{"id":1266,"date":"2025-09-12T22:26:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T22:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/?page_id=1266"},"modified":"2026-04-23T21:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T21:23:08","slug":"progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/","title":{"rendered":"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The\u00a0<strong>Progressive Degree Program (PDP)<\/strong> allows USC undergraduate students to accelerate the completion of a USC Master\u2019s degree. For full details about PDP requirements and Financial Aid Eligibility, visit USC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/academicprograms.usc.edu\/services\/curriculum\/progressive-degree-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Progressive Degree Program<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions, feel free to email the PDP advisor, Susan Vaswani (sath@usc.edu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--video-with-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--video-with-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>View this recording of the PDP Info Session for more information about the program requirements, eligibility requirements, application process, etc. Note: The speaker incorrectly said\u00a0<i>&#8220;one-third of 31 units would be 21&#8221;<\/i> when they meant to say &#8220;<b>two-thirds<\/b>\u00a0of 31 units would be 21&#8243; like the slide shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n\n      <div class=\"video-container\">\n              <div class=\"image-container\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/99\/2025\/09\/MF-PDP-info-session-title-page-768x432.png\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/99\/2025\/09\/MF-PDP-info-session-title-page-1280x720.png 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/99\/2025\/09\/MF-PDP-info-session-title-page-768x432.png 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hcd5jKlQrHs\" data-lity aria-label=\"Play video in lightbox\" class=\"play-video\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 75 75\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 75 75\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n                <rect fill=\"#FFCC00\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\"\/>\n                <polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"44.4,37.5 34.2,43.9 34.2,31.1 \"\/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n      \n    <\/div>\n\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Eligibility Requirements<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Minimum Cumulative USC GPA of 3.5<\/li>\n<li>Math 407, Math 408, and Math 425a completed by the time of application<\/li>\n<li>Can finish undergraduate degree requirements in 3 years, or 3.5 years if applicant has two majors or a minor<\/li>\n<li>At least 64 total units of undergraduate college course work, excluding any AP, IB or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Students must meet the requirements listed above to be eligible to apply for this PDP. Please note that meeting these standards does not guarantee admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Degree Requirements<\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\" align=\"justify\">Students are required to complete a minimum\u00a0 of 31 units of course work. Out of the 31 units, a maximum of 10 units can be changed to <em>undergraduate credit<\/em>. To graduate, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the graduate credit applied to the PDP. The 31 units consists of:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Required Core Courses (6 courses, 18 units)<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 1038px;width: 557px\" border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\" scope=\"col\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Mathematics and Mathematical Finance<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\" scope=\"col\">COURSE<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\" scope=\"col\">COURSE TITLE<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\" scope=\"col\">UNITS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH530a<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Stochastic Calculus and Mathematical Finance<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH530b<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Stochastic Calculus and Mathematical Finance<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 512*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Financial Informatics and Simulation<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 590<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Directed Research<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">1<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 48px\">\n<td style=\"width: 547px;height: 48px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><em>*MATH 512 should be taken after MATH 530a as it requires knowledge from this course<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Financial Economics and Econometrics:<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px\">ECON 500*<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px\">Microeconomic Analysis and Policy<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">ECON 515<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Time Series Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 36px;width: 101.016px\">ECON 577<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 36px;width: 365.922px\">Foundations of Financial Economics<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 36px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 64px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 10px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p><em>*ECON 500 can be waived for students who have successfully completed a calculus-based microeconomics course, with departmental approval. Students who must take ECON 500 will complete three electives from the list below instead of four.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Elective Courses (4 courses, 13-14 units)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Select one elective from each category. The 4th elective can be chosen from any of the three categories, or can be another course in the FBE, ECON, or MATH department, subject to the approval of the program directors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\" scope=\"col\">COURSE<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\" scope=\"col\">COURSE TITLE<\/th>\n<th style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\" scope=\"col\">UNITS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 48px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 48px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Computational and Empirical Finance (must take 1 course from this category)*:<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">FBE 551<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Quantitative Investing<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">FBE 555*<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">FBE 559<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Managements of Financial Risk<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\"><em>* FBE 555 Highly Recommended<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 48px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 48px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Statistics or Numerical\/Optimization\/Other Methods (Must take at least 1 course from either topic)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Statistics <\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH541a<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Introduction to Mathematical Statistics<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH541b<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Introduction to Mathematical Statistics<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 547<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Mathematical Foundations of Statistical Learning Theory<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">MATH 550<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Statistical Consulting &amp; Data Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">PM 511a<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Data Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">PM 511b<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Data Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Numerical\/Optimization\/Other Methods<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 501<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Numerical Analysis and Computation<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 32px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 32px;width: 101.016px\">MATH502a<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 32px;width: 365.922px\">Numerical Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 