Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation
The Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation is offered under the auspices of the Center for Investment Studies in the Marshall School of Business at USC.
The certificate program is designed to offer students the intensive instruction and training needed to successfully compete in rapidly developing global financial markets. Coursework in the fundamental theories and practice of financial accounting, financial analysis, valuation, credit analysis, and financial instruments and markets expands their analytical capacities to better understand and develop strategic financial decisions. The program provides students with a competitive edge as they pursue a number of different career paths within the financial marketplace.
Key learning objectives include the following:
- To provide students rigorous exposure to financial analysis and valuation, credit analysis, and financial instruments and markets.
- To develop the analytical skills necessary for applying fundamental financial concepts and tools in the decision-making process in investment management and corporate finance.
- To learn the qualities that characterize successful financial professionals such as ethics, professionalism, and creative and critical thinking by interacting with individuals and institutions engaged in financial markets of corporate finance.
- To visibly distinguish and prepare our students as a highly interacting, competitive, and qualified pool of candidates and increase their earning potential as we help place them in the financial services and corporate finance marketplace.
The Program provides not only the fundamental theory and practice in financial analysis and valuation, but also
- access to a rich array of financial and instructional tools, faculty research, and publications for students’ academic research;
- participation in the CIS Distinguished Speaker Series, Annual Meetings, research seminars, and guest lectures; and
- networking and recruiting opportunities within our extensive network of friends and alumni.
The program also helps businesses and institutions find job candidates with the qualities and skills they seek.
Students admitted to the program focus on one of two curricular options -- Corporate Finance or Investments. Within the investment option, a select group of individuals are chosen each year to participate in the Student Investment Fund program. This year-long seminar-based program provides students with a living laboratory in which they manage an endowment of millions of dollars.
For detailed information about the program curriculum click here.
For current USC graduate students, course work for the Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation may be completed in conjunction with course work required for the program in which the student is already enrolled. Applicability of these courses to the student's primary degree program is determined by the student's home department. (For USC alumni, courses completed in conjunction with the individual's prior degree may not be credited toward the certificate. Appropriate substitutions for required courses will be determined and documented by the program director.)
Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate program is documented on the graduate's USC transcript and acknowledged with a certificate (diploma) issued by the University of Southern California.