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Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation
Founded in 2002, the USC Marshall School Center for Investment Studies (CIS) is establishing itself as a premier global academic institution specializing in financial analysis and valuation with particular emphases available in corporate finance and investing.
The Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation program is designed to enhance the individual's graduate education through a concentrated curriculum in financial accounting, financial analysis, valuation, credit analysis, and financial instruments and markets.
Admission
To qualify for admission to the program, current USC graduate students must have a minimum graduate business GPA of 3.3. Alumni must have completed their graduate business degree with a minimum USC graduate business GPA of 3.3. Graduate students in other USC departments and those holding a graduate degree from another institution must have completed basic graduate-level courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and corporate finance comparable to the first-year MBA curriculum while earning a minimum graduate GPA of 3.3. Non-matriculated individuals (e.g., visiting scholars and those applying for limited student status) are not eligible for the program.Prospective students may apply to begin the programs in the fall, spring or summer term. Applications are submitted online at www.marshall.usc.edu/admissions/applyonline. A complete application includes the online application form, responses to several essay questions, letters of recommendation and transcripts from any institutions attended since the applicant last applied to USC. (The application fee is not required of current USC students and USC alumni.)
After the Center for Investment Studies has received the completed application, applicants may be contacted to schedule an interview.
For more information, contact the USC Marshall School of Business Center for Investment Studies at (213) 821-1126 or investment.studies@marshall.usc.edu.
Program Requirements
The program requires successful completion of one of the following 15-unit modules with a minimum GPA of at least 3.6 for all courses applied to the certificate.Corporate Finance Option
| REQUIRED | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| FBE 529 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| ACCT 572 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting | 3 |
| At least two of the following: | ||
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| FBE 531 | Corporate Financial Policy and Corporate Control | 3 |
| FBE 532 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| At least one of the following: | ||
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| FBE 527 | Entrepreneurial Finance: Financial Management for Developing Firms | 3 |
| FBE 531 | Corporate Financial Policy and Corporate Control | 3 |
| FBE 532 | Corporate Financial Strategy | 3 |
| FBE 559 | Management of Financial Risk | 3 |
Investment Management Option
| REQUIRED | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| FBE 529 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| FBE 555 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management | 3 |
| At least one of the following: | ||
| ACCT 572 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| At least two of the following: | ||
| ACCT 572 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| FBE 535 | Applied Finance in Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FBE 543 | Forecasting and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| FBE 554 | Trading and Exchanges | 3 |
| FBE 559 | Management of Financial Risk | 3 |
| FBE 589 | Mortgages and Mortgage- Backed Securities and Markets | 3 |
Student Investment Fund Program
One of the most important activities of the Center for Investment Studies is the management of the Student Investment Fund (SIF), where a select group of students learn the theory and practice of investment management by managing actual USC endowment funds while taking a year-long seminar in applied portfolio management.Students who are selected to participate in the Marshall Student Investment Fund (SIF) program are required to complete the following:
| REQUIRED | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| FBE 529 | Financial Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| FBE 535 | Applied Finance in Fixed Income Securities | 3 |
| FBE 553ab | Applied Portfolio Management | 3-3 |
| At least one of the following: | ||
| ACCT 572 | Corporate Accounting and Reporting | 3 |
| ACCT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
For current USC graduate students, courses credited to the Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation may be completed in conjunction with course work required for the program in which the student is already enrolled. Applicability of these courses to the student's primary degree program is determined by the student's home department. Current M.B.A. students may apply all 15 units of the graduate certificate program to their M.B.A. degree. For USC alumni, courses completed in conjunction with the individual's prior degree may not be credited toward the certificate. Appropriate substitutions for required courses will be determined and documented by the program director.
Successful completion of the program is acknowledged by a certificate awarded by the university.