Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance

BUS 601 Quantitative Business Analysis (2 credits)

This course introduces students to the quantitative research process, including data interpretation, model selection, and analytical decision-making. Students learn how to identify appropriate statistical models, interpret empirical findings, and apply data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making, storytelling, social responsibility, and sustainability initiatives.

BUS 640 Financial Principles and Practice (2 credits)

This course explores how organizations make financial decisions to create value for shareholders and stakeholders. Students build a foundation in financial management concepts including valuation, capital budgeting, discounted cash flow analysis, risk management, and time value of money principles. The course emphasizes practical problem-solving and the application of financial decision-making concepts across organizations, projects, and personal financial contexts.

BUS 641 Financial Markets and Investments (2 credits)

This course provides students with an understanding of financial markets, investment strategies, security valuation, and portfolio management. Students learn how to evaluate active and passive investment portfolios, analyze financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and options, and measure investment risk and return through financial statement analysis and market evaluation.

REL 602 Real Estate Finance and Investing (2 credits)

This course introduces students to option pricing concepts, derivative markets, and investment applications. Students explore the mechanics of derivatives, various derivative investment products, and both foundational and advanced options strategies. The course also provides an introduction to derivative valuation models, including the Black-Scholes model and binomial tree model.

FIN 602 Options and Futures (1 credit)

This course introduces students to option pricing concepts, derivative markets, and investment applications. Students explore the mechanics of derivatives, various derivative investment products, and both foundational and advanced options strategies. The course also provides an introduction to derivative valuation models, including the Black-Scholes model and binomial tree model.

FIN 605 Enterprise Valuation (2 credits)

This course introduces students to quantitative approaches used to value companies and projects in both corporate finance and investment settings. Students learn how to analyze financial statements from a valuation perspective, forecast future cash flows, and apply discounted cash flow and market multiples methods to estimate value. The course also provides insight into how financial analysts develop and evaluate valuation estimates.

FIN 606 Fundamentals of International Finance (1 credit)

This course explores the economic and institutional foundations of international finance, currency markets, and global trade. Students examine topics such as financial globalization, balance of payments, exchange rate determination, and international monetary systems while developing the ability to analyze exchange rate movements, arbitrage opportunities, and international investment returns in a global financial environment.

FIN 609 Fundamentals of Personal Finance (1 credit)

This course examines the financial planning process and the decisions individuals and families make to achieve long-term financial goals. Students explore topics such as time value of money, personal financial analysis, retirement and education planning, government-sponsored benefits, and economic factors that influence financial planning strategies and decision-making.

FIN 613 Alternative Investments (2 credits)

This course explores how alternative investments can influence the risk and return characteristics of investment portfolios. Students examine investment vehicles such as hedge funds, ETFs, private equity, futures, commodities, and real estate while learning how these assets can diversify traditional stock and bond portfolios and perform across different economic conditions and market cycles.