32px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 502b<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Numerical Analysis<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">MATH 548<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Machine Learning in Quantitative Finance<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 101.016px\">MATH 585<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 365.922px\">Mathematical Theory of Optimal Control<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 68.0625px\">\n<div align=\"center\">3<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\" valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px;width: 547px\" colspan=\"3\">\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>Financial Economics (Must take at least 1 course)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 48px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 48px\">ECON 504<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 48px\">Game Theory with Economic and Financial Applications<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 48px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 508<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Neurofinance<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 514<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Empirical Finance<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 555<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Topics in Asset Pricing Theory<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 570<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Big Data Econometrics<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 652<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Economics of Financial Markets II<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"width: 101.016px;height: 24px\">ECON 659<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 365.922px;height: 24px\">Economics of Financial Markets I<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.0625px;height: 24px\">\n<div align=\"center\">4<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p align=\"justify\">Students are required to satisfy a summative experience for degree completion. This will be in the form of registration in one unit of Math 590 Directed Research with a final summative report at the end of the term. Topics of research will be determined by the Program Director. For students who obtain an internship, Math 590 can be replaced with Math 596 if approved by the program directors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Sample Course Plans\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>The following course plans below provide examples of how to complete the PDP in 3-4 semesters. Your actual course plan may differ depending on your remaining undergraduate degree requirements and how many graduate courses you can include in your schedule per semester.<\/p>\n<p>We do not recommend taking more than 2-3 graduate-level courses in one semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-CVWCULfpqb\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-CVWCULfpqb\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Fall Semester Start<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-CVWCULfpqb\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-CVWCULfpqb\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>Fall Semester #1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Math 530a (only offered in Fall) &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nEcon 577 &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nFBE Elective- 3 units<\/p>\n<p><em>Total Units: 9<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Spring Semester #2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Math 530b (only offered in Spring) &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nEcon elective &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\nMath Elective &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\n<em>Total Units: 11<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Fall Semester #3<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Econ 515\u00a0 &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\nMath 512 &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nECON, FBE, or Math Elective &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nMath 590 &#8211; 1 unit<br \/>\n<em>Total Units: 11<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-CVWCULfpqb\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-CVWCULfpqb\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Spring Semester Start<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-CVWCULfpqb\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-CVWCULfpqb\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>Spring Semester 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Math Elective &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nFBE Elective &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nEcon 577 &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\n<em>Total Units: 10<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fall Semester 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Math 530a (only offered in fall) &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nMath 512 &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nECON, FBE, or Math Elective &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\n<em>Total Units: 9<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Spring: Third Semester<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Math 530b (only offered in spring) &#8211; 3 units<br \/>\nEcon 515 &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\nEcon Elective &#8211; 4 units<br \/>\nMath 590 &#8211; 1 unit<br \/>\n<em>Total Units: 12<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Steps to Apply<\/h1>\n<p>Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Fill out the <a href=\"https:\/\/academicprograms.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2024-Progressive-Degree-Application.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PDP application form<\/a> with your remaining undergraduate degree requirements and PDP requirements. <em>Courses that fulfill your undergraduate degree requirements should have an X or check mark for &#8220;UG&#8221; = undergraduate credit. Courses that fulfill your PDP degree requirements should have an X or check mark for &#8220;GR&#8221; = graduate credit. A course cannot be marked for both UG and GR credit.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Send the completed form to the PDP advisor and undergraduate advisor(s) for review. If no corrections need to be made to the PDP course plan, advisors will sign the form. If corrections need to be made, advisors will discuss changes with you via email or during a scheduled meeting.<\/li>\n<li>Ask professors to send a letter of recommendation to the PDP advisor. Two letters of recommendation from professors are required for applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.5. One letter of recommendation is required for applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.<\/li>\n<li>Once all application materials are submitted, you will receive admission results within 2 weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1266","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mathematical Finance Program\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-23T21:23:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/\",\"name\":\"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-12T22:26:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-23T21:23:08+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/\",\"name\":\"Mathematical Finance Program\",\"description\":\"USC Dornsife Mathematical Finance Program\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/","og_site_name":"Mathematical Finance Program","article_modified_time":"2026-04-23T21:23:08+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/","name":"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance - Mathematical Finance Program","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-09-12T22:26:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-23T21:23:08+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/progressive-degree-program-in-mathematical-finance\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Progressive Degree Program in Mathematical Finance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/#website","url":"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/","name":"Mathematical Finance Program","description":"USC Dornsife Mathematical Finance Program","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/mathematical-finance\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1266"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1374,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1266\/revisions\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematical-finance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}