Course Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Finance will be awarded to students admitted to the program who complete the 12 credit hours of coursework required by the program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better.

The course requirements include FIN 503 (Financial Management) and three additional Finance elective courses chosen from those listed below. All of the courses are offered in a traditional classroom, and a number are offered in the evening for the convenience of working professionals.

FIN503: Financial Management. (Fall and Spring semesters.) Theory and application of financial analysis to asset management, project evaluation, capital structure, and dividend policy. Interrelationships among financial and other organizational decisions. Prerequisite: FIN 341 or equivalent. NOTE: Graduate students will be allowed to enroll in FIN 341 to acquire necessary background knowledge without first taking FIN 341 prerequisites.
FIN511: Financial Futures Markets. (Fall semester only.) Advanced hedging and speculating strategies using futures and options contracts. Coverage includes interest rates, stock indexes, metals, currencies, livestock, and grains. Concepts of price analysis (technical and fundamental) and basis analysis; technical paper is required. Prerequisite: AG E 311, FIN 311, or consent of instructor.
FIN521: Personal Financial Planning for Professionals. (Spring semester only.) Introduction to personal financial planning, including goal setting and fact finding, cash management, credit, housing, retirement planning, taxation and estate planning. This course is intended for those planning careers in personal financial advising in one of the various financial services environments. Prerequisite(s): FIN 503, or consent of instructor.
FIN535: Investment Concepts. (Fall and Spring semesters.) Investments in common stocks and other securities. Risk and return, securities markets, portfolio theory and management. Prerequisite: FIN 503.
FIN536: Applied Security Analysis and Portfolio Management. (Fall and Spring semesters.) Application of analytical tools to security selection and portfolio management. Prerequisite: FIN535, or consent of instructor.
FIN545: Money and Capital Markets. (Fall semester only.) Examination of financial markets and institutions. Emphasis on interest rate determinants, bond markets, and fixed income portfolio management. Prerequisite: FIN 503.
FIN555: Derivative Markets and Securities. (Spring semester only.) Institutional aspects of derivative markets and the arbitrage based pricing of derivative instruments such as stock options, interest rate options, future contracts and swaps. The applied component of the course demonstrates use of these instruments as hedge and/or investment vehicles. Prerequisite(s): FIN 503.
FIN566: Advanced Financial Management. (Fall semester only.) Application and integration of financial theory, concepts, and practice using the case method. Prerequisite: FIN 503.
FIN575: International Managerial Finance. (Spring semester only.) International aspects of financial transactions, decision-making, banking and financial markets. Prerequisite: FIN 503.
FIN581: Management of Financial Institutions. (Spring semester only.) Asset and liability management of financial institutions; emphasis on commercial bank management. Prerequisite(s): FIN 385 or FIN 503.

See the program’s:

Advising page for links to the Department Application form and information on developing a program of study.
Admissions page for details on admissions requirements.