Portfolio Management (Certificate)

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The Master of Science in Finance program at Stuart School of Business, nationally ranked in the United States by TFE Times, offers a variety of graduate certificate programs specifically designed for finance professionals who want to enhance their specialized expertise to propel their careers forward, as well as earn stackable credentials as part of a degree program.

The Certificate in Portfolio Management covers topics including:

  • Advanced tools used by both equity and fixed income portfolio managers
  • Building prediction models, portfolio construction, analytics and attribution, using derivatives to alter risk return profiles, and execution strategies
  • Valuation as a key component of the process of asset selection

Certificate students take courses alongside degree-seeking students and benefit from the same industry-experienced faculty, hands-on approach, and curriculum that is attuned to leading-edge finance practices and technologies.

Convenient for busy professionals, courses are scheduled in the evening at Illinois Tech’s Conviser Law Center in downtown Chicago.

Program Overview

The Certificate in Portfolio Management covers advanced tools and methods used in portfolio management, including equity valuation processes and applications, quantitative tools used for portfolio selection, and understanding how fixed income instruments are structured and used.

Career Opportunities

The Certificate in Portfolio Management provides experienced finance professionals with the latest industry-relevant ideas, skills, and technologies to advance in their careers in roles such as portfolio manager, financial analyst, or financial manager.

According to Glassdoor, the median total annual pay (as of January 26, 2024) for a portfolio manager in the United States is $166,829.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual wages (2022) and job growth in 2022-2032 for the following occupations:

This certificate requires three semester-length courses (three credit hours per course; nine credit hours total). Each course meets once a week for 15 weeks.

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  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.5/4.0 (or equivalent)
  • Work experience preferred
  • Completion of MSF 501, MSF 502, MSF 503, MSF 504, MSF 505, and MSF 506 OR equivalent as demonstrated by coursework in calculus, Python programming, basic statistics, asset pricing theory (CAPM and APT), understanding of the futures and options markets, and introductory accounting

Designed for Busy Professionals

Stuart School of Business Certificates Are:

  • Targeted: Get the specific, career-focused education you need now
  • Convenient: Evening courses at Illinois Tech’s Conviser Law Center in downtown Chicago, located one block west of Union Station and near Ogilvie Transportation Center
  • Flexible: Take one or more courses at a time

Your Certificate Credit Is Stackable

The Certificate in Portfolio Management is stackable, which means that all nine credit hours automatically apply if you choose to pursue the Illinois Tech M.S. in Finance degree.

Students in this certificate program who later apply and are admitted to a different master’s degree program at Stuart may apply all approved certificate coursework with a grade of B or higher to that master’s degree. A certificate is typically equivalent to one-fourth to one-third of the credit hours required for a degree. Students have the option of transferring to the master’s program in any semester.