Online International Finance Graduate Certificate

Quicklinks: Curriculum • Faculty • Tuition & Financial Aid • Careers

The online Graduate Certificate in International Finance at Boston University’s Metropolitan College is designed for professionals whose work involves multinational corporations and global financial markets. By completing the certificate program, students will be equipped to address corporate questions pertaining to foreign exchange risk, transaction and translation exposure, and corporate strategy and foreign direct investment. Graduates will be qualified for jobs in areas of credit risk evaluation, quantitative security selection, risk measurement and mitigation, cash management, and impact of foreign exchange rates on cost of capital and budgeting.

The International Finance graduate certificate will provide the necessary tools for students to navigate through the multinational financial system, understand international portfolio management, and explore the balance of payments and international economic linkages. Students will be able to specialize in a highly desired area of finance as we witness increased level of cross-border investments and multinational mergers and acquisitions.

Students who complete the certificate should be able to understand multinational financial management; explain the concept of equilibrium exchange rates; differentiate between nominal and real exchange rates; define social, political, cultural, and economic country risks; identify basic factors that determine foreign exchange risk for a company; determine the cost of capital for foreign investments; and describe the risks and advantages of international investing.

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in International Finance will be able to demonstrate:

Understanding of multinational financial management.
Expertise in the concept of equilibrium exchange rates.
Facility in calculating currency appreciations and depreciations.
The ability to describe central bank currency interventions.
The skills to differentiate between nominal and real exchange rates.
The competency to describe the requirements for successful currency forecasting.
The knowledge to distinguish between current, financial, and official reserve accounts.
The ability to calculate nation’s balance-of-payment.
Proficiency in defining social, political, cultural, and economic country risks.
Proficiency in defining translation and transaction exposures.
Ease in identifying basic factors that determine foreign exchange risk for a company.
The ability to determine the cost of capital for foreign investments.
Understanding of the risks and advantages of international investing.
The knowledge to describe international cash management.

Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in International Finance?

Boston University certificate programs comprise just four courses (16 credits) and provide essential skills and capabilities in high-growth industry areas. Certificate programs also provide a pathway to Metropolitan College management degree programs.
The International Finance certificate is excellent preparation for the internationally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA) Program exams, and shares courses with MET’s MS in Financial Management, which is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The International Finance certificate program offers the flexibility of online, on-campus, or blended study formats, ensuring that students can earn their credential the way that suits them the best.
Learning from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, students will gain the insights, critical thinking, and analytical skills needed to solve problems in today’s changing business landscape.
Online certificate programs share courses and instructors with MET’s master’s degree programs in management, ranked #6 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report in 2024.

*Chartered Financial Analyst is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

Career Outlook

Financial Managers

19% increase in jobs through 2026

$125,080 median annual pay in 2017

Economists

6% increase in jobs through 2026

$102,490 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Analysts

11% increase in jobs through 2026

$84,300 median annual pay in 2017

Financial Examiners

10% increase in jobs through 2026

$81,690 median annual pay in 2017

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

6% increase in jobs through 2026

$63,780 median annual pay in 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017-18 Edition

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money Matters

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.

How Much Does This Program Cost?To learn more about the cost of this program, visit the MET website for a detailed breakdown of tuition and fees.

Curriculum

Boston University’s online Graduate Certificate in International Finance consists of four required courses (16 credits).

Courses

(Four courses/16 credits)

METAD709 Case Studies in Current Corporate Financial Topics

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
This course involves utilizing analytical methods for financial forecasting, cost of capital calculation, rate of return analysis, use of derivatives instruments, business growth management, discounted cash flow analysis, corporate valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and evaluation of bankruptcy proceedings. [4 credits]

METAD717 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

Prereq AD 630, AD731
This course develops a framework for understanding the various types of financial decision making faced by financial managers and provides students with analytical tools for evaluating portfolio construction and management problems in a systematic manner. Includes analysis and determination of securities values. Problems of investment policy are approached through studies of portfolio selection methods and the valuation of special classes of securities. It offers quantitative strategies for portfolio diversification and risk management. [4 credits]

METAD763 Multinational Finance and Trade

Prereqs: AD 630, AD731
Applies the concepts of corporate finance and risk mitigation to the problems of multinational financial management. Major topics include foreign exchange risk, and construction of hedging strategies using derivative instruments such as forwards, futures, and swaps to reduce multinational corporate risk. Addresses international financial flows and their impact on foreign exchange rates, capital flows, speculation, analysis of alternative foreign investments, analysis of sources and uses of corporate funds abroad, multinational tax and profit. [4 credits]

Plus one of the following:

METAD712 Financial Markets and Institutions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
Investigation and analysis of organization, structure, and performance of U.S. money and capital markets, and institutions. Examines regulation of the financial industry and the role of financial instruments. [4 credits]

METAD713 Derivative Securities and Markets

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
Provides an overview of operation, mechanics, and structure of the derivative markets and covers in-depth quantitative valuation of derivative instruments, such as options, futures, and swaps. The course involves risk analysis including risk arbitrage, and risk management. Emphasizes the theory and practice of derivatives-based trading strategies including hedging opportunities for risk mitigation. [4 credits]

METAD714 Mergers and Acquisitions

Prereq: MET AD630, MET AD731
This course examines the corporate valuation process by which takeovers and other corporate control transactions take place. It includes financial forecasting, based on expectation models, scenario analysis, and due diligence. Of particular interest will be the defensive measures by management against hostile bids, buyout transactions, the relation of takeovers to capital structure changes, and the insider trading in takeover contests. [4 credits]

METAD719 Fixed Income Analysis

Prereq: MET AD 630, MET AD 731
This course covers the nature and analysis of fixed income securities and an in-depth examination of some of the particular features of some major classes of fixed income instruments, valuation, sensitivity to risks, and management of fixed income portfolios. [4 credits]

Admission Information

Faculty

Irena Vodenska

Professor of Finance; Director, Finance Programs; Chair, Administrative Sciences
PhD, Boston University; MBA, Vanderbilt University; MS, BS, University of Belgrade

Jim Stodder

Visiting Professor of the Practice, Administrative Sciences
PhD, Yale University; MSc, University of Essex; BA, Yale University

Bill McGue

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences; Online Program Coordinator
MS, Boston University; BA, Bentley College

Ivan Julio

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
PhD, University of New Orleans; MSc, Arizona State University; Licentiate in Economics, National University of Córdoba

San Chee

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MS, Boston University

Alexander Becker

Assistant Professor, Administrative Sciences
Coordinator, Finance Programs
PhD, Boston University; Diplom-Physiker, University of Duisburg-Essen

Getting Started

To learn more or to contact an enrollment advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.

Request Information Have a Metropolitan College enrollment advisor get in touch with you.

Online International Finance Graduate Certificate

Program at a Glance

Why Choose BU’s Graduate Certificate in International Finance?