For more information about the Financial Programming Certificate, contact Travis Davidson.
Financial Programming
Undergraduate Certificate
Financial Programming Certificate
The goal of the Financial Programming Certificate is to attract, develop, and mentor undergraduate students who want to develop both a theoretical understanding and applied capabilities in computer programming related to the financial services industry. Students will develop competencies and applied skills necessary for success and advancement in positions at the intersection of finance and technology.
Interested COB students can tailor their education to add programming skills in preparation for a career in the financial services industry, while non-COB students can broaden their education and attain an industry-specific application of their complementary skills. Certificate graduates will have an understanding of the areas within finance that are most impacted by technology while learning multiple computer programming languages applicable to these areas.
Admission Requirements
- Submit your resume (to demonstrate your strong work ethic, previous bank experience or course work, leadership positions, etc.) and a copy of your most recent DARS to verify your 2.75 or higher GPA to Travis Davidson in the COB's Finance Department.
- Completion of interview, if requested, with Finance Department faculty
Admission into the Financial Programming Certificate program is expected to be competitive, thus, admission cannot be guaranteed to all students meting the criteria.
Curriculum
All students in the certificate program will learn about financial markets, institutions, and assets; the basics of programming and program structure; and how to obtain, organize, analyze, and present financial data.
The program will incorporate two finance courses and three computer programming courses which include coverage of: (1) financial assets, institutions, and markets; (2) investment theories and applications; and (3) structure, design, and implementation of the computer programming languages C#, C++, and SQL.
The Financial Programming Certificate requires a minimum of 15 credit hours. View full coursework and curriculum requirements in the official Academic Catalog.
Growing Demand
The financial industry is currently being disrupted by technological advancements in a variety ways. A few examples include robo-advising, high frequency trading, cryptocurrencies and other distributed ledger applications, mobile banking, and big data. These disruptions are so large in number and affect so many aspects of the industry that they originated a new word, fintech. As the term suggests, opportunities in this field require both a financial background and a technological background.
Having skills and knowledge in these two distinct disciplines would be highly advantageous for employment and advancement in the financial industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates healthy employment and salary data for positions in which financial programming would be beneficial. The table below displays a sample of these statistics.
| Occupation | Number of Jobs (2016) | Median Pay (2017) | Expected Job Growth (2016–2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agent | 375,700 | $63,780 | 6% (average) |
| Operations Research Analyst | 114,000 | $81,390 | 27% (much faster than average) |
| Financial Analyst | 296,100 | $84,300 | 11% (faster than average) |
| Database Administrator | 119,500 | $87,020 | 11% (faster than average) |
| Computer and Information Research | 27,900 | $114,520 | 19% (much faster than average) |
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