Recommended Course Sequence

Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance
Tepper School of Business

Note: Courses listed in brackets are required by the University the Tepper School of Business. All other courses are a requirement of the Computational Finance Major.

Freshman Year
  Fall Units
15-110 Principles of Computing 10
21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus (or 21-122) [1] 10
73-100 Principles of Economics 9
70-100 [Global Business] 9
76-101 Interpretation and Argument 9
99-101 Computing@Carnegie Mellon 3

50
 
  Spring Units
15-112 Fundamentals of Programming 12
21-122 Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation (or 21-259) [1] 10
21-241 Matrix Algebra [2] [3] [4] 9
73-150 Intermediate Microeconomics 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9

55
 
 
Sophomore Year
  Fall Units
21-259 Calculus in Three Dimensions [5] 9
21-260 Differential Equations [3] [6] 9
21-325 Probability 9
70-122 Introduction to Accounting 9
73-200 Intermediate Macroeconomics 9

45
 
  Spring Units
21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance [8] 9
21-292 Operations Research I [9] 9
36-226 Introduction to Probability and Statistics II 9
70-311 [Organizational Behavior] 9
70-381 [Marketing I] 9

45
 
 
Junior Year
  Fall Units
21-370 Discrete-Time Finance 9
70-391 Finance 9
15-121 Introduction to Data Structures 12
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9
xx-xxx [Elective] 9

45
 
  Spring Units
21-420 Continuous-Time Finance 9
21-369 Numerical Methods 9
36-410 Introduction to Probability Models 9
70-371 Production and Operations Management 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9

45
 
 
Senior Year
  Fall Units
45-816 Studies in Financial Engineering 6
70-322 [Business, Society and Ethics] 9
70-401 [Management Game] 12
xx-xxx Depth Elective 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9

45
 
  Spring Units
94-701 Strategic Writing Skills 6
90-718 Strategic Presentation Skills 6
xx-xxx Depth Elective 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9
xx-xxx [Breadth Course] 9
xx-xxx [Elective] 9

48

[1] When planning your courses for freshman year, be aware that the 21-111, 21-112 calculus sequence will not be accepted as a prerequisite for the later courses in the BSCF major. The 21-120, 21-122 sequence is required.

[2] 21-341 Linear Algebra I is preferable to 21-241 Matrix Algebra, but 21-341 has 21-127 Concepts in Mathematics as a prerequisite. If you are planning to take 21-127, you should strongly consider taking 21-341.

[3] 18-202 Mathematical Foundations of Electrical Engineering may be substituted for either 21-241 Matrix Algebra or 21-260 Differential Equations, but not both.

[4] 33-232 Mathematical Methods of Physics may be substituted for 21-241 Matrix Algebra.

[5] 21-256 Multivariate Analysis may be substituted for 21-259, however, 21-259 is preferred.

[6] The sequence 33-231 Physical Analysis and 33-232 Mathematical Methods of Physics may be substituted for 21-260 Differential Equations.

[7]Tepper sophomores interested in BSCF take 70-207 Probability and Statistics for Business Applications and 70-208 Regression Analysis in order to keep open the option of remaining a student in the B.S. program in Business Administration. Students who transfer into the Tepper School after the sophomore year in order to major in BSCF have the option of replacing the pair 70-207 and 70-208 with 36-226 Introduction to Probability and Statistics II.

[8] 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance should normally be postponed until Sophomore Spring. While it has no formal prerequisites, it does assume some mathematical maturity. Moreover, it is best to take the sequence 21-270, 21-370, 21-420 without interruption, so as to keep the material fresh in your mind.

[9] 21-292 Operations Research I is a prerequisite for 70-391 Finance, which is in turn a prerequisite for many of the depth electives in the Tepper School.

[10] Either 36-217 Probability Theory and Random Processes or 36-225 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I may be substituted for 21-325 Probability, but 21-325 Probability is the preferred course for BSCF. Although 21-325 is intended for students who have not had previous experience with calculus-based probability, it is a more advanced course than either 36-217 or 36-225. 15-359 Probability and Computing can also be substituted for 21-325.