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Finance, Certificate

The finance certificate gives you solid grounding in financial principles, accounting analysis and economic analysis. With a certificate in finance, you can consider careers in financial analysis, capital budgeting, security analysis, corporate financial management and small business finance.

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About this Program

The certificate in finance allows you to gain specialized knowledge necessary to be successful in finance. You’ll develop your critical thinking and analytical skills as you learn how to assess the value and implications of financial decisions.

You’ll receive solid grounding in financial principles, accounting analysis and economic analysis. You will be exposed to complex financial issues and increase your analytical competence. 

With a certificate in finance, you can consider careers in financial analysis, capital budgeting, security analysis, corporate financial management and small business finance.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Quantify the relation between risk and return and apply it in value-maximizing financial activities of individuals and corporations (in global, ethical context).
  • Choose and be proficient in applying financial tools and analytical methods to improve financial decision-making.
  • Effectively communicate and justify, in both written and oral form, results and recommendations of financial analysis to audiences having varying degrees of financial sophistication.

Applicants must have

  • A minimum of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  • A minimum of two years of full time work experience
  • Competency in statistics
  • (Optional) Official scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

Certificate Requirements

This certificate requires 15 credit hours of graduate courses.

  • Financial Accounting
  • FINC 5000: Managerial Finance (or equivalent) (Not required for Professional MBA students)
  • FINC 5050: Corporate Financial Management
  • FINC 5100: Investments
  • FINC 5110: Financial Institutions and Markets

Pick two courses from the following options:

  • ACCT 5110: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • ACCT 5370: Valuation for Financial Reporting
  • FINC 5105: Valuation of Derivatives
  • FINC 5115: Corporate Investments Decisions
  • FINC 5120: Portfolio Management
  • FINC 5130: Financial Modeling
  • FINC 5300: Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation
  • FINC 5305: Finance for International Business
  • FINC 5310: Financial Risk Management
  • FINC 5315: Entrepreneurial Finance
  • FINC 5320: Advanced Topics in Investments
  • FINC 5325: Real Options Analysis
  • FINC 5330: Fixed Income Analysis
  • FINC 5335: Hedge Funds
  • FINC 5345: Personal Financial Planning
  • FINC 5350: History of Financial Crises - Implications for the Future
  • FINC 5370: Valuation for Financial Reporting
  • FINC 5500: Cases in Managerial Finance

Explore the Catalog

View the full admissions and certificate requirements in the graduate catalog.

Earn your Finance Certificate Today

Graduate student Bowen Chen (MSF), from Shanghai China, center, writes out a finance problem in the library on campus in preparation for his final.

What to Know Before Applying

  • Current students should speak to their adviser about adding a certificate.
  • New students need to apply for the certificate program as a regular student via our application page.
  • After being accepted, you must complete the onboarding process, including a meeting with your advisor. Once complete, you may start the next available term.
  • Length of program depends on when classes are being offered and how many you wish to take per term. Not all classes are offered every year/quarter. Speak to your adviser to get the most up-to-date schedule for the academic year.

Get in Touch

Get in-depth, personalized program information from an expert. Share your career goals and decide on next steps with our specialized admissions team.

Carolyn Auvil

Senior Graduate Student Recruitment Specialist

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