Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students have an elite opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in computational finance in 4.5 years instead of the traditional 5.5 years to help meet the needs of the evolving global finance industry.

Robert Simon, executive director of the Master of Science in Computational Finance (MSCF) program, said the new option is geared toward advanced students who want to accelerate their education, including those not pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computational finance.

“We wanted to give a pathway that didn’t exist for a Carnegie Mellon student who wanted to get a master’s degree in computational finance to keep them in the CMU ecosystem,” Simon said.

Simon said the integrated BS/MS option is a strategic response to rapid growth in the financial technology and quantitative modeling sectors, where demand continues to rise for professionals fluent in computational methods and market analytics.

By combining rigorous coursework with experiential learning, the program prepares graduates for careers in quantitative research, risk management, algorithmic trading, data science and financial engineering.

Developed through collaboration among the Mellon College of Science, the Tepper School of Business, the School of Computer Science and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, MSCF is built on Carnegie Mellon’s long‑standing strengths in applied mathematics, statistics, computer science and finance. This latest initiative expands opportunities for undergraduates seeking advanced training earlier in their academic careers.

“With the growth of AI, there is new material that is changing the way students are learning,” Simon said. “But the program is very holistic. We pull on the strengths of all four colleges and also have dedicated staff for the graduate students — including coaches to help students with communication and their careers. That’s really powerful.”

Through the new MSCF 4.5 Accelerated Master Program, current and future students with strong backgrounds in statistics, machine learning, mathematical sciences, computer science or finance — and who demonstrate academic excellence and interest in the field of quantitative finance — spend 3.5 years working on their bachelor’s degree, and two semesters fully dedicated to the MSCF program.

Students interested in pursuing the option must:

• Demonstrate a plan to graduate with their bachelor’s degree in seven semesters
• Complete MSCF-equivalent coursework
• Provide strong GRE scores, GPA and letters of recommendation
• Demonstrate an interest in finance
• Coordinate with both their undergraduate academic adviser and the MSCF academic adviser

Program timeline:

• Semester 1-7: complete bachelor’s degree plus specific MSCF-equivalent courses
• Semester 7: Take MSCF courses while finishing bachelor’s degree
• Semesters 8-9: Full-time MSCF student

Carnegie Mellon students accepted into the MSCF program through the 4.5 accelerated master's will have access to graduate curriculum, industry projects, internship pipelines, and an extensive employer network. Beginning master’s-level courses during their senior year helps students accelerate progress and strengthen their competitiveness in the job market.

The program is open to eligible students. For more information, email mscf@cmu.edu.

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