Finance and Commercial Law

Graduate Certificate in Finance

 

The graduate certificate in finance provides students with strong analytical methods and tools to improve their knowledge base for a variety of finance positions. You will learn skills to analyze and manage finance topics and develop the necessary insights to better manage financial issues in business- or other finance-related positions.

Department of Finance and Commercial Law
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5420 USA
(269) 387-5720 

Is the graduate certificate in finance right for me?

Do you see yourself eventually taking on managerial positions and needing to interpret complex financial information? In the past, many managers have had to learn financial analysis “on the job.” Now, you can shorten that learning curve with this 12-credit-hour certificate, which can be earned on its own, combined with the MBA program through elective courses, or used as a stepping stone to the M.S. in Finance program.

Applicants in a current graduate program can be admitted directly on a complete application. If the student wishes to enroll in the M.S. in Finance program after enrolling in the certificate program additional steps may be required, please contact Renuka Phillips, director of graduate programs.

The program provides expert instruction in the quantitative skills that will set you apart with employers and prepare you for leadership roles. In addition to highly experiential and relevant instruction, you will have access to facilities that will give you a competitive advantage in finance.

  • The Greenleaf Trust Trading Room: Use the Bloomberg Terminal to research market movements in real-time and immerse yourself in the technology that investment professionals use.

  • The Sanford Center for Financial Planning and Wellness: The center provides financial literacy resources and coaching to the campus and greater West Michigan community, and offers programming related to both financial literacy and personal financial planning.

We call it HyFlex. 

As a busy working professional, you may be asking yourself many questions about whether the investment in a graduate certificate in finance is worth it.

You are the reason we offer courses in HyFlex format—a course design model that allows you to select between in-person, hybrid and online options—to fit your learning style, personal obligations and other needs. And you can switch the way you attend to suit your schedule. The ultimate in flexibility.

Unlike programs that revolve around set cohorts with a set schedule, the graduate programs in finance at WMU allows you to modify the course schedule to fit your needs. If you receive a promotion, move or have other life events you need to consider, you can still complete your degree and not lose progress as your life evolves.

You will have maximum flexibility so you can bring your whole self to everything you achieve in the graduate programs in finance and outside of it.

Student seated at table wearing a black turtleneck

Graduate support at WMU

The faculty brings a wide breadth of knowledge, practice and skill to the graduate program, where our students come first. Leaning into the strong depth of the faculty, we are dedicated to providing our students with a top-quality program that will enhance their professional capabilities and support success in their career of choice.
—Dr. David Burnie, professor of finance

Imagine your future in Kalamazoo

Imagine yourself on a campus that is as ambitious as you are. At WMU's Haworth College of Business, you'll find endless possibilities, nationally recognized programs and professors who are all in on your success. And you will achieve your goals in a vibrant city where your experiences—and your future—can be anything you envision. Explore the arts, sporting events, parks and beaches, festivals and foodie hot spots in Kalamazoo while crafting your career at WMU Haworth.