Program: Mathematical Finance, BS Major in - Hofstra University

Apr 03, 2025

2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin

The BS in mathematical finance is designed for students who are interested in finance and have the ability to dive deeply into mathematics. The program also provides an alternative for mathematics majors who find that they prefer a business-related program rather than a program in abstract mathematics. Students will have the opportunity to move from the mathematics major into the mathematical finance major in their sophomore year.

Program Requirements

Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Total Semester Hours: 124

The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.

2. Liberal Arts

At least 62 semester hours of liberal arts courses. At least 55 of these credits must be completed in courses other than mathematics.

3. Residence Requirements

There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in-residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours. The 15 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General Requirements

The following general requirements:

6 s.h. of Humanities distribution credit
Foreign language (see BA language requirement )
6 s.h. of social science distribution credit
3 s.h. of natural science distribution credit (PHYS 011A and 011B strongly recommended)
WSC 001 - Composition Semester Hours: 3-4
and
WSC 002 - Composition Semester Hours: 3
or
Placement examination (See University Degree Requirements .)

5. Major Requirements

MATH 071 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Semester Hours: 4
MATH 072 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Semester Hours: 4
MATH 073 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus III Semester Hours: 4
MATH 139 - (MA) Applied Statistical Methods Semester Hours: 3
or
MATH 157 - Mathematics of Financial Derivatives Semester Hours: 3
or
MATH 158 - Stochastic Process and Brownian Motion Semester Hours: 3
MATH 095 - Financial Mathematics Semester Hours: 3
MATH 135A - (MA) Linear Algebra Semester Hours: 4
MATH 137 - (MA) Mathematical Probability and Statistics Semester Hours: 3
MATH 138 - (MA) Mathematical Probability and Statistics Semester Hours: 3
ECO 001 - Principles of Economics Semester Hours: 3
ECO 002 - Principles of Economics Semester Hours: 3
ECO 186 - Introduction to Econometrics Semester Hours: 3
CSC 015 - (CS) Fundamentals of Computer Science I: Problem Solving and Program Design Semester Hours: 4
or
IT 015 - Introduction to Information Systems Semester Hours: 3
ACCT 101 - Financial Accounting Semester Hours: 3
ACCT 102 - Managerial Accounting Semester Hours: 3
FIN 101 - Introduction to Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions Semester Hours: 3
FIN 110 - Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Semester Hours: 3
FIN 132 - Principles of Investments Semester Hours: 3
FIN 135 - Options and Futures Semester Hours: 3
FIN 163 - Financial Modeling Semester Hours: 3
Two additional courses chosen from the following:
FIN 133 - Portfolio Management Semester Hours: 3
FIN 150 - Financial Institutions Management Semester Hours: 3
FIN 185 - Internship in Finance Semester Hours: 3
FIN Elective chosen under the advisement of the chair of the Finance Department

NOTES

Students are advised to take MATH 137 and 138 during their sophomore year so that they can be used as prerequisites for FIN 101 and ECO 186 . If this is not possible, the student should take BAN 001 or equivalent by that year.
Students who end up with credit for MATH 061 or 061A instead of MATH 071 may opt to take MATH 072 with a one credit 071B . If the credit for 061 is from an AP exam, we recommend not having that credit transferred in and starting in 071 .
Some graduate programs in Mathematical Finance recommend a course in Advanced Calculus, which is MATH 171 (MATH 114 as prereq). Some also specifically require Differential Equations (MATH 131 ).
Below is a sample schedule for a student in the BS in Mathematical Finance.

Complete BS Requirements

BS Requirements in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sample Schedule

First Year

Fall	Spring
MATH 071 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I - 4 s.h. Language 1 - 3 s.h. ECO 001 - Principles of Economics - 3 s.h. Humanities distribution - 3 s.h. WSC 001 - Composition - 3 s.h.	MATH 072 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus II - 4 s.h. Language 2 - 3 s.h. ECO 002 - Principles of Economics - 3 s.h. CSC 015 - (CS) Fundamentals of Computer Science I: Problem Solving and Program Design - 4 s.h. WSC 002 - Composition - 3 s.h.
Total: 16 s.h.	Total: 17 s.h.

Second Year

Fall	Spring
MATH 073 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus III - 4 s.h. (treat as a 5 s.h. course) MATH 137 - (MA) Mathematical Probability and Statistics - 3 s.h. (fall only) Language 3 - 3 s.h. ACCT 101 - Financial Accounting - 3 s.h. MATH 095 - Financial Mathematics	MATH 138 - (MA) Mathematical Probability and Statistics - 3 s.h. (spring only) MATH 135A - (MA) Linear Algebra - 4 s.h. ACCT 102 - Managerial Accounting - 3 s.h. PHYS 011A - (NS) General Physics - 4 s.h. PHYS 011B - (NS) General Physics Laboratory - 1 s.h.
Total: 16 s.h.	Total: 15 s.h.

Third Year

Fall	Spring
ECO 186 - Introduction to Econometrics - 3 s.h. FIN 101 - Introduction to Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions - 3 s.h. Social Science Distribution Course - 3 s.h. Non-math liberal arts elective - 6 s.h.	FIN 110 - Fundamentals of Corporate Finance - 3 s.h. Social science distribution - 3 s.h. MATH 157 or MATH 158 Non-math liberal arts elective - 6 s.h.
Total: 15 s.h.	Total: 15 s.h.

Fourth Year

Fall	Spring
FIN 132 - Principles of Investments - 3 s.h. Non-math liberal arts - 3 s.h. General elective - 6 s.h. Humanities Distribution Course - 3 s.h.	Choose two - 6 s.h. FIN 133 - Portfolio Management - 3 s.h. FIN 150 - Financial Institutions Management - 3 s.h. FIN 185 - Internship in Finance - 3 s.h. FIN 135 - Options and Futures - 3 s.h. FIN 163 - Financial Modeling - 3 s.h. General Elective - 3 s.h.
Total: 15 s.h.	Total: 15 s.h.

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