Finance, Professional Certificate
This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The professional Certificate in Finance requires 15 s.h. of credit. Students must earn a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 in certificate coursework.
The certificate is open to individuals with a desire to build their financial knowledge and skills. It is also open to current Iowa MBA Program students, who can complete the certificate as they work toward their degree; the certificate is designed to fit into the MBA curriculum, allowing students to earn the MBA and the certificate without additional coursework.
This certificate is also open as a pathway to students who are interested in the Master of Finance (MSFIN) Program; courses can fulfill degree requirements if admitted to the MSFIN Program as long as the courses are less than ten years old at the time of MSFIN conferral.
This certificate is designed to introduce students to core finance principles while providing the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge of financial concepts in corporate finance, investments, portfolio management, and wealth management.
Certificate courses are offered online and select courses may occasionally be offered in Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC).
Not all courses listed are regularly offered. Students should consult MyUI for course availability and/or discuss course offerings with their advisor.
The Certificate in Finance requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| MBA:8180 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9200 | Portfolio Management | 3 |
| FIN:9300 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| MBA:8140 | Corporate Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MBA:8150 | Data and Decisions | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:6150 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| ENTR:9200 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9010 | Contemporary Topics in Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9130 | Corporate Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
| FIN:9140 | Enterprise Risk Management | 3 |
| FIN:9150 | Financial Modeling and Firm Valuation | 3 |
| FIN:9160 | Quantitative Finance and Machine Learning | 3 |
| FIN:9210 | Derivatives | 3 |
| FIN:9220 | Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FIN:9230 | Real Estate Finance and Investments | 3 |
| FIN:9240 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9270 | Security Analysis | 3 |
| FIN:9290 | Alternative Investments and Portfolio Strategies | 3 |
| FIN:9310 | Advanced Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN:9350 | Wealth Management | 3 |
If MBA:8180 Managerial Finance is waived, it must be replaced with an approved course from the preceding list.
If MBA:8140 Corporate Financial Reporting is waived, it must be replaced with MBA:8150 Data and Decisions. If MBA:8150 Data and Decisions is waived, it must be replaced with MBA:8140 Corporate Financial Reporting. If both are waived, the courses must be replaced with approved courses from the preceding list.
Certificate/Graduate Degrees
Students can pursue this professional certificate concurrently with their graduate degree. A separate application to each degree program is required for students not already admitted to a Tippie College of Business graduate or professional program.
For students in graduate programs outside of the Tippie College of Business:
- With graduate program approval, students may count up to 9 s.h. from the professional certificate toward their graduate degree.
- With approval from the professional certificate program, students may count up to 3 s.h. from any graduate degree program toward their certificate.
Students should contact their degree program and the certificate program to work out combined program details.
Admission decisions are based upon completed application materials, including academic performance along with quality and quantity of work experience. For specific guidelines, view Certificate-Only Admissions on the Tippie College of Business website.
English language requirements are mandatory for applicants whose first language is not English. Information on these requirements and test options can be found on the Iowa MBA International Admissions website.
Admission decisions are made before registration begins for completed applications received by the priority application deadline. Admitted applicants who have met the priority application deadline may request registration for classes on the first registration date. See the Certificate-Only Admissions website for priority and final application deadlines.
Applications are accepted throughout the year; admission is for summer, fall, or spring entry.