class of 2018 includes 800 students graduating August 2017, December 2017 and May 2018.

Updated 9/2019

Degree Requirements

§ General Education

§ Scientific Literacy requirement

§ Free electives

§Major requirements (listed below) and electives

Total 120 credit hours

General Degree Course

§ COB 241 - Financial Accounting

Finance Courses

§ FIN 250 - Introduction to Quantitative Finance

§ FIN 365 - Intermediate Financial Management

§ FIN 371 - Principles of Investments

§ FIN 380 - Elemental and Derivative Securities

§ FIN/MATH 395 - Mathematical Finance

§ FIN/MATH 405 - Securities Pricing

§ FIN 450 - Financial Risk Management

§ FIN 480 - Seminar in Financial Engineering

Mathematics Courses

§MATH 235 - Calculus I

§MATH 236 - Calculus II

§MATH 237 - Calculus III

§MATH 238 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

§MATH 248 - Computer Methods in Engineering and Science

§MATH 318 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Economics Courses

§ ECON 200 - Introduction to Macroeconomics

§ ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomic Theory

§ ECON 331 - Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

§ ECON 332 - Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

§ ECON 385 - Econometrics (or MATH 322 - Applied Linear Regression)

§ Plus one other upper-level economics elective

QUANTITATIVE FINANCE WITH A MINOR IN ECONOMICS AND MATH

DIFFERENTIAL TUITION

As a student in the CoB, you’ll pay “differential tuition,” an additional fee over JMU’s standard tuition. This enables us to add significant value to your overall academic experience, and is a practice common among top business schools. These funds help ensure that our students will gain a competitive edge for internships and job openings by providing hands-on experiences such as career treks, professional networking opportunities and career development activities.