Opportunities to apply mathematics skills in business and financial environments are growing rapidly, but a typical undergraduate mathematics degree may not adequately prepare a student to work effectively in a business environment. The University of Connecticut's Professional Master's in Applied Financial Mathematics enables the graduate to work in a wide variety of financial service industries - consulting firms, banking institutions, investment houses, insurance companies, and other corporations.

The program emphasizes finance, applied mathematics, problem-solving and communication skills that dramatically increase the graduate's value to an employer. The program grows from interdisciplinary and academic/private sector partnerships to upgrade the talent pool in this expanding field, with a dozen faculty members spanning four departments, internships in area financial services firms, and local corporations providing Advisory Board guidance and support.

The degree program combines traditional MS level course work in Mathematics (formal mastery) and Statistics (effective computing and applications) with traditional MBA level course work in Finance (markets, instruments, value, and management). The program also includes cross training in skills and background knowledge needed for successful performance in a business or corporate environment. The degree requires at least 31 credits, including 24 credits from subject area course work, and 4 credits in professional master's cohort courses (communications skills, business and financial practices, frontiers in applied science and mathematics) and a 3 credit industry internship. An innovative exit exam requiring an original piece of work individually tailored to the career plan or aspirations of each candidate completes the degree requirements.