Online International Finance Graduate Certificate
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.
Awards & Accreditations
Newsweek magazine ranked Boston University’s online programs #4 in the nation in its 2023 survey.
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 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 #10 among the nation’s Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.
*Chartered Financial Analyst is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.
Career Outlook
Financial Managers
16% increase in jobs through 2032
$156,100 median annual pay in 2023
Economists
6% increase in jobs through 2032
$115,730 median annual pay in 2023
Financial Analysts
8% increase in jobs through 2032
$99,890 median annual pay in 2023
Financial Examiners
20% increase in jobs through 2032
$84,300 median annual pay in 2023
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
7% increase in jobs through 2032
$76,900 median annual pay in 2023
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook (visited July 29, 2024)
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.
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
Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET AD 630, MET AD 731 - 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
Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET AD 731 - 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
Graduate Prerequisites: (METAD731) - 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:
METAD528 Blockchain Finance
Cryptocurrencies and the underlying distributed ledger technology (blockchain), have exploded into public consciousness over the last few years, with many industry practitioners arguing that the blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt business and financial services in the way the Internet disrupted off-line commerce. This course covers digital currencies, blockchains, and related topics in the FinTech area using the analytical tools provided by economics, investments and corporate finance. [4 credits]
METAD561 Financial Analytics
This course presents financial algorithms used in applications of computer science in financial decision analysis, risk management, data mining and market analysis, and other modern business processes. The course covers theoretical background on probabilistic methods used for financial decision making and their application in number of fields such as financial modeling, venture capital decision making, operational risk measurement and investment science. Number of financial applications and algorithms are being presented for portfolio risk analysis, modeling real options, venture capital decision making, etc. The course concludes with algorithms for financial risk assessment and presents the security concepts and challenges of financial information systems. [4 credits]
METAD580 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investments
Prerequisites: MET AD 717 or consent of instructor.- A comprehensive investments course introducing important aspects of investing, including environmental, social, and governance issues, and their role in corporate risk management, financial markets, and investments, presented from the viewpoint of market participants and corporate leadership. The course incorporates the mechanics of investing sustainably, with long-term planning on a micro and macro level. Topics will include an introduction and understanding of the ESG market, defining the environmental, social, and governance factors important for investment decision-making, and the importance of corporate engagement and stewardship. The course will also cover ESG analysis, valuation, and integration in portfolio management. [4 credits]
METAD581 Energy Transition: Markets and Regulation
The goal of the course is to give the student a clear, practical understanding of significant pieces of the energy "puzzle" as a guide to understanding how energy is produced and consumed -- as market forces dictate - both in the United States and abroad. Students considering this course can have various backgrounds/knowledge of energy, but most importantly, an interest in understanding the transitions needed to achieve climate-related goals. The student will be challenged to explore energy transition opportunities and decarbonization's imperative through finance, policy, markets, and regulation. [4 credits]
METAD587 Interdisciplinary Methods for Quantitative Finance
This course expands upon the foundations of finance theory with interdisciplinary approaches from statistical physics and machine learning. The course equips the students with the Python tools to tackle a broad range of problems in quantitative financial analysis and combines the study of relevant financial concepts with computational implementations. Students will learn to use packages like Numpy, Pandas, Statsmodels and Scikit, which are commonly used in research and in the industry. Prerequisites: MET AD 685 or PY 355 or equivalent or consent by the instructor. [4 credits]
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
Undergraduate Prerequisites: MET AD 630, MET AD 731 - 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]
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.
Graduate Certificate