Mutual funds are critical building blocks of wealth for individuals and organizations—both of whom need knowledgeable fund managers to maximize value and achieve their long-term goals. When you earn your Graduate Certificate in Mutual Fund Management, you'll develop the skills you need to manage a portfolio of assets successfully—in just four or five courses.
Graduate Certificate in Mutual Fund Management Program Overview
- Program Overview: 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
Part-Time Graduate Certificate | Typical program timeline

*Starts in September or January. May be completed at a flexible pace but is usually completed in three semesters.
Unique Features
12 or 15
Credits may be applied toward a future MBA
Top 50
Among national universities (U.S. News & World Report)
- Learn the essentials of managing fund investments—including analyzing markets, assessing and managing risk, allocating assets, maintaining compliance, and following ethical standards
- Specialize your studies with electives that are relevant to your goals, such as market analysis or fixed income securities
- 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
- Complete applied projects and analyze 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
- 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
- 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.
- Interview required? Upon request
- Pre-requisite for admission? A U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent with a major in business administration or a related field with a GPA of at least 3.0 as well as two years work experience in 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.
Part-Time Graduate Certificates
2023 Application Deadlines | Decision Notifications | Classes Begin |
---|---|---|
Oct. 4 | Rolling Basis | January |
Nov. 9 | Rolling Basis | January |
Dec. 8 | Rolling Basis | January |
Mar. 21 | Rolling Basis | September |
Apr. 20 | Rolling Basis | September |
Jun. 1 | Rolling Basis | September |
Jun. 29 | 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
The coursework for the Graduate Certificate in Mutual Fund Management explores cutting-edge approaches for creating and managing successful portfolios of mutual funds or hedge funds.
In your required coursework, you'll learn how to create value in a competitive, dynamic global business environment, developing skills in quantitative and analytical methods for financial management. The electives you choose will broaden your knowledge in areas such as investment analysis, fixed income securities and risk, and portfolio management.
Required course*
FINA 6200 | 3 credits
*This course may be waived if you completed a Bachelors in business administration or a related field.
Complete 3 or 4 elective courses from the following
FINA 6202 | 3 credits
FINA 6203 | 3 credits
FINA 6212 | 3 credits
FINA 6219 | 3 credits
FINA 6360 | 1 credit
– – – –
Builds on FINA 6360. Designed to provide students further analytical knowledge, including exposure to and opportunity to perform managerial tasks related to the management and operation of mutual funds. Included in these tasks are reconsideration of the fund's investment policy statement and asset allocation plan as well as preparation of accounting statements, dealing with compliance issues, addressing ethical concerns, measuring and managing risk, and performing marketing and fund-raising activities.
FINA 6361 | 1 credit
The curriculum is subject to change by D'Amore-McKim faculty. Course offerings may vary by semester.
“The finance courses are relevant to the current moment and offer so much more than what a textbook alone can teach you. . . . Starting with the milestone of a graduate certificate, with the option to carry credits forward into a future master's degree, gave me the confidence to get started.”
Jyo Mohapatra, Graduate Certificate Student '21
Full-Time & Part-Time advisor

Learn More About Campus
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D'Amore-McKim Graduate Programs Application Q&A
If you're considering graduate business education to advance your career, there's no better place than Northeastern University. Join our admissions team to learn more about D'Amore-McKim's graduate business programs.
D'Amore-McKim Graduate Programs Application Q&A
If you're considering graduate business education to advance your career, there's no better place than Northeastern University. Join our admissions team to learn more about D'Amore-McKim's graduate business programs.
D'Amore-McKim Graduate Programs Application Q&A
If you're considering graduate business education to advance your career, there's no better place than Northeastern University. Join our admissions team to learn more about D'Amore-McKim's graduate business programs.
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