Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Investments

Certificate Overview

Skilled investment professionals help individuals and businesses manage financial risk, connecting them with the best possible opportunities to achieve long-term goals. Start developing the skills to build customized, comprehensive investment plans for stakeholders.

Gain an in-depth understanding of bonds, stocks, and portfolios

This ten-credit graduate certificate will provide you with foundational knowledge of investing, including quantitative business analysis, behavioral finance, stocks, bonds, real estate investing, and alternative investments. Build the tools to better analyze markets, understand financial data, and strategically develop portfolios – all while monitoring market changes and managing risk.

A certificate specifically for MBA students

This ten-credit graduate certificate will expand your background in investment finance. Throughout the program, you will complete five graduate-level courses, enhancing your financial literacy and honing your ability to make strategic investment decisions.

All credits earned apply toward the College of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA) program after formal admission per University transfer policies. You must be admitted into the MBA program prior to completing this certificate.

Tuition Benefits

The Colorado State University College of Business offers special tuition benefits for the following:

Colorado residents are eligible for a 5% tuition benefit.
Active military, honorably discharged veterans, military spouses, and military dependents are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.
Corporate partners may qualify for 10% off the cost of tuition. Reach out to CSU’s admissions team to learn if your company offers a corporate partner tuition benefit.
Alumni of CSU Fort Collins are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.

Curriculum

Required courses:

BUS 601– Quantitative Business Analysis (2 cr.)
BUS 641– Financial Markets and Investments (2 cr.)
FIN 613– Alternative Investments (2 cr.)
FIN 650– Behavioral Finance (2 cr.)
REL 602– Real Estate Finance and Investments (2 cr.)

Program total credits: 10

You must be admitted to this program for the certificate to appear on your official University transcript.

Admission to a business graduate program and/or additional coursework may be required to meet prerequisites. Contact the department for more details.

How to Apply

Application Deadlines

Fall:	July 31
Spring:	January 1

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

1Review Admission Requirements

Graduate certificate applicants generally must meet or exceed the following criteria:

An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution in any field
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from your most recent degree completed^†
International applicants: minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores^‡

Note: Although the Graduate School prefers that applicants meet the minimum admission criteria, failure to meet one may be offset by strengths in other areas, as determined by the Graduate Program Committee.

†Please submit an academic performance explanation if your GPA was lower than 3.0.

‡A minimum Internet-based TOEFL score of 86 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or a minimum of PTE score of 58 is required for all certificates except Accounting Ethics and Auditing, which requires a minimum Internet-based TOEFL score of 95 or minimum IELTS score of 7.0.

2 Complete Online Application

Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.

Choose "Applied Investments (Certificate) – Distance" when choosing the Program of Study. (Note: You must first select "Certificate" at the top.)

3 Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.

Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.

Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.

Mail (if necessary)
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and notify you of their decision.

Information for International Students

Official transcript translation

Ensure official copies include a certified translation into English (only one set of transcripts is required).

Official test scores

Colorado State University requires that proficiency in English language be demonstrated either by the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE academic tests prior to admission. Please submit one of the official scores from the list below. Tests must be taken within two years prior to admission and submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service (select institution code: 4075).

The minimum TOEFL score for admission without condition is 550 (paper-based), or 80 (internet-based).
The minimum IELTS score for admission without condition is 6.5.
The minimum PTE Academic score for admission without condition is 58.

All applicants who are citizens of countries in which English is not the official language, and who do not have an undergraduate degree from the U.S. must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores.