Online Finance Graduate Certificate
Advance Your Career in Finance
At a Glance
The Graduate Certificate in Finance online takes you deep into the world of finance — building mastery across asset management, corporate finance, banking, securities, and risk management, while equipping you with the modeling skills to apply it all in practice.
Backed by the AACSB-accredited OU Price College of Business, the Finance certificate is built for ambitious professionals ready to master the complexities of modern finance and take their careers to the next level.
To learn more about this certificate, contact the Price Graduate Programs office at Price.Graduate.Programs@ou.edu.
100% Online
Time to Complete:
9+ months
Credit Hours:
12
Time Commitment:
10 to 20 Hours Weekly
start dates
Fall, Spring
cost
The online Graduate Certificate in Finance equips you with practical, real-world financial expertise that you can apply immediately.
Tuition and fees for the program are $12,180 ($1,015 per credit hour). Books and materials are not included. There is no application fee or deposit for this certificate.
About the Online Graduate Certificate in Finance
From corporate boardrooms to wealth management firms, finance professionals who can assess risk, allocate capital, and drive strategic decisions are in demand across every sector.
The University of Oklahoma’s Finance Graduate Certificate is a fully online program designed for working professionals who want to deepen their knowledge and advance their careers in asset management, commercial banking, real estate, corporate finance, and related fields.
Delivered through OU’s AACSB-accredited Price College of Business, the curriculum equips you with practical, real-world financial expertise in financial securities, asset pricing, risk management, financial modeling, corporate decision-making, real estate, and wealth management to navigate complex financial environments and make confident, high-stakes decisions.
This flexible, 100% online certificate with interactive synchronous evening sessions prepares you to accelerate your career, whether you’re advancing within a financial institution, expanding into a new area of finance, or sharpening the expertise needed to move into leadership.
In addition, the 12 credit hours you earn through the Finance Graduate Certificate are fully transferable (subject to time limits) as electives into OU’s online MS in Finance, online MBA, or other graduate degree programs within business or across OU, allowing you to build momentum now and potentially shorten the time required to complete your master’s degree if you choose to continue.
To learn more about this certificate, contact the Price Graduate Programs office at Price.Graduate.Programs@ou.edu.
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Course Details
The Finance Graduate Certificate features a focused curriculum that explores a wide range of topics including financial management, investments, risk management, and financial derivatives. Whether you're advancing in financial services or taking on new responsibilities across finance disciplines, this curriculum delivers the strategic knowledge and practical tools to navigate high-stakes financial decisions and lead with confidence.
Core Courses
- Investments (2)
- Financial Derivatives (2)
Elective Courses (Choose 4)
- Portfolio Risk Management (2)
- Advanced Corporate Finance (2)
- International Financial Management (2)
- Fixed Income Securities and Markets (2)
- Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring (2)
- Financial Modeling (2)
- Real Estate Finance and Investments (2)
- Financial Statement Analysis Theory and Methods (2)
Expand each course below to view more about the topics covered and how they prepare you for leadership in finance.
Course Structure
You’ll earn 12 credit hours across six courses. Each semester is divided into two modules, and you’ll take two courses in each module (4 courses per semester). Spring and Fall courses run for 8 weeks. Summer semester courses run for 7 weeks. Synchronous and asynchronous courses allow for engaging discussions while you gain the knowledge needed to compete in a growing industry.
CORE COURSES (4 HOURS)
Investments
Credit Hours: 2
The purpose of this course is to provide the fundamentals of investment analysis. This course will place an emphasis on topics such as risk and return, asset pricing models, portfolio theory, hedge funds, behavioral finance, bond valuation, introduction to futures markets and options, and basics on financial instruments and trading of securities.
Financial Derivatives
Credit Hours: 2
This course is an introduction to derivative securities, markets in which they trade, and how they are used. Derivative securities are constantly changing with new types of derivative securities being developed and traded. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the most common types of derivative securities, though the principles can be applied to more general securities.
Choose 8 hours from the following list:
Portfolio Risk Management
Credit Hours: 2
This course provides a foundation in portfolio risk management, examining both theory and practice. Students gain understanding of risk management in finance theory and exposure to measurement techniques including regression analysis, Value-at-Risk using Monte Carlo simulation, scenario analysis, and stress testing. The course emphasizes application of financial derivatives including futures, options, swaps, and credit default swaps.
Advanced Corporate Finance
Credit Hours: 2
This course is for students aspiring to careers in financial management in corporations, banks, and other financial institutions. It covers topics on the corporate financial management function, including advanced capital project evaluation, financing, dividends, corporate risk management, and mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. The course provides the conceptual aspects of corporate finance and an applied perspective on the subject.
International Financial Management
Credit Hours: 2
This course develops the analytical framework required for understanding the interactions between exchange rates, cross-border trade and capital flows, inflation, interest rates, economic growth, and government policy. The course will then examine international financial markets and the opportunities they present for achieving risk management, financing, and investment objectives. The principal focus will be on financial instruments used for these purposes.
Fixed Income Securities and Markets
Credit Hours: 2
The aim of this course is to develop an intellectual and practical understanding of the principles governing the valuation of fixed income securities and their derivatives, the main problems and issues relevant in the management of interest rate risk, and the organization and structure of debt markets, all from the perspective of fixed income fund management.
Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring
Credit Hours: 2
The course deals with acquiring or disposing of corporate assets (taking into consideration legal issues, accounting, and tax, and how they affect the outcome of M&A transactions). Topics include valuation of assets being sold/purchased by corporations, economic motivations for mergers and acquisitions, structuring of the transactions, deal tactics/strategies, leveraged buyouts, and corporate restructuring.
Financial Modeling
Credit Hours: 2
The application of quantitative concepts in financial modeling using Excel. Students will become proficient in Excel and use it in building financial models. In addition, students will gain a working knowledge of quantitative concepts such as corporate valuation, portfolio theory, and Monte Carlo methods.
Real Estate Finance and Investments
Credit Hours: 2
The course introduces students to the fundamentals of real estate and real estate finance. The class reviews the time value of money and explores in more depth quantitative computational principles, underwriting analysis, and the ultimate source of funds for real estate finance. Focus is on the legal, economic, quantitative, and strategic elements of the real estate finance and investing process.
Financial Statement Analysis Theory and Methods
Credit Hours: 2
Intended to increase your ability to use and make decisions using information presented in the financial statements of publicly traded companies. A number of different decision contexts will be examined, including valuation of potential acquisitions, investment analysis, credit analysis, managing corporate financing policies, and analyzing business communications. Will consider the role of both accounting and non-accounting information.
Why Choose OU Online for a Graduate Certificate in Finance
OU Online delivers high-quality, affordable undergraduate and graduate programs designed for working professionals. With flexible, fully online formats and instruction from a top-tier public university, you’ll gain the skills and credentials to advance your career without putting it on hold.
Explore what it takes to thrive in the world of finance, where asset management, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making are essential skills for professionals ready to lead across today’s complex and fast-moving financial landscape.
Faculty Expertise
Learn from Price College faculty and seasoned finance professionals who combine academic rigor with real-world experience and cutting-edge insight into financial markets, investment strategy, and high-level financial leadership.
Robust Student Support
OU Online offers robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center. The program accommodates the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your skills while maintaining full-time employment.
Global Alumni Network
With more than 250,000 alumni across the world, becoming a Sooner means you’ll have access to a strong network of finance professionals to accelerate your career. As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful network of leaders working in organizations across the world, helping you expand your career in the finance industry.
Flexible Format
The online Finance Graduate Certificate offers a flexible format built for working professionals across the globe. Earn your certificate in as few as 9 months while maintaining full-time employment and managing personal commitments. Study from anywhere and gain specialized expertise in finance that sets you apart in a competitive industry.
Tailored Experience
Move through the program with a small, focused cohort of professionals who share your passion for finance. Engage in dynamic online discussions with faculty and peers while building a powerful network within the industry. Learn to lead, collaborate, and thrive in one of the world’s most complex and fast-evolving sectors.
Cost and Financial Aid
Earning your Finance Graduate Certificate is an investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment as accessible and transparent as possible.
Tuition and fees for the program are $12,180 ($1,015 per credit hour). Books and materials are not included. There is no application fee for this degree.
*Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
