Overview
This certificate is designed for students who wish to either become financial managers or who wish to advance their financial careers. The certificate begins with a common core of financial tools and finishes with a course in financial decision-making. The core classes include an integrated foundation of finance, economics and accounting, as well as an integrated course on domestic and international corporate valuation, covering both finance and accounting problems. The financial decision making course, and the certificate will help managers use decision-making theory to better understand why investors, money managers, and corporate managers often make sub optimal economic and financial decisions. The course includes basic techniques and models that a manager or an investor should know. The certificate will provide students with a template for thinking through a variety of financial issues.
Students completing the master’s in finance have the option of earning a certificate in either Corporate Finance or Financial Decision Making to supplement their degree. Additionally, an individual certificate in each track can be earned online for those students who do not wish to complete the full degree at this time. To complete both MSF certificates requires 24 credits with an additional 7 credits required to complete the master's degree.
To obtain detailed program admission and curricula information please visit the website.
Admission Requirements
- Application - Completed application for admission submitted through BusinessCAS
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official academic transcripts from all previous attended post-secondary institutions must be submitted directly to BusinessCAS
- International applicants must have their education credentials from institutions outside of the United States verified by an approved international credentialing evaluation service such as World Education Services to confirm degree equivalency and GPA calculation
- Statement of Purpose – short essay responses to the career goal and program related questions in BusinessCAS
- Resume – current resume outlining your professional and/or academic achievements
- One letter of recommendation
- Official GMAT or GRE – (optional)
- GMAT Institution Code is 7NV-S1-96 (or the locator code specific to your program of interest)
- GRE Institution Code is 5815
- Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS and TOEFL score report – A valid score (less than 2 years old) is required as proof of English proficiency for international applicants who did not receive a degree in the United States or a foreign country where English is the primary language. The following minimum score is required for admission to a graduate business degree program.
- TOEFL: 94 or above – Institution Code: 5815
- IELTS: 7.0 or above – Institution Code: 4861
- DET - 125 or above
Curriculum Requirements
Certificate in Financial Decision Making
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FIN 635 | Quantitative and Analytical Fundamentals for Finance | 3 |
| FIN 613 | Asset Pricing and Investment (NEW COURSE) | 3 |
| FIN 615 | Psychology of Financial Markets and Financial Decisions (NEW COURSE) | 3 |
| FIN 617 | Financial Derivatives (NEW COURSE) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Mission
The Certificate in Financial Decision Making is for those students who work, or plan to work, in a corporate setting or at a money management firm working with mutual funds, hedge funds, or pension funds.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Use teamwork, business communication, and organizational skills to effectively analyze information and present results in group projects.
