Professional Certificates
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Certificate Policies and Resources
Substitutions, Waivers and Transfer Credit
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Courses Available in
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Paul Emery
Program Director
Ryan Crisp
Online Program Coordinator
Student Success Story
"The certificate program gives you the practical skills to be more effective at your job." —Josh Fiedler, Certificate Program in Finance student
UPDATED
Finance
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EDP 152041
With the UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Finance, you gain in-depth knowledge and skills to advance your career—in less time and at less cost than a master's degree requires. The integrated curriculum features both financial theory and practical tools. First, build a strong foundation with courses in risk, financial analysis and modeling, and corporate finance. Then, choose a specialization for further study:
- Capital Markets for portfolio management; options; derivatives; debt markets; and techniques for creating, using, acquiring and selling complex financial instruments.
- Investment Management for securities analysis, portfolio management, and options and other derivatives for managing the investment of financial instruments.
The curriculum is overseen by an advisory board of business and education leaders and approved by the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, ensuring your education is relevant and up-to-date. Courses are taught by working professionals with many years of practical business experience. Join our email list to stay informed about this certificate.
Courses
The table contains the required courses for the Certificate Program in Finance, as well as the terms they are typically available for enrollment.
4 Required Courses, 3 Required Specialization Courses, 1 Elective
15 Semester Units (225 Hours of Instruction)
| Required Courses | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Risk Management | X436.5 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Corporate Financial Analysis and Modeling | X435.6 | 1 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Intermediate Corporate Finance | X444.1 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| International Finance | X430.8 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Investment Management Specialization Courses | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Securities Analysis | X425.5 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Investment Portfolio Management | X431.2 | 2 | Fall |
|
| Options and Other Financial Derivatives | X435.1 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Capital Markets Specialization Courses | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Portfolio and Risk Management | X436.6 | 2 | Spring |
|
| Debt Markets and Fixed-Income Securities | X436.3 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Derivative Securities | X436.4 | 2 | Fall Spring |
| Approved Electives | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Topics in Corporate Financial Modeling | X410.7 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Basic Corporate Finance | X430.1 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Behavioral Finance | X436.7 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Investments in Personal Financial Planning: General Principles and Methods | X433.3 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Understanding Wealth Management | X414.3 | 2 | Fall Spring |
Course availability is subject to change. Courses offered in both online and classroom environments are interchangeable, and you may choose either format.
Begin by enrolling in Fundamentals of Risk Management X436.5. We recommend that you also complete the one-day workshop Basic Financial Mathematics and Financial Calculators during your first term.
To enroll, click on a course title above and choose a section.
You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the Certificate Program in Finance.
Online or Classroom Format
You can take courses online, in class or a combination of both. Choose the format that works for your schedule. Find out more about online learning at Extension.
Who Will Benefit
This certificate is ideal if you want to build a solid, practical understanding of corporate finance and acquire focused skills in the specialization that best suits your career goals. You are prepared for career change or advancement, whether you plan to raise capital, invest funds, manage assets and generate returns or, if you are interested in capital markets, want to create, acquire or sell financial instruments used in global financial markets.
Prerequisites for Admission
There are no prerequisites for the Certificate Program in Finance, but a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended. We also recommend you have a solid academic foundation in the basic areas of finance (such as Basic Corporate Finance X430.1, Corporate Financial Management X435, Principles of Management Accounting X421.5 or Introduction to Financial Accounting XB102A) and economics (such as Applied Economics for Business X402.8, Introduction to Microeconomics X2 or Introduction to Macroeconomics X3). In addition, proficiency with computer spreadsheets is highly recommended. If you feel you need a deeper background in these areas, we recommend taking one or more of the suggested foundation courses.
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum consists of 4 required core courses, 3 required specialization courses and 1 elective for a total of 15 semester units (225 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate registration fee.
All coursework must be completed within five years of registering for the certificate. However, requirements may be updated based on new developments in the field of study; we recommend completing the curriculum in a timely fashion. For more information, please see the completion requirements and the substitutions, waivers and transfer credit policies.
How to Register for This Professional Certificate
By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register for the Certificate Program in Finance, submit the online registration form with your credit card information or complete the mail-in registration form. The registration fee is nonrefundable.
Estimated Cost
Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated cost of $5,845 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.
Contact Information
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions. To contact the department office, email business@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-4231.
For details about online courses, email online@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-7343.
Advisory Board
Don Davis, M.B.A.
Corporate Finance Consultant
Eric Goldstein
Account Vice President, Wealth Management
UBS
John Gonzales, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor, Haas School of Business
UC Berkeley
Kirk Knapp, M.B.A., CFP
Emerald Management Advisers
Mitchell Smith
Managing Director
MDSCO Financial Advisers
Jeff Shen, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Head of Asia Equity
Barclays Global Investors
Winnie Sze
Proprietor
WSZE Training and Consulting
Victor Villagracia
Vice President, Investment Advisory Brokerage Service
UBS
Tony Yeh
Pacifica Consulting
Chair, Finance Advisory Board
