• On-Campus Component
    No
  • Cost
    $441.50 per credit before fees
  • Total Credits
    29
  • Credential
    Undergraduate Certificate
  • Application Deadlines
    Spring: December 15; Summer: May 15; Fall: August 1
  • Campus
    Crookston
  • Department
    Business

This Finance Certificate focuses on tools to solve business problems while giving students the insight to understand financial and economic behavior. Classes are offered in accounting, income tax, money and banking, insurance and risk management, estate planning, and investment. Students will develop sought-after problem-solving and quantitative skills that can be applied to a variety of industries, corporations, and financial institutions.

All admission materials must be at the Office of Admissions no later than 4:30 p.m. CST on the deadlines noted.

Courses

View the online catalog for more course information, including descriptions and semester offered.

Prerequisites

  • GBUS 1005 – Orientation to Online Programs (1.0 cr)
  • ECON 2102 – Macroeconomics (3.0 cr)
  • MATH 1031 – College Algebra (3.0 cr)
    or
  • MATH 1250 – Precalculus (3.0 cr)

Core Courses

  • ACCT 2101 – Principles of Accounting I (3.0 cr)
  • ACCT 3201 – Intermediate Accounting I (4.0 cr)
  • ACCT 4404 – Income Tax I (3.0 cr)
  • MGMT 3100 – Managerial Finance (3.0 cr)
    or
  • AGEC 3640 – Agricultural Finance and Valuation (3.0 cr)

Career Outlook

After completing the program, students will be prepared to excel in such positions as financial analyst, personal financial advisor, actuary, and other roles in securities, commodities, and financial services.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, the finance and insurance industry is expected to increase the number of jobs by 9% from 2010 to 2020. This will result in the creation of 505,100 new positions.

According to the US Department of Labor, the average annual salary for a financial analyst is $86,040, while a personal financial advisor can earn an average of $91,220.

There are multiple certificating bodies for financial professionals. They include the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, American Academy of Financial Management, and CFA Institute. Each of these associations has a qualifying examination and codes of ethics that regulate their members.