Successful businesses need professionals with a strong background in accounting and finance who can create innovative solutions to complex problems. By earning your Graduate Certificate in Accounting and Financial Decision Making—in just five or six courses—you'll build the skills necessary to analyze financial statements, identify the strategic implications, assess risk, and make informed decisions.
Program Overview
- Program Structure: 5–6 courses
- Class Schedule: Monday–Thursday evenings at 5:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Time to Complete: 8 months when studying full-time and 8 months to 3 years when studying part-time
Typical Program Timelines
Part-Time Graduate Certificate
| Sep – Dec* | Required courses |
| Jan – Apr | Remaining required courses and program electives |
| May – Aug | Remaining program electives |
Course offerings vary per semester. May be completed at a flexible pace up to three years, but is typically completed in three semesters. 12-15 credits total.
Course offerings vary per semester. May be completed at a flexible pace up to three years, but is typically completed in three semesters.
Full-Time Graduate Certificate for International Students
| Sep – Dec* | Three courses: required and program electives |
| Jan – May | Two remaining electives |
Course offerings vary per semester. Must be completed in eight months (two semesters) to be F-1 visa compliant. 15 credits total.
Course offerings vary per semester. Must be completed in eight months (two semesters) to be F-1 visa compliant.
Unique Features
145+
countries represented by Northeastern students and faculty
12 or 15
credits may be applied toward a future MBA
Top 50
among national universities (U.S. News & World Report)
3
study options
- Increase your understanding of essential financial practices, including identifying and analyzing critical information in corporate financial reports
- Develop your managerial skills by studying time-tested frameworks for decision-making
- Specialize your studies with electives that are relevant to your goals
- Build applied financial experience by joining the student management team of the 360 Huntington Fund—a real fund in Northeastern's endowment—and researching and presenting your own stock recommendations to a panel of your peers
- Access expert career guidance from an experienced counselor at Northeastern's office of Employer Engagement and Career Design
- Build the foundation for a future master's degree from Northeastern—you may be able to apply your certificate credits toward an eligible master's program
Meet Some of Our Students
Simone Pontarolo Langner, Graduate Certificate in Accounting and Financial Decision Making'18
“D'Amore-McKim School of Business helped me to connect my practical experience with business theory to build on my existing skills and accelerate my career.” says, Langner
Zachary Sletterink, Graduate Certificate in Accounting and Financial Decision Making'18, MBA'20
“My biggest takeaway is how much I learned from these five courses that I can apply to work situations. I'm able to take this knowledge and use it to better my current workspace by recommending new policies and procedures to aid in both functionality and workplace morale.”
Admissions
- English language proficiency: English proficiency, both written and verbal, is necessary for success in D'Amore-McKim classrooms. For more information, review our admissions policies.
- GMAT Required? No.
- Where do I apply? Learn more here.
Helpful guides
Application Checklist
Need guidance on completing your application? The application checklist provides step-by-step instructions and tips from our admissions team.
Personal Statement Guide
Need guidance in composing the personal statement for your application? The essay guide will help you organize your thoughts and draft your copy.
Full-Time Graduate Certificates (F-1 Visa Compliant)
| 2024 Application Deadlines | Decision Notifications | Classes Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 5 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Nov. 9* | Rolling Basis | January |
| Dec. 7 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Jan. 25 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Mar. 21 | Rolling Basis | September |
| May 9* | Rolling Basis | September |
| Jun. 7 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Jul. 3 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Aug. 1 | Rolling Basis | September |
Part-Time Graduate Certificates
| 2023-2024 Application Deadlines | Decision Notifications | Classes Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 4, 2023 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Nov. 9, 2023 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Dec. 7, 2023 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Jan. 25, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Mar. 21, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
| May 9, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Jun. 7, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Jul. 3, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Aug. 1, 2024 | Rolling Basis | September |
Tuition
Northeastern Student Financial Services publishes the tuition rates for Graduate Certificates. Under the “Graduate Programs” section, the cost per credit appears next to “D'Amore-McKim School of Business Programs.”
Financial Aid
Northeastern offers resources to help you finance your graduate education, and the Student Financial Services team will guide you through your options. Please visit the Graduate Financial Aid page.
Once you are a student, your financial aid advisor will work with you one-on-one to answer your questions, point you to resources and provide valuable insight as you navigate the financial commitments of your program.
Scholarships
Northeastern University has a variety of scholarships. You may qualify for funding support as an alum, U.S. servicemember, or veteran.
Application Fee Waivers
D'Amore-McKim offers application fee waivers to applicants that meet specific criteria. You can review the policy on the Graduate Application FAQ web page.
The D'Amore-McKim School of Business community stands with our university and its leadership in our dedication to cultivating equity and inclusion for all humankind. Understanding and solving our problems requires constant interaction among people who bring their own diverse contexts and experiences to the conversation. Therefore, we must be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that values the uniqueness of its members, recognizes the power and importance of diversity in our own and surrounding communities, and ensures their engaged participation.
Graduate Student Clubs
There are numerous university-wide and D'Amore-McKim-affiliated student groups that you may wish to join, and several are grounded in building inclusive communities and resiliency. Many of our graduate business students participate in the Graduate Students of Color Collective, Grad Q, and Out in Business.
Campus Resources
Participate in community-building programs, lectures, and events offered by Northeastern's cultural centers representing a range of affiliations and interests including the LGBTQA Resource Center, Latinx Student Cultural Center, Asian American Center, Office of Global Services, and many more.
Curriculum
You can study for your Graduate Certificate in Accounting and Financial Decision Making full-time or part-time.
In all formats, you'll learn from faculty—financial experts, consultants, and respected industry leaders—who belong to the #1 behavioral accounting research group in the country. You'll study alongside a diverse group of students with a mix of industry and academic backgrounds.
Your coursework will explore the essentials of financial strategy, financial reporting, and information analysis. You'll dive into topics such as . . .
- Financial statement preparation and analysis
- Resource acquisition
- Capital budgeting and structure
- Strategic decision-making
- Risk management
- Information technology
Choose Your Format
Full-time curriculum
Study on our Boston campus and complete the program in eight months. Full-time study is F-1 visa compliant.
Get in touch
Full-Time & Part-Time advisor
Samir Saueressig
Learn more about campus
Upcoming Future Student Events
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D'Amore-McKim Graduate Programs Application Q&A
Get all of your application process questions answered and explore topics like financial aid, scholarships, and making your app stand out.
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