Computational Finance & Risk Management

College of Arts and Sciences

In the finance industry, there is a great demand for advanced quantitative computational finance competencies. Mathematical models, statistical methods, and computational techniques are becoming increasingly important as tools for quantitative analysis, risk management, as well as models and strategies implementation. The Computational Finance major is designed to provide UW undergraduate students with a rigorous applied mathematical foundation and solid understanding of how mathematical models as well as statistical and computational methods are used in financial applications, such as portfolio optimization, derivatives pricing, and risk management.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Minor available

Topic: Computing

website   Degree requirements

Applicant type

Freshman

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).


Transfer

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

  • Departmental application deadline:
  • You must enroll at the UW before applying to this major. Please contact the department for additional details.
This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. There are two types of applicants: Currently Enrolled UW Students and Entering Transfers.

Entering Transfers. Transfer applicants must submit a department application for the same quarter they submit an application to the University.

  1. Minimum course requirements: Successful applicants typically have earned above a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA in courses listed below with no individual course grade lower than a 2.0.
  2. Determining factors: Admissions is based on holistic review of the student’s record to include: grades in courses required for admission, overall GPA, and rigor of courses completed; time to degree set by the UW Satisfactory Progress Policy, including frequency of incompletes or withdrawals and number of repeated courses; personal statement that demonstrates interest in pursuing advanced study in the field of applied mathematics and related fields.
  3. When to apply: Applications are accepted twice a year at the beginning of autumn and spring quarters. Refer to department website for deadlines.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • CSE 142 NSc RSN – Computer Programming I
  • CSE 143 NSc RSN – Computer Programming II
  • MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus Analytic Geometry I OR MATH 134 NSc RSN – Accelerated [Honors] Calculus
  • MATH 125 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry II OR MATH 135 NSc – Accelerated [Honors] Calculus
  • MATH 126 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry III OR MATH 136 NSc – Accelerated [Honors] Calculus
  • AMATH 301 NSc – Beginning Scientific Computing

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 54
Total from Washington community colleges: 3

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 2
3.50 – 3.74: 1
3.25 – 3.49: 0
3.00 – 3.24: 0
2.75 – 2.99: 1
2.50 – 2.74: 0
2.49 and below: 0


Career outcomes