Program Overview

Quantitative Finance and Economics (M.S.)

The AACSB-accredited McCoy College of Business offers a master's degree combining economics and finance to meet the needs of diverse employers and well-qualified students. The program emphasizes using high-quality data for financial and economic analysis to provide insights into firm strategies and policy questions.

Program Overview

The program requires 30 credit hours with thesis and non-thesis options. The degree program has 18 credit hours of required courses and 12 credit hours of prescribed electives. Required courses provide quantitative and theoretical modeling sought after in industry; electives provide enhanced knowledge in a specific technical area. Classes are held in the evening, and students can attend full or part-time. Students enrolling in nine hours each semester can complete the program in 3-4 semesters.

Course Work

• Degree: M.S.
• Hours: 30
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis, Thesis
• Location: San Marcos

Program Mission

The mission of the Department of Finance and Economics is to provide students the ability to pursue learning throughout their lives, accept responsibility for their actions, and contribute to the common goals of society. Advanced skills in financial and economic analysis using large data sets have become increasingly important workforce credentials among firms seeking to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Career Options

Graduates will possess important marketable skills, including the abilities to analyze financial and economic data, perform high-quality financial and economic analyses, and communicate the results and implications of these analyses to inform business decisions.

• Economist
  • Quantitative risk analyst
  • Business analyst
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial manager

Program Faculty

Faculty in the Department of Finance and Economics have diverse research interests, including foreign direct investment and international remittance flows, sports economics, environmental economics, law and economics, corporate finance, cross-listing of stocks, bond and loan pricing, and energy finance. Research has been published in top-ranked peer-reviewed journals such as the Southern Economic Journal, Contemporary Economic Policy, Harvard Environmental Law Review, Annals of Regional Science, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Prediction Markets, Journal of Alternative Investments, Energy Risk, Macroeconomic Dynamics, and Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Application
  • Completed online application
• Application Fee
  • $55 nonrefundable application fee, or
  • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Transcripts & GPA
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
  • A competitive overall GPA or a competitive GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
  • Background Course Work: Must have a minimum grade of B in the following subjects:
    • Principles of Microeconomics (ECO 2314 or equivalent)
    • Macroeconomics (ECO 2315 or equivalent)
    • Quantitative Methods and Statistics (QMST 2333 or equivalent)
    • Business Calculus (MATH 1329 or equivalent)
• Test Scores
  • Official GRE/GMAT (general test only) test scores are not required for applicants with an overall 3.5 GPA or a 3.5 GPA in your last-60-hours of undergraduate course work.
  • Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
    • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of
      • 19 listening
      • 19 reading
      • 19 speaking
      • 18 writing
    • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • Official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • Official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
• Documents
  • Responses to specific essay questions (two essays are required)
  • Resume/CV detailing work experience, extracurricular and community activities, and honors and achievements
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons best able to assess your ability to succeed in graduate school.

Application Deadlines

• Priority Deadline: February 1 (U.S. Citizen), February 1 (International)
• Standard Deadline: August 1 (U.S. Citizen), June 1 (International)
• Priority Deadline: Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities.
• Standard Deadline: Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration.