The Bachelor of Science in Financial Technology offers tracks in actuarial science and financial engineering. The program provides quantitatively oriented students the opportunity to apply mathematical, statistical and programming tools to the financial, risk management and actuarial disciplines. Designed to meet the growing need for quantitative modeling and analysis in finance, risk management and actuarial science, the program is technical and interdisciplinary in nature. The curriculum emphasizes courses in finance, statistics and mathematics with supporting courses in related areas.
The financial engineering track offers opportunities in areas such as derivative instruments, securities, hedging, financial risk assessment/management, quantitative trading and arbitrage, and asset/liability management. Students who complete the financial engineering track may choose to continue their education by enrolling in master’s programs in financial engineering and mathematical finance, or by entering directly into doctoral-level study in finance and related areas.
Learning goals
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To support career advancement over time by giving students the academic foundation in information systems and data analytics related to the financial industry
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To help students develop the professional skills that will be needed by the businesses and organizations that hire graduates
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To help students develop ethical awareness so that they are able to deal with an ethical dilemma in the workplace
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following.
- Students will be able to identify and use relevant data to calculate appropriate quantitative measures that help in making informed financial decisions.
- Students will be able to describe and expound on competing propositions in a structured, organized and deliberate manner with comparisons, anecdotal evidence and descriptive analysis.
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Students will be able to express the analytic, quantitative and ethical dimensions of a business problem and proposed solutions in a clear, well-organized manner that is free of bias or distortions.
Special requirements
Students in the financial engineering concentration must attain a minimum grade of C in MATH 200, MATH 307 and STAT 309. A student receiving a grade below C may repeat the course one time to raise the grade to the required level. In addition, a minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained. Students who fall below a GPA of 2.5 will be placed on program probation and will be given one semester to return to the minimum GPA of 2.5. Students who do not return to the required minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 after two semesters will be dismissed from the financial technology major. Students who do not satisfactorily attain the minimum grade of C in one course after two attempts will be dismissed from the financial technology major. In concert with the academic adviser of the department, an appeal may be submitted to the chair of the department. A student must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to graduate from the program. At least 30 hours of the required business courses for the Bachelor of Science must be taken at VCU.
Students admitted into this program must place into MATH 200 to continue in the program. No more than three credits in physical education courses may be applied to the degree. Many courses are offered irregularly, please work with an adviser for optimal course sequencing.
Credit for SPCH 121 or SPCH 321 will substitute for BUSN 225, and no more than three credits of these courses may be applied toward a business degree. Students who earned a minimum grade of B in either ECON 203 or ECON 205 at VCU may substitute that credit for ECON 210.
The pass/fail grading policy may not be used for many course requirements. Students should check with their academic adviser before taking the pass/fail grading option.
The School of Business has special academic policies, including policies on transfer credits, that apply to all undergraduate degrees. The pass/fail grading policy may not be used for courses that can satisfy major degree requirements.
Degree requirements for Financial Technology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in financial engineering
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| CMSC 210 | Computers and Programming | 3 |
| FIRE 309 | Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| FIRE 312 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FIRE 317 | Investments | 3 |
| FIRE 321 | Intermediate Financial Management | 3 |
| FIRE 417 | Security Analysis and Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIRE 451 | Options, Futures and Swaps | 3 |
| FIRE 479 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| INFO 320 | Business Intelligence and Data Mining | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 211 | Mathematical Structures | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| STAT 309 | Introduction to Probability Theory | 3 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| CMSC 330 | Data Science Skills | 3 |
| ECON 501 | Introduction to Econometrics | 3 |
| FIRE 441 | Funds Management in Financial Institutions | 3 |
| FIRE 540 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| INFO 360 | Business Information Systems | 3 |
| STAT 321 | Introduction to Statistical Computing for Data Science | 3 |
| Concentration electives (choose two) | 6 | |
| Intermediate Accounting I | ||
| Intermediate Accounting II | ||
| Cost Accounting | ||
| Accounting Systems | ||
| Career and Professional Development | ||
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Money and Banking | ||
| Principles of Consulting and International Consulting Practicum (must get credit for both courses to count toward degree completion) | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Principles of Real Estate | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| Financial Mathematics | ||
| Actuarial Probability Concepts | ||
| Cases in Financial Management | ||
| Topics in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | ||
| Internship in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | ||
| Information Technology Infrastructure | ||
| Intermediate Programming | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Managing People in Organizations | ||
| Strategic Management | ||
| Marketing Principles | ||
| Business Statistics II | ||
| Production/Operations Management | ||
| Quantitative Solutions for Supply Chain Management | ||
| Introduction to Stochastic Processes | ||
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| • Ancillary core courses | ||
| ACCT 203 & ACCT 204 | Introduction to Accounting I and Introduction to Accounting II | 6 |
| BUSN 225 | Winning Presentations | 3 |
| ECON 210 | Principles of Microeconomics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| FIRE 311 | Financial Management | 3 |
| • Additional ancillary requirements | ||
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | 3 |
| or SCMA 301 | Business Statistics I | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. 1 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 123 | |
Students may choose electives to reach the minimum total of 123 credits.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 123.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ECON 210 | Principles of Microeconomics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 203 | Introduction to Accounting I | 3 |
| BUSN 225 | Winning Presentations | 3 |
| MATH 211 | Mathematical Structures | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ACCT 204 | Introduction to Accounting II | 3 |
| CMSC 210 | Computers and Programming | 3 |
| FIRE 309 | Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| STAT 309 | Introduction to Probability Theory | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CMSC 330 | Data Science Skills | 3 |
| FIRE 311 | Financial Management | 3 |
| FIRE 479 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| STAT 321 | Introduction to Statistical Computing for Data Science | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 501 | Introduction to Econometrics | 3 |
| FIRE 312 | Financial Modeling | 3 |
| FIRE 317 | Investments | 3 |
| INFO 360 | Business Information Systems | 3 |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| FIRE 321 | Intermediate Financial Management | 3 |
| FIRE 417 | Security Analysis and Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIRE 451 | Options, Futures and Swaps | 3 |
| Concentration elective | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| FIRE 441 | Funds Management in Financial Institutions | 3 |
| FIRE 540 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| INFO 320 | Business Intelligence and Data Mining | 3 |
| Concentration elective | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 123 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 123.