Financial Technology (Certificate)
The Master of Science in Finance program at Stuart School of Business, nationally ranked in the United States by TFE Times, offers a variety of graduate certificate programs specifically designed for finance professionals who want to enhance their specialized expertise to propel their careers forward, as well as earn stackable credentials as part of a degree program.
The Certificate in Financial Technology covers both “hard” and “soft” aspects of the field, including:
- Machine learning techniques such as linear machine learning algorithms for prediction and classification, nonlinear machine learning algorithms, ensemble algorithms, and neural networks, with hands-on application using Python to build scripts that encapsulate the algorithms presented
- Development of high frequency models and the assessment of their performance
- An introduction to how financial markets in equities, bonds, money, foreign exchange, and derivatives are set up and operate and how they function in the global arena
Certificate students take courses alongside degree-seeking students and benefit from the same industry-experienced faculty, hands-on approach, and curriculum that is attuned to leading-edge finance practices and technologies.
Convenient for busy professionals, courses are scheduled in the evening at Illinois Tech’s Conviser Law Center in downtown Chicago.
Program Overview
The Certificate in Financial Technology covers concepts, applications, and techniques in the field, including machine learning for forecasting and analyzing data, financial technology and the functioning of markets with respect to trading, and economic risks and rewards caused by the ever-expanding role of financial technology.
Career Opportunities
The Certificate in Financial Technology provides finance professionals with the latest industry-relevant ideas, skills, and technologies targeted to their interests and career paths such as trading, risk management, investment management, structuring and pricing analysis, and quantitative analysis and programming.
Potential roles in the finance industry include:
- Financial managers
- Financial and investment analysts
- Financial systems analysts
- Financial quantitative analysts
- Investment fund managers
- Financial risk specialists
This certificate requires the following three semester-length courses (three credit hours per course; nine credit hours total). Each course meets once a week for 15 weeks.
MSF 547—Machine Learning for Finance and Business
MSF 577—High Frequency Finance and Technology
MSF 591—Global Markets and Technology
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.5/4.0 (or equivalent)
- Work experience is preferred
- Completion of MSF 501, MSF 502, MSF 503, MSF 504, MSF 505, and MSF 506 OR equivalent as demonstrated by coursework in calculus, Python programming, basic statistics, asset pricing theory (CAPM and APT), understanding of the futures and options markets and introductory accounting.
Designed for Busy Professionals
Stuart School of Business graduate certificates are:
- Targeted: Get the specific, career-focused education you need now
- Convenient: Evening courses at Illinois Tech’s Conviser Law Center in downtown Chicago, located one block west of Union Station and near Ogilvie Transportation Center
- Flexible: Take one or more courses at a time
Your Certificate Credit Is Stackable
The Certificate in Financial Technology is stackable, which means that all nine credit hours automatically apply if you choose to pursue the Illinois Tech M.S. in Finance degree.
Students in this certificate program who later apply and are admitted to a different master’s degree program at Stuart may apply all approved certificate coursework with a grade of B or higher to that master’s degree. A certificate is typically equivalent to one-fourth to one-third of the credit hours required for a degree. Students have the option of transferring to the master’s program in any semester.