Universities / University of California, Santa Barbara
BS in Financial Mathematics and Statistics (FMS)
A joint maths and statistics major covering how probability, statistics and mathematics are used to price and hedge securities. Combines numerical analysis, real analysis, stochastic processes and mathematical finance with economics and programming prep.
What you’ll study
Core
- MATH 104A
- MATH 104B
- MATH 104C
- MATH 117
- PSTAT 120A
- PSTAT 120B
- PSTAT 126
- PSTAT 160A or 160B
- PSTAT 170
- Prep: ECON 10A, PSTAT 10, a programming course (CMPSC 8/9/16 or ENGR 3)
Electives
- At least 12 credits from ECON 100B, 101, 130, 134A, 134B, 140B, 141, 171, 181; MATH 108A, 108B, 124A, 124B, 132A, 199; PSTAT 120C, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 171, 173, 174 or 176, 199
Source: catalog.ucsb.edu ↗
Before you apply
- Background
- Pre-major in UCSB; full major admission requires 2.5+ UC GPA in pre-major courses and C or better in pre-major and prep courses
- Maths
- Calculus sequence (MATH 2/3 A-B); Linear algebra and differential equations (MATH 4A-B); Vector calculus (MATH 6A-B); MATH 8 or PSTAT 8
- Programming
- One of CMPSC 8, 9, 16 or ENGR 3
- Tests
- Not applicable
Source: catalog.ucsb.edu ↗
After graduation
- Typical first roles
- Actuary, Financial advising, Probability and statistics, Business
- Employers
- Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Brighthouse Financial
Source: catalog.ucsb.edu ↗
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Checked 6 November 2026 against the sources linked on this page. Fees, units and requirements change each year, so confirm them on the programme’s website before applying.
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