Many students choose to change majors when making study-abroad decisions. First, after four years of undergraduate study, they have a clearer sense of what they truly want. Second, cross-disciplinary learning not only builds connections between different fields, broadens knowledge, and cultivates multidisciplinary capabilities, but also helps individuals develop diverse skills and knowledge, making them more competitive in their future careers. Generally, cross-major applications have specific requirements, such as relevant background, work experience, or specific test scores. Therefore, something students changing majors must never overlook is prerequisite courses—the foundational courses that should be mastered before studying a particular subject. This year, the CheersYou（清柚教育） team has compiled a summary of prerequisite courses for popular cross-major choices—Financial Engineering (FE), Computer Science (CS), and Business Analytics (BA)—along with examples of relevant universities. For specific questions, you can also scan the QR code below for one-on-one consultation.
1. Financial Engineering (FE)
Calculus - Required
Linear Algebra - Required
Probability and Statistics - Required
Ordinary Differential Equations - Required
Partial Differential Equations - Required
Stochastic Processes - Recommended
Multivariate Data Analysis - Recommended
Numerical Methods - Recommended
Introduction to Computers — Recommended
Financial Engineering and Risk Management (Part 1) - Recommended
Financial Engineering and Risk Management (Part 2) - Recommended
Time Series - Recommended
Introduction to Finance - Recommended
Linear and Nonlinear Programming - Recommended
Recommended Universities
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Master of Financial Engineering (MFE)
UCLA's MFE program combines theory and practice, integrating technical and theoretical instruction with immersive learning through summer internships and company-sponsored applied finance projects.
Official website:
https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/master-of-financial-engineering
Columbia University - MS in Financial Engineering (MSFE)
Columbia's MSFE is housed in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research within the School of Engineering, designated as STEM, with a 1-year program length. The program spans multiple disciplines including financial theory, engineering methods, mathematical tools, and programming. The curriculum focuses on applied engineering methodologies and quantitative financial methods, providing specialized course guidance and skills training for students aiming to work in securities, banking, financial management, and consulting.
Official website:
https://msfe.ieor.columbia.edu/
2. Computer Science (CS)
Python - Required
Database - Required
Algorithms - Required
Data Structure - Required
Object-Oriented Programming (C++/Java) - Required
Statistical Learning
Machine Learning - Recommended
Discrete Mathematics - Recommended
University Recommendations:
University of Southern California (USC) - Computer Science (CS)
The Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California first has a high institutional tier, and USC's large annual enrollment makes the application difficulty relatively lower;
Official website:
Northeastern University (NEU) - Computer Science (CS)
Northeastern University has a CS program specifically designed for career changers, adding 4 foundational computer science courses compared to the regular CS program, including Computer Systems, Algorithms, Object-Oriented Languages, and Computer Fundamentals and Discrete Structures. The program has campuses in Silicon Valley, Seattle, and Boston. A major advantage is the opportunity to participate in co-op while studying, providing abundant internship opportunities. You can choose to do an internship at a major company for a semester to build your professional background, and you can also take online courses during the internship or summer to make up credits without affecting your graduation timeline;
Official website:
3. Business Analytics (BA)
Calculus - Required
Linear Algebra - Required
Probability and Statistics - Required
Microeconomics - Recommended
Macroeconomics - Optional
University Recommendations:
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) - Master of Science in Business Analytics
Carnegie Mellon University's Master of Science in Business Analytics is offered at the Tepper School of Business. The program is only 9 months long but very rigorous, with a total of 20 courses. The official website explicitly states that there is no specific undergraduate major requirement, but applicants should have completed Calculus, Linear Algebra, Statistics, and have programming language foundations.
Official website:
https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/programs/master-business-analytics/full-time/index.html
Duke University - Master of Quantitative Management: Business Analytics (MQM-BA)
Duke University's MQM Business Analytics is housed in the Fuqua School of Business, classified as a STEM program, lasting 10 months with 36 months of OPT. The program focuses on core data analytics foundational coursework, and you can choose one of four tracks to specialize in: Finance / Marketing / Forensics / Strategy.
Webpage:
https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/mqm-business-analytics
In addition to preparing prerequisite courses, you must also understand the education systems, program offerings, and admission requirements of your target country and schools to determine whether they support cross-disciplinary study. You can first contact the international admissions office or academic advisors at your target schools to inquire about the feasibility and requirements of changing majors. After clarifying the requirements, formulate a reasonable course plan, including prerequisite courses and related study schedules, to meet the demands of the target program. Prepare your application materials according to the requirements of your target program, including recommendation letters, personal statements, and other relevant documents. Highlight your cross-disciplinary learning experience and capabilities.
Finally, we have compiled some successful cross-major application cases from past students for your reference～
For more questions related to studying abroad and graduate applications, you can also add the contact information of our CheersYou（清柚教育） advisors below for detailed information.
