Finance Certificate
Advance your career in the finance field quickly.
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Request InfoFinance Certificate Overview
The online Certificate in Finance program from the University of West Florida gives you the foundational concepts you need to advance your career in the financial field.
Throughout the program, you’ll study how to manage financial theories in real life and can customize your certificate toward your career goals to include knowledge of investments, statement analysis, financial markets and more. Our hands-on approach to course content means you’ll complete experiential assignments and do things like manage a real portfolio of money for the university.
Courses in the Department of Accounting and Finance are known to be kept small and deliver lots of personalized attention. Professors are there when you need them to answer your questions and ensure you’re taking full advantage of the program.
Candidates for This Program Include:
- Professionals who want to advance their careers with more knowledge of the finance field
- Undergraduate students or those who are not seeking a degree but want finance information
You Will Be Able To:
- Apply finance concepts and theories to lead to a career in finance
- Use appropriate techniques to identify and solve finance problems, including the use of tools such as Microsoft Excel
Courses and Requirements
UWF’s online Finance Certificate program includes 12 credit hours. Get started by taking managerial finance, then choose three more courses that best suit your career focus.
- FIN 3403 - Managerial Finance
3 Credit Hours
Managerial Finance
Analytical concepts available to financial manager in acquisition and effective utilization of funds in relation to other management functions.
- FIN 3403 - Managerial Finance
- FIN 3244 - Financial Markets and Institutions
3 Credit Hours
Financial Markets and Institutions
Structure and functions of financial markets and institutions; interest rates, exchange rates, intermediation, and markets. Prerequisite: ACG 2071 AND ECO 2013 AND ECO 2023
- FIN 4461 - Financial Statement Analysis
3 Credit Hours
Financial Statement Analysis
Study of financial statements, including interpreting accounting data and analyzing financial statements. Offered concurrently with FIN 5465. Graduate students will be assigned additional work. Prerequisite: FIN 3403.
- FIN 4414 - Financial Theory and Practice
3 Credit Hours
Financial Theory and Practice
Designed as an extension of FIN 3403. Topics such as risk and return, stock and bond valuation, time value of money, and capital budgeting, will be covered in greater depth. New topics will include lease financing, hybrid financing, international finance, et al. Prerequisite: FIN 3403.
- FIN 4504 - Investments
3 Credit Hours
Investments
Introduction to an extensive development of theoretical concepts related to areas of securities analysis and portfolio management. Prerequisite: FIN 3403.
- FIN 3244 - Financial Markets and Institutions
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to UWF’s online Finance Certificate program, you must apply for admission to the University as an undergraduate, non-degree seeking student.
How to Apply
To begin the online Finance Certificate program, interested students need to fill out an Undergraduate Non-degree Seeking Application. Once accepted as a non-degree seeking student, students should contact the College of Education and Professional Studies Advising Center and speak to an advisor about course availability and scheduling. Then, complete the online Undergraduate Certificate Declaration Form on MyUWF.
Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our undergraduate admissions team at admissions@uwf.edu. If you are a current UWF student, please reach out to the department’s academic advisor.
Costs & Financial Aid
Military Students
UWF is a Military FriendlyⓇ School proudly serving active-duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.
See How We Can Serve YouFinancial Aid
Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.
Learn More About Financial AidCareer Outcomes
In completing UWF’s Finance Certificate, you’re better prepared to step into roles in corporate finance, security analysis, financial planning and banking. Career titles could include:
* Salary and job outlook information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts recommend individual investments and portfolios to their clients as they study economic trends as well as past and current data. Their job growth rate is expected to be as fast as average between 2020 and 2030. The median wage for all financial analysts in 2021 was $81,410 a year, with those working in securities, commodity contracts and other financial investments and related activities earning a median income of $100,790.
Financial Managers
As a finance manager, you’ll supervise a team of employees who prepare financial reports and budgets so you can prepare financial statements, business activity reports, and forecasts and monitor the details to ensure legal requirements are met. Their job growth rate is expected to be nearly triple the national average between 2020 and 2030 — at 17%. The median wage for all financial managers in 2021 was $131,710 a year, with those working in the management of companies and enterprises earning a median income of $158,820.
Personal Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors educate clients as to the best ways to meet their short and long-term financial goals, recommend or select investments on their behalf, and monitor accounts to see if changes are needed to improve performance. Their job growth rate is expected to be 5% between 2020 and 2030. The median wage for all personal financial advisors in 2021 was $94,170 a year, with those working in securities, commodity contracts and other financial investments and related activities earning a median income of $99,970.