Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Quantitative Methods

Quantitative methods are the mathematical and statistical techniques used to collect, measure and analyse numerical data and to make decisions based on it. They are a toolkit more than a single discipline: the same methods serve economics, business, psychology, education, medicine and the social sciences. A student of quantitative methods learns how to design a study, which data are needed, how to model them and how far the results can be trusted.

The subject appears under many names. Depending on the faculty it may be called quantitative methods, quantitative economics, econometrics, applied statistics, operations research, business analytics or data science.

What students learn

Programmes combine mathematics, statistics and computing with a field of application. Typical content includes:

  • calculus and linear algebra
  • probability and statistical inference
  • regression and econometrics, which test theories against real data
  • data collection through surveys and experiments
  • optimisation and decision models
  • statistical software and, increasingly, machine learning

Two economics programmes show how this works in practice. The Quantitative Economics major at the United States Naval Academy has a three-course econometric series that introduces statistical methods and teaches quantitative analysis of economic phenomena, and it ends with a research seminar that encourages empirical testing of economic theories. The Quantitative Economics BA at the University of California, Irvine requires calculus, linear algebra and two econometrics courses, and its electives include Machine Learning for Economists and Special Topics in Quantitative Methods.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. Quantitative methods are usually part of a wider degree. At UC Irvine the Quantitative Economics major consists of 19 courses; at the Naval Academy the major has 42 credit hours, divided into core theory, the econometric series, electives and the capstone seminar. Other routes are a mathematics or statistics degree, such as the mathematical sciences major at Kean University, which covers mathematics, statistics and data analytics, or a business degree with an analytics major, such as the BBA major in Business Analytics at Hofstra University.
  • Master's degree. Specialised programmes are mainly found at this level. In Spain, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) offers the Máster Universitario en Análisis Económico Cuantitativo, an official master's degree of one year and 60 ECTS credits taught in English at its Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales. It focuses on the quantitative methods most in demand and has a research profile and a professional profile. Applicants need a background in economic theory, econometrics and mathematics, or a degree in mathematics, physics, statistics or engineering, and at least CEFR level B2 in English. In the United States, Texas Tech University's Area of Information Systems and Quantitative Sciences offers an MS in Data Science.
  • Doctorate. PhD programmes in economics, statistics, psychology and education include advanced quantitative training. The UAM master's, for example, prepares students who want to continue to a doctorate in economics.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 12 schools for quantitative methods: 6 in the United States, 4 in Spain and 2 in the United Kingdom. The Spanish entries are two faculties of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad de Huelva and UIBS / Barcelona Business School. Programmes in the United States and the United Kingdom are taught in English; in Spain most teaching is in Spanish, with exceptions such as the UAM master's.

When comparing programmes, check the field they apply the methods to (economics, business, health or social research), the mathematics required for admission, the software taught, and whether the course includes a research project with real data. Ask whether the qualification is an official degree.

Careers

Quantitative training leads to jobs as data analyst, statistician, econometrician, operations research analyst, market researcher or risk analyst, in companies, banks, public bodies and research. UC Irvine says its Quantitative Economics major best prepares students for careers in business and finance and for graduate study in the social sciences.

Official US figures show strong demand for these profiles. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • operations research analysts typically need at least a bachelor's degree; there were 113,100 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 12 percent from 2025 to 2035
  • mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree; 33,500 jobs in 2025 and projected growth of 10 percent
  • data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field; 275,600 jobs in 2025 and projected growth of 35 percent

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between quantitative methods and statistics?

Statistics is one of the disciplines behind quantitative methods. Quantitative methods is a broader, applied label: it joins statistics with mathematics, modelling and computing to answer questions in a particular field, such as economics or business.

How much mathematics do I need?

A solid base. The Quantitative Economics BA at UC Irvine, for example, requires single-variable calculus and an introduction to linear algebra before the econometrics courses.

Can I study quantitative methods in English in Spain?

Yes, at master's level. The Máster Universitario en Análisis Económico Cuantitativo at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is taught in English, lasts one year and has 60 ECTS credits; it requires at least level B2 in English.

Is a bachelor's degree enough to find work?

For many posts, yes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that operations research analysts and data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, while mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree.