Fundamentals of Finance (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 and post-graduate certificate programs specifically designed for working 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 Fundamentals of Finance includes:
- A survey of asset pricing theory using Excel spreadsheet modeling to explore the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and investment opportunities
- A foundation for understanding the price and risk management of derivative securities using mathematical tools in stochastic processes
- Financial statement analysis that compares U.S. practices to those in other major countries
Certificate students take classes 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 Fundamentals of Finance covers topics such as: asset pricing theory; the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and investment opportunities; the mechanism, pricing, trading, and risk management of financial derivatives; and development of advanced financial analysis skills. Courses include hands-on exercises and projects.
Career Opportunities
The Certificate in Fundamentals of Finance provides finance professionals at corporations, banks, and other institutions with the latest industry-relevant ideas, skills, and technologies to advance in their careers in roles such as financial analyst, budget analyst, financial manager, or many others.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
- Completion of MSF 501, MSF 502, MSF 503 OR the equivalent as demonstrated by coursework in calculus, Python programming, basic statistics and general finance
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, located one block west of Union Station and near Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago
- Flexible: Take one or more courses at a time
Your Certificate Credit Is Stackable
The Certificate in Fundamentals of Finance 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.
Featured Faculty
Tao L. Wu
