The Graduate Certificate in Investment Management provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a balanced (fixed income and equity) investment fund. Those completing the certificate will gain a substantial competitive edge in pursuing a career as an analyst or an investment advisor, later as an investment portfolio manager, and possibly as a chief investment officer.
The curriculum features a broad spectrum of investment-related subjects, with an emphasis on intensive research and applied training in complex financial tools and techniques. The program also includes a professional internship. Central to the curriculum is the David O. Nicholas Applied Finance Lab, which is equipped with state-of-the-art professional databases and financial software, replicating the technology and market data, analysis, and research available to professional investors in investment firms.
In addition to a rich curriculum, Investment Management Certificate (IMC) students meet regularly with investment professionals during, and outside of, class for discussions of the funds, markets, and course topics. The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance as well as the Undergraduate Certificate in Investment Management are part of the prestigious CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
Students interested in the certificate program should contact Graduate Student Services, Lubar Hall N251, (414) 251-5252, or mba-ms@uwm.edu. Students are also encouraged to contact Dr. Kevin Spellman, the director of the IMC program, at spellman@uwm.edu for information on the program.
This program can be completed as a standalone certificate or in combination with a master’s degree program.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application
- Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
- All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
Credits and Courses
It is recommended that the following courses have been completed prior to admission to the certificate: BUSMGMT 705, BUS ADM 721 & BUS ADM 771 (or undergraduate equivalents). If not completed prior to admission to the certificate, BUSMGMT 705 must be taken concurrently with BUS ADM 550. BUS ADM 721 (or BUS ADM 301) and BUS ADM 771 must be taken before, or concurrently with, BUS ADM 552. If a candidate has passed the CFA Level I exam, the student is exempted from BUSMGMT 705, BUS ADM 721, and BUS ADM 771. Admission is competitive and is based on cumulative GPA, course grades, personal statement, a potential interview and interview essays, interest in investments and finance (e.g. Student Investment Club), and other considerations.
To obtain the certificate, a student must complete 21 credits of required coursework. The certificate may be completed alone, or in conjunction with a degree program. Due to the intensity of the coursework in the Investment Management Certificate, the program will be of most interest to students pursuing an M.S. in Management degree with a concentration in Finance Analysis, or an M.B.A. degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| BUS ADM 550 | Investment Management Practice I | 3 |
| BUS ADM 552 | Investment Management Practice II | 3 |
| BUS ADM 553 | Investment Management Practice III | 3 |
| BUS ADM 554 | Investment Management Practice IV | 3 |
| BUS ADM 772 | Portfolio Management 1 | 3 |
| BUS ADM 773 | Options And Futures 1 | 3 |
| BUS ADM 853 | Financial Modeling 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
Approved MS in Management-Finance Analysis electives.
Additional Requirements
Internship Requirement
Students completing the certificate are also required to have an internship experience prior to graduation from the certificate program. The internship experience must be approved by the IMCP director.
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.