Online Financial Management Graduate Certificate

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The online Graduate Certificate in Financial Management at Boston University’s Metropolitan College is designed to provide leaders and managers throughout an organization with essential skills for making intelligent business decisions. By taking the required courses for the certificate, students will receive a strong foundation in financial theory, acquire technical skills for developing analytical approaches, and improve critical thinking abilities through hands-on coursework and real-world case studies. Available on campus and online, the Financial Management certificate is designed for professionals currently working in the financial services industry and those who are responsible for making financial decisions, as well as for students who are interested in a financial services career. After completing the certificate, students will be qualified for positions in cash management, capital budgeting, and risk management.

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Financial Management will be able to demonstrate:

Expertise in how financial markets function, including the major participants, procedures for assessing and pricing risk, and market roles in the allocation of credit to various financial sectors.
Comprehension of the goals and functions of financial management.
Skills in financial analysis and planning, working capital management, and the capital budgeting process.
Knowledge of long-term financing.
Proficiency in the overall investment process and the key elements involved in the investment process such as asset allocation and security selection.
Understanding of debt, equity, and derivatives securities.
The ability to construct portfolios of different risk levels, given information about risk-free rates and returns on risky assets.
Full understanding of systematic and firm-specific risk, and portfolio diversification.
Insight on the concept and usage of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).
Experience with the calculation of bond prices including accrued interest, promised yields, and realized yields.
Competence with active bond portfolio management.
Familiarity with how to analyze a firm using the basic financial statements to perform ratio analysis.
Understanding of mergers and acquisitions through the case study methodology.

Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in Financial Management?

Boston University certificate programs comprise just four courses (16 credits) and provide essential skills and capabilities in high-growth industry areas. Certificate programs also provide a pathway to Metropolitan College management degree programs.
The Financial Management certificate is excellent preparation for the internationally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA) Program exams, and shares courses with MET’s MS in Financial Management, which is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The Financial Management certificate program offers the flexibility of online, on-campus, or blended study formats, ensuring that students can earn their credential the way that suits them the best.
Learning from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, students will gain the insights, critical thinking, and analytical skills needed to solve problems in today’s changing business landscape.
Online certificate programs share courses and instructors with MET’s master’s degree programs in management, ranked #6 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report in 2024.

*Chartered Financial Analyst is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

Career Outlook

Financial Managers

19% increase in jobs through 2026

$125,080 median annual pay in 2017

Economists

6% increase in jobs through 2026

$102,490 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Analysts

11% increase in jobs through 2026

$84,300 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Examiners

10% increase in jobs through 2026

$81,690 median annual pay in 2017

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

6% increase in jobs through 2026

$63,780 median annual pay in 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017-18 Edition

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money Matters

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.

How Much Does This Program Cost?To learn more about the cost of this program, visit the MET website for a detailed breakdown of tuition and fees.

Curriculum

Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Financial Management consists of four required online courses (16 credits).

Courses

(Four courses/16 credits)

METAD712 Financial Markets and Institutions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
Investigation and analysis of organization, structure, and performance of U.S. money and capital markets, and institutions. Examines regulation of the financial industry and the role of financial instruments. [4 credits]

METAD714 Mergers and Acquisitions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
This course examines the corporate valuation process by which takeovers and other corporate control transactions take place. It includes financial forecasting, based on expectation models, scenario analysis, and due diligence. Of particular interest will be the defensive measures by management against hostile bids, buyout transactions, the relation of takeovers to capital structure changes, and the insider trading in takeover contests. [4 credits]

METAD717 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

Prereq AD 630, AD731
This course develops a framework for understanding the various types of financial decision making faced by financial managers and provides students with analytical tools for evaluating portfolio construction and management problems in a systematic manner. Includes analysis and determination of securities values. Problems of investment policy are approached through studies of portfolio selection methods and the valuation of special classes of securities. It offers quantitative strategies for portfolio diversification and risk management. [4 credits]

And one of the following:

METAD709 Case Studies in Current Corporate Financial Topics

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
This course involves utilizing analytical methods for financial forecasting, cost of capital calculation, rate of return analysis, use of derivatives instruments, business growth management, discounted cash flow analysis, corporate valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and evaluation of bankruptcy proceedings. [4 credits]

METAD713 Derivative Securities and Markets

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
Provides an overview of operation, mechanics, and structure of the derivative markets and covers in-depth quantitative valuation of derivative instruments, such as options, futures, and swaps. The course involves risk analysis including risk arbitrage, and risk management. Emphasizes the theory and practice of derivatives-based trading strategies including hedging opportunities for risk mitigation. [4 credits]

METAD719 Fixed Income Analysis

Prereq: MET AD 630, MET AD 731
This course covers the nature and analysis of fixed income securities and an in-depth examination of some of the particular features of some major classes of fixed income instruments, valuation, sensitivity to risks, and management of fixed income portfolios. [4 credits]

METAD763 Multinational Finance and Trade

Prereqs: AD 630, AD731
Applies the concepts of corporate finance and risk mitigation to the problems of multinational financial management. Major topics include foreign exchange risk, and construction of hedging strategies using derivative instruments such as forwards, futures, and swaps to reduce multinational corporate risk. Addresses international financial flows and their impact on foreign exchange rates, capital flows, speculation, analysis of alternative foreign investments, analysis of sources and uses of corporate funds abroad, multinational tax and profit. [4 credits]

Admission Information

Faculty

Irena Vodenska

Professor of Finance; Director, Finance Programs; Chair, Administrative Sciences
PhD, Boston University; MBA, Vanderbilt University; MS, BS, University of Belgrade

Jim Stodder

Visiting Professor of the Practice, Administrative Sciences
PhD, Yale University; MSc, University of Essex; BA, Yale University

Bill McGue

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences; Online Program Coordinator
MS, Boston University; BA, Bentley College

Ivan Julio

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
PhD, University of New Orleans; MSc, Arizona State University; Licentiate in Economics, National University of Córdoba

San Chee

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MS, Boston University

Alexander Becker

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
Coordinator, Finance Programs
PhD, Boston University; Diplom-Physiker, University of Duisburg-Essen

Getting Started

To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.

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Online Financial Management Graduate Certificate

Program at a Glance

Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in Financial Management?