Financial Engineering within Computer Science

Computer science students interested in a career in business and finance should consider the financial engineering track. By judiciously selecting their open electives, broadening electives, and liberal arts core requirements, computer science majors within four years are able to: 1) obtain a B.S. in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering, 2) obtain (optionally) a minor in Engineering Management, 3) obtain (optionally) a minor in Mathematics, 4) participate (optionally) in a study abroad experience, and 5) participate (optionally) in a multi-disciplinary team-oriented senior design experience. Qualified students, after a fifth year, would obtain an M.S. in Finance from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Interested students should discuss their plans with their computer-science advisor in the fall of their first year and obtain a specimen curriculum for the financial engineering track.

Program Overview

Summary:

• In the first four years …
• Obtain a B.S. in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering.
• Obtain a minor in Engineering Management (optional).
• Obtain a minor in Mathematics (optional).
• Participate in a study abroad experience (optional).
• Participate in a multi-disciplinary team-oriented senior design experience (optional).
• After the fifth year …
• Obtain an M.S. in Finance from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Context:

During the first four years, the specimen curriculum below fits within Vanderbilt’s normal computer science curriculum. Already included within the normal curriculum are:

• Experience in computer programming (e.g., Java, C++) through taking CS 101 (i.e., Programming and Problem Solving), CS 201 (i.e., Program Design and Data Structures), and CS 251 (i.e., Intermediate Software Design).
• Strong quantitative background including multivariate calculus (i.e., Math 175, Second-Year Accelerated Calculus) and probability/statistics (i.e., Math 218, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics).
• Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills (i.e., ES 210W, Technical Communications, or another designated “W” course).

By judiciously selecting appropriate Broadening Electives, Liberal Arts Core Courses, and Open Electives, the specimen curriculum below also includes:

• (required) Instead of taking Math 194 (i.e., Methods of Linear Algebra), students take Math 196 (i.e., Differential Equations with Linear Algebra).
• (recommended) Students are encouraged to take Econ 100 (i.e., Principles of Macroeconomics) and Econ 101 (i.e., Principles of Microeconomics) as part of their Liberal Arts Core requirements.
• (required) In addition to requiring Math 218 (i.e., Introduction to Mathematical Statistics), students also take Math 218L (i.e., Statistics Laboratory).
• (required) As their math elective requirement, students take Math 226 (i.e., Introduction to Numerical Mathematics).
• (recommended) Students are encouraged to fulfill the requirements for a Mathematics minor by taking CS 257 (also listed as Math 288, Linear Optimization) as one of their CS Depth courses and also counting as one of their upper level math electives.
• (recommended) Students are encouraged to fulfill the requirements for an Engineering Management minor by taking five ENGM courses: 221 (Introduction to Engineering Management), 244 (Applied Behavioral Science), 273 (Systems Engineering), 274 (Program and Project Management), and one course from the following list: ENGM 216 (Engineering Economy), ENGM 251 (Accounting and Finance for Engineers), ENGM 242 (Technology Marketing), ENGM 253 (Technology-Based Entrepreneurship), ENGM 254 (Production and Supply Chain Management), ENGM 275 (Technology Assessment and Forecasting), or ENVE 296 (Safety, Security, and Environmental Risk Management). [Note: EECE 295 (Program and Project Management for EECE) substitutes for ENGM 274 in the Engineering Management minor.]
• (recommended) Students are encouraged to participate in the multi-disciplinary team-oriented senior design experience by taking EECE 295 (Program and Project Management for EECE), EECE 296 (Electrical and Computer Engineering Design), and EECE 297 (Senior Engineering Design Seminar).
• (optional) Students are offered a study abroad experience during the fall of their third year to enhance their awareness of technology and business in a more global sense and in an ever flattening connected world.

During the fifth year, students take all of their courses within the Owen Graduate School of Management. At the end of their fifth year, students will have satisfied all the degree requirements for an MSFinance.

Example Curriculum

Fall First Year (14 hours)

· ES 140 (introduction to engineering)

· Chem 102a/104a

· Math 155a

· Liberal arts core (recommended humanities course)

Spring First Year (15 hours)

· CS 101 (programming and problem solving – Java/Windows based)

· Physics 116a/118a

· Math 155b

· EECE 116/116L (digital logic/lab)

Fall Second Year (16 hours)

· CS 201 (program design and data structures – Java/C++/Windows based)

· CS 212 (discrete structures)

· Physics 116b/118b

· Math 175

· Open elective (recommended ENGM 221 - Introduction to Engineering Management)

Spring Second Year (16 hours)

· CS 231 (computer organization)

· CS 250 (algorithms)

· CS 251 (intermediate software design – C++/Linux based)

· Math 196

· ES 210W (or another designated “W” course)

Fall Third Year (15 hours) – Study Abroad Experience

· Liberal arts core (recommended humanities course)

· Liberal arts core

· Liberal arts core (Econ 100)

· Open elective

· Open elective

Spring Third Year (17 hours)

· CS 270 (programming languages)

· CS 281 (operating systems)

· CS depth requirement (project)

· Math 218 and 218L

· Liberal arts core (Econ 101)

Fall Fourth Year (16 hours)

· Broadening elective (recommended EECE 295/297)

· CS depth requirement (recommended CS 257, also listed as Math 288, linear optimization)

· CS depth requirement

· Math 226

· Liberal arts core (recommended ENGM 244 – Applied Behavioral Science)

Spring Fourth Year (18 hours)

· Broadening elective (recommended EECE 296)

· CS depth requirement

· CS depth requirement

· CS depth requirement

· Open elective (recommended ENGM 273 - Systems Engineering)

· Open elective (recommended ENGM elective requirement)

Fall Fifth Year (16 hours)

· Managerial finance (2)

· Financial econometrics I (2)

· Accounting (2)

· Microeconomics (2)

· Investments (2)

· Financial econometrics II (2)

· Corporate valuation (2)

· Elective (2)

Spring Fifth Year (16 hours)

· Derivatives (2)

· Financial data analysis (2)

· Bond markets (2)

· Elective (2)

· Advanced derivatives (2)

· Elective (2)

· Risk management (2)

· Elective (2)