(Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins University.)
Not every engineer ends up wanting to spend an entire career in the design lab or factory setting.
The brilliant thing about engineers, though, is that between creative thought processes and logical ones, the engineering mindset lends itself well to many different directions.
For engineering minds that prefer playing with numbers over playing with tools, a new master’s program in financial mathematics offered by Johns Hopkins University might open up a new and exciting field.
Financial Mathematics for Engineers
The new course is offered online though the Engineering for Professionals division of JHU’s Whiting School of Engineering. The master’s degree in financial mathematics is a new offering that focuses on developing quantitative and managerial skills for a career in the finance sector.
In many ways the world of finance is very different from the world of engineering. For this reason, courses are taught by instructors who are current, practicing engineers working in the financial industry. The advantage here is that these instructors can give students a first-hand account of their knowledge and experiences.
The program describes itself as “examining the engineering-driven principles that power the international financial systems.” This is a lofty goal and pursuant to that, the course covers topics and real-world examples of financial mathematics processes including financial derivations, risk management, data analysis, Monte Carlo methods and quantitative portfolio theory.
Quantitative Skills to Play by the Numbers
Graduates of the program generally pursue high-level management positions at financial firms.
Though ultimately this is a move away from the direct world of engineering, a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline such as engineering (or mathematics, of course) is a requirement for entering this program. The fact that the program leads away from the hard sciences side of engineering also means that this master’s degree won’t be the ideal path for just any engineer.
But for those who want to work with money and numbers more than design tools and mechanical systems, or who may just be seeking a career change, it’s certainly something to consider.
Applications for the Summer 2016 term are open until May 23, 2016. A free online information session will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2016.
Full course details and other application information is available on the Financial Mathematics Masters Program page at JHU’s Engineering for Professionals website.