Successful businesses rely on people with the knowledge and experience to invest assets wisely. By earning your Graduate Certificate in Investments—in just four or five courses—you'll learn quantitative tools and best practices, empowering you to make smart investment decisions for your organization.
Graduate Certificate in Investments Program Overview
- Program Structure: 4–5 courses
- Class Schedule: Monday–Thursday evenings at 5:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Time to Complete: 1 to 3 years

Unique Features
12 or 15
Credits may be applied toward a future MBA
Top 50
Among national universities (U.S. News & World Report)
- Learn cutting-edge theories and quantitative tools for making sound investment decisions
- Specialize your studies with electives that are relevant to your goals, such as real estate investing, personal financial planning, or risk management and insurance
- Build your confidence and experience through project-based coursework and case studies—key components of Northeastern's practice-oriented approach to learning
- Access expert career guidance from an experienced counselor at Northeastern's office of Employer Engagement and Career Design
- Complete your certificate in as few as four courses, with the option for one additional elective to deepen your knowledge
- Build the foundation for a future master's degree from Northeastern—you may be able to apply your earned certificate credits toward an eligible master's program
Admissions
- GMAT Required? No.
- Where do I apply? Apply using this application.
- Interview required? Upon request.
- Pre-requisite for admission? Undergraduate degree in accounting or finance.
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.
There are three entry terms each year in January, May, and September.
Deadlines & Decisions
Find the deadlines and decision dates you need to know. Submit your application by the earliest date possible for priority consideration.
Please visit the Northeastern Student Financial Services page. Click the dropdown under “Graduate Programs” and you'll find the cost per credit listed next to “D'Amore-McKim School of Business Programs.”
At Northeastern, we value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds community, which is vital to learning and discovery.
Clubs and Organizations
Northeastern has many opportunities for you to be engaged with our community. Examples include the following:
Graduate Students of Color Collective
The purpose of the GSCC is to build community for graduate students of color at Northeastern University by promoting education, professionalism, and civic duty. The GSCC fosters student, staff, and faculty relationships to establish a campus home for higher education at Northeastern. Through civic engagement with surrounding communities, the GSCC recognizes the continued struggles of marginalized populations, and the need for those who have succeeded to give back.
Grad Q
Grad Q is a student organization for LGBTQ+ graduate students at Northeastern. Grad Q is focused on building community, social events, advocacy, and mentoring undergraduate students.
Campus Resources
We have a number of cultural centers on campus to support our campus community by providing programs, lectures, and events for students with a range of affiliations and interests including the LGBTQA Resource Center, Office of Global Services, Latinx Student Cultural Center, Asian American Center, and many more.
Curriculum
Your coursework for the Graduate Certificate in Investments will teach you strategic skills for tackling complex financial challenges in domestic and international financial markets.
Through your required coursework, you'll learn valuation techniques and quantitative tools that will allow you to build models for any investment instrument you want to analyze. The electives you choose allow you to dive deeper into the topics that support your career goals, including real estate investing, personal financial planning, or risk management and insurance.
Required course
FINA 6203 | 3 credits
Complete 3 or 4 elective courses from the following
FINA 6211 | 3 credits
FINA 6212 | 3 credits
FINA 6213 | 3 credits
FINA 6217 | 3 credits
FINA 6218 | 3 credits
FINA 6219| 3 credits
FINA 6222 | 3 credits
ACCT 6210 | 3 credits
The curriculum is subject to change by D'Amore-McKim faculty. Course offerings may vary by semester.
The student experience
Anders Rathlev, Graduate Certificate in Investments‘21
“The coursework in investment analysis, portfolio management, and risk management filled in lots of gaps in my knowledge, and taught me formulas and models that I now use all the time. My technical skills have also greatly improved.”
Get in touch
Mary McNamara

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