About Our Certificate

The Certificate in Investments provides students with an in-depth understanding of the investments process and its key underlying elements, including asset allocation and security analysis. Students also gain an understanding of financial securities, asset classes (e.g., equities, bonds, real estate, and derivatives), and financial markets. Students completing the certificate will be better prepared for leadership positions in the investments field. A list of specific Student Learning Objectives is provided below:

  • Understand and implement the investment process and the key elements involved in that process, including asset allocation and security selection.
  • Understand financial securities, such as equity, debt, and derivatives.
  • Understand the functions of financial intermediaries, such as banks, mutual funds, pension funds, and endowment funds.
  • Analyze financial statements and construct valuation models to assess the intrinsic value of a firm.
  • Assess systematic and idiosyncratic risks and construct portfolios to achieve a desired level of risk exposure.
  • Evaluate the performance of managed portfolios.

Students who finish the 15 credit-hour curriculum with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA will receive the Undergraduate Certificate in Investments upon completion of their bachelor's degree.

See Course Listings in the MU Course Catalog

Careers in Investments

  • Financial Analyst
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Wealth Manager
  • Personal Financial Planner
  • Risk Manager
  • Security Analyst

Are You Eligible?

This certificate program is available to all degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking students.

How to Declare a Minor or Certificate

6 credit hours - Choose one of the following courses on two courses: FINANC 2000 or FINANC 3000.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONCOURSE DETAILS

FINANC 2000: SURVEY OF BUSINESS FINANCE

An overview of the global financial system, financial markets, financial institutions, and principles of financial management.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: Students admitted to College of Business upper level degree program cannot enroll
  • Course offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters

FINANC 3000: CORPORATE FINANCE

Financial decision-making in a corporate environment. Time value of money, capital budgeting, cost of capital, working capital management and financial instruments issued by the firm.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: Completed 45 semester hours; STAT 2500 (or STAT 2200 AND STAT 1200 or STAT 1300 or STAT 1400); ECONOM 1014; ECONOM 1015 OR ECONOM 1051H
  • Co-requisites: ACCTCY 2027 or ACCTCY 2037 or ACCTCY 2137H
  • Course offered in the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters

And enroll in the additional courses:

COURSE DESCRIPTIONCOURSE DETAILS

FINANC 4020: INVESTMENTS

Security valuation and analysis, formulation of personal and professional investment programs.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 3000
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

 9 credit hours - Choose three of the following courses on this section:

COURSE DESCRIPTIONCOURSE DETAILS

FINANC 4030: FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES & MARKETS

Functions of intermediaries in the aggregation and allocation of funds, creation and transfer of assets, and distribution of risks. Regulation of financial institutions; financial institutions as instruments of public policy.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 3000
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4120: SECURITY ANALYSIS

Classifies and analyzes securities, markets, industries. Formulation of investment policy for institutions, personal investors.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 4020
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4220: PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Development and application of the principles of modern portfolio theory to financial assets. Analysis of the concepts of diversification, portfolio construction, portfolio revision, and use of types of financial assets in effective portfolio management.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 4020
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4230: ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

This is a demanding course that offers a comprehensive and hands-on introduction to alternative investments and fintech. It covers the investment landscape that confronts large institutional investors, key alternative asset classes and fund structures (such as hedge funds, private equity, and real and digital assets), and major players in the alternative space. The course centers on crucial concepts such as alternative risk premium, diversification, and illiquidity. The ultimate objective is to gain insight into how alternative assets operate, the various asset classes available to investors, how to conduct due diligence and monitor investment managers, and how to incorporate alternative assets into conventional investment portfolios. The course simulates the role of a limited partner (such as a pension fund or university endowment) with scarce resources to allocate to alternative assets.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisite: FINANC 4020

FINANC 4240: FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES ANALYSIS

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of fixed income securities, including bonds, bond markets, interest rates, pricing, yield curves, and risk management. The course will also cover topics such as bond valuation, duration, convexity, and the role of fixed income in a diversified portfolio. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the mechanics of bond markets, different types of fixed income instruments, and the risks and rewards associated with investing in these securities.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisite: FINANC 4020

FINANC 4310: FINANCIAL MODELING & DATABASES

Financial modeling and using online databases to retrieve data, data analysis, spreadsheet design, excel VBA programming, interpreting results.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 4020
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4320: FINANCIAL FUTURES & OPTIONS

A basic overview of financial futures and options markets. Topics include: theoretical pricing of financial futures contracts and stock options, institutional aspects of these markets, hedging, and speculative strategies.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: FINANC 4020
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4450: FINANCIAL ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The course comprises an intensive study of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and Global Investment Performance Standards. It also includes a review of corporate governance issues.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisites: N/A. Recommended to have completed FINANC 4010 already before enrolling but is not required.

FINANC 4620: INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF WARREN BUFFET

Survey and application of the investment philosophy and valuation methods of Warren Buffett.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisite: FINANC 3000. Co-requisite: FINANC 4020

FINANC 4820: INVESTMENT FUND MANAGEMENT

Analysis and management of securities and markets by participation in the management of a student-run portfolio of publicly traded stocks and bonds.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisite: FINANC 3000, FINANC 4120, or FINANC 4620. Instructor Consent Required.
  • May be repeated once for credit for a total of six credits.
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

FINANC 4840: ALLEN ANGEL CAPITAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Hands-on experiential investing in start-up enterprises from sourcing, evaluating, and investing to monitoring those investments. Students will learn about angel and venture capital investment strategies, perform pre-screening duties, complete due diligence, structure investment contracts, and monitor portfolio holdings.

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Pre-requisite: Instructor Consent Required.
  • May be repeated once for credit for a total of six credits.
  • Course offered in the Spring and Fall semesters

Have Questions?

We're here to help! 

Next Steps

Undergraduate Programs

110 Cornell Hall 

University of Missouri 

Columbia, MO 65211

Phone: (573) 884-2823
Email: business@missouri.edu