This 9-course certificate program provides a comprehensive curriculum covering core aspects of financial theory and practice. The certificate is designed to meet the market demand for qualified financial professionals and the desire by individuals to increase their knowledge in finance and investments. The program also provides foundation coursework for students considering the CFA®, CMA®, and FP&A certifications.
Students must successfully complete five core courses and four electives for a total of 36 units. A one-day Business Ethics seminar must also be completed at any time during the program. Students may enroll in the certificate with or without a concentration, including concentrations in Corporate Finance, Investment Management & Analysis, Real Estate Finance, or Credit Analysis & Management. The required curriculum can be completed within two years.
All candidates completing this program are awarded a certificate that bears the gold seal of the University of California and is signed by the Dean of UCLA Extension.
Certificate Curriculum
Click on the respective course title(s) to determine course availability and to enroll.
Core Courses (All Five Required)
| X 130A | Basic Managerial Finance |
| X 433.01 | Fundamentals of Investing |
| X 432.3 | Financial Statement Analysis |
| X 430.135 | Money, Banking, and the Financial Markets |
| X 130B | Advanced Managerial Finance |
Ethics Requirement
| 833.380 | Ethics in Finance |
Elective Courses (Four Required)
Certificate with No Concentration Enroll
To enroll with No Concentration, students must complete any four courses from the below listings.
Corporate Finance Concentration Enroll
| X 422 | Management Accounting |
| X 430.131 | Mergers and Acquisitions |
| X 430.132 | Business Valuation |
| X 430.134 | Financial Risk Management |
| X 430.15 | Fundamentals of Corporate Budgeting |
| X 460.923 | International Finance |
| X 460.988 | Global Currency Management |
Investment Management & Analysis Concentration Enroll
| X 430.137 | Behavioral Finance |
| X 433.02 | Security Analysis |
| X 433.03 | Advanced Security Analysis and Hedge Fund Principles |
| X 430.326 | The Science and Art of Investing |
| X 433.032 | Alternative Investment Strategies |
| X 433.033 | Managing and Understanding Stock Option Strategies |
| X 460.983 | International Investing |
Real Estate Finance Concentration Enroll
| X 475.4 | Real Estate Finance |
| X 476.01 | Advanced Real Estate Finance |
| X 427.122 | Taxation of Property Transactions |
| X 477.9 | Real Estate Investment Analysis |
| X 477.95 | Using ARGUS and Other Spreadsheet Programs for Commercial Real Estate Analysis |
Credit Analysis & Management Concentration Enroll
| X 430.611 | Credit: Commercial, Personal, and Global |
| X 430.612 | Conducting a Credit Analysis I |
| X 430.613 | Conducting a Credit Analysis II |
| X 430.614 | Writing & Presenting a Credit Analysis |
| X 430.616 | Managing a Loan Portfolio |
Internship (May be used as one of the electives)
| X 430.136 | Internship in Finance |
Program Requirements
Students are recommended to enroll in the certificate after completing their first two courses in the program at which time students must:
- Submit an Application for Candidacy with a non-refundable application fee of $200.
- Complete all five core courses and four electives for a total of 36 units. Those selecting a concentration must choose the four required electives from within their respective concentration.
- Receive a minimum 2.5 GPA or better for courses completed in the certificate
- Attend 833.380 Ethics in Finance at any time during the program
- Complete the required core and elective courses within a five year time period.
Recommended Prerequisites
Students are advised to complete X 1A Principles of Accounting and X 1B Principles of Accounting (or equivalent) prior to enrolling in the certificate since these two courses are prerequisites for a number of courses in the curriculum. In addition to X 1A and X 1B Principles of Accounting, it is also highly recommended that students complete X 100 Business Economics and X 410.21 Math for Finance (or equivalent) to ensure adequate knowledge required for the core foundation courses.
Transfer of courses
A maximum of two courses can be transferred into the certificate program. Courses must be equivalent in course content and unit value to be eligible and must have been taken within the last five years. If courses were taken beyond this time period, students may be allowed to take alternative courses in consultation with the Certificate Programs Advisor.
