Discover Your Drive. Feed Your Ambition.
Discover Your Drive. Feed Your Ambition.

Online Finance Certificate Programs

Discover firsthand where the finance industry can take you. Heighten your knowledge and set yourself apart in the specialized areas of corporate finance or investment management.

Each Online Finance Certificate from William & Mary combines the prestige of a “Public Ivy” business education with the agility of a short-term, targeted professional skills-development program. In just four courses that can be completed in eight months, you will learn key tools and skills that can help launch you into leadership roles or provide your point of entry into the Online Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program.

Completing your online finance certificate coursework might be just the start of your finance education. Students who complete an Online Finance Certificate program in good standing are invited to apply to the Online Master of Science in Finance program with no additional application requirements, and all credits from the certificate may be applied toward completion of the MSF.

Online Certificate in Corporate Finance

Set yourself up to succeed in a complex business. Our Corporate Finance Certificate program will deepen your understanding of corporate financial strategy, financial valuation models, the ways in which firms interact with the financial markets, and the valuation of a wide range of corporate investment projects and companies. Additionally, the program will hone your skills in financial modeling, analysis and decision-making, global financial strategy, and effective communication of complex financial information and strategies—opening the door to our Online MS in Finance program and a world of achievement beyond it.

To learn more about this program, reach out to one of our admission outreach advisors.

Corporate Finance Certificate at a Glance

  • Complete in 7-8 months
  • 100% online
  • No residency or on-campus requirement
  • One opportunity to start per year
  • Study with our faculty of industry experts
  • Completion in good standing will automatically fulfill admissions requirements for the Online MSF program
  • All credits can be applied to Online Master of Science in Finance

Curriculum Overview

Financial Statement Analysis and Modeling (4 credits)

This course introduces students to the elements of financial statement analysis and increases students' ability to extract and use information from financial reports. In addition, students will learn how to use this information to forecast a complete set of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows) and prepare a three-statement model.

Information from financial statements is used in many situations including setting targets for manager's bonus plans, determining loan covenants, setting prices for IPO's, setting prices for mergers or acquisitions, deciding whether to loan a company money, and deciding whether to purchase the stock of a company. When using financial statement information, people routinely make adjustments to net income to estimate what they believe is the true economic income of the firm (e.g., "core earnings" or "economic value-added"). In this class, students will learn how to evaluate the information provided in financial statements and draw your own conclusions about whether it accurately reflects the financial position of the firm.

Principles of Finance (4 credits)

Finance focuses on how people and businesses evaluate investment opportunities and raise capital to fund them. This course will provide you with an understanding of the financial principles that guide decision-making and equip you with the basic tools necessary for analyzing and interpreting financial data. The goal is to learn how to price securities in modern financial markets and to develop insights into the methods by which financial managers can create value for their shareholders.

Corporate Valuation and Credit Analysis (4 credits)

This course will familiarize students with the tools and techniques for valuing corporate investment projects and assets in a wide range of settings. It offers hands-on experience in building and interpreting valuation models in Excel as commonly used by corporate financial managers, investment managers and investment bankers.

Advanced Corporate Finance (4 credits)

The objective of this course is to study the major decision-making areas of managerial finance. The course reviews the theory and empirical evidence related to investment and financing policies of the firm and to develop decision-making ability in these areas.

Building on previous courses, this course incorporates richer institutional details and deepens understanding of how firms interact with the financial markets. Topics to be included are: financing investments with capital market imperfections, corporate control, governance and risk management.

More Than a Degree.
This Is Your Launchpad.

A William & Mary education is not just a degree but a unique connection to a tight-knit community of students, alumni, bold educators and driven, principled, connected leaders. Build your brand with a university known for breaking barriers, championing integrity and channeling academic grit since its inception.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business imparts essential business knowledge and builds the dynamic mindset necessary to lead in today’s challenging and rapidly changing business environment. As an online graduate business student, you will:

✓ Graduate with the perspective to envision and enact positive change
✓ Access mentorship and experiential learning opportunities
✓ Receive personalized career support
✓ Build a lasting network to bolster your career for years to come

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Application Requirements for the Online Finance Certificates

Each Online Finance Certificate is designed to provide the opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing a finance career, at any professional level, to move into this dynamic field. To promote this level of accessibility, the application requirements for the program are as follows:

  • A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Current resume or CV with employment history
  • One 300-word personal statement
  • $100 application fee; waivers are available by request
Jackie Munoz

Have Questions?

We want to ensure you can take advantage of this opportunity to transition into a rewarding new finance career. Feel free to schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor if you have any questions about the Online Finance Certificates, or about using it to transition into the Online MSF program.

Interested in Our Online Programs?

Jun
13
Priority Application Deadline
June 13
Fall 2025 Term
Jul
25
Application Deadline
July 25
Fall 2025 Term
Aug
25
Next Start
August 25
Fall 2025 Term