Accounting and Financial Analytics Advanced Certificate
In RIT’s accounting analytics certificate you’ll complete advanced financial analytics courses that equip you with the knowledge and tools to mine and analyze data that impacts financial strategy.
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Overview for Accounting and Financial Analytics Adv. Cert.
Why Study RIT's Graduate Accounting Analytics Certificate
Finish in Four Courses: A four-course certificate of advanced financial analytics courses on how to access, interpret, analyze, and report business and financial data.
A Valuable Add-On: The graduate certificate is an easy way for professionals looking to advance their careers in finance, accounting, statistics, and computer science.
A Solution That Meets Demand: Accounting and financial analytics jobs are expected to grow 15% by 2026.
Today’s accounting and finance professionals are now expected to serve as business partners and experts who can use data analytics to inform recommendations on business strategy. RIT’s accounting analytics certificate provides you with knowledge in data science and statistical analysis so that you–as an accounting and finance professional–can mine and analyze data to apply it in ways that benefit and improve business operations and outcomes.
RIT’s Financial Analytics Certificate: On-Campus or Online
Developed and taught by RIT’s esteemed faculty in Saunders College of Business, the advanced certificate in accounting and financial analytics provides knowledge in data science and statistical analysis so accounting and finance professionals can mine and analyze data to improve business strategy, operations, and outcomes.
Designed for working professionals studying part-time, you may complete this graduate certificate in 12 months. The program is available both online and on-campus. The analytics courses offered focus on a variety of applications across various business disciplines.
Financial Analytics Courses
The accounting analytics certificate provides you with the skills you need to operate effectively in today’s modern data-centric business environment. A selection of advanced financial analytics courses will help you learn how to access, interpret, analyze, and report business and financial data. Courses completed in the certificate program can be applied later to RIT’s master’s degree in business analytics, or they may be used as a valuable add-on for students pursuing graduate degrees from RIT in fields such as finance, accounting and analytics, applied statistics, and computer science.
What is a Graduate Certificate?
A graduate certificate, also called an advanced certificate, is a selection of up to five graduate-level courses in a particular area of study. Graduate certificates can serve as a stand-alone credential that provides expertise in a specific topic that enhances your professional knowledge base, or they can serve as the entry point to a master's degree. Some students complete an advanced certificate and apply those credit hours later toward a master's degree.
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Online Graduate Information Sessions
Join us to learn how graduate business programs at RIT help further your career objectives.
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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Accounting and Financial Analytics Adv. Cert.
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Accounting and Financial Analytics, advanced certificate, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ACCT-745 | Accounting Information and Analytics The objective for this course is helping students develop a data mindset which prepare them to interact with data scientists from an accountant perspective. This course enables students to develop analytics skills to conduct descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analysis for accounting information. This course focuses on such topics as data modeling, relational databases, blockchain, visualization, unstructured data, web scraping, and data extraction. (Prerequisites: ACCT-110 or ACCT-603 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Summer). |
3 |
| FINC-780 | Financial Analytics This course provides a survey of financial analytics applications in contexts such as investment analysis, portfolio construction, risk management, and security valuation. Students are introduced to financial models used in these applications and their implementation using popular languages such as R, Matlab, and Python, and packages such as Quantlib. A variety of data sources are used: financial websites such as www.finance.yahoo.com, government sites such as www.sec.gov, finance research databases such as WRDS, and especially Bloomberg terminals. Students will complete projects using real-world data and make effective use of visualization methods in reporting results. There are no pre or co-requisites; however, instructor permission is required – student aptitude for quantitative work will be assessed; waived for students enrolled in quantitative programs such as the MS-Computational Finance which have pre-requisites in the areas of calculus, linear algebra, and programming. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MGIS-650 | Introduction to Data Analytics and Business Intelligence This course serves as an introduction to data analysis including both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Contemporary data analytics and business intelligence tools will be explored through realistic problem assignments. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| BANA-680 | Data Management for Business Analytics This course introduces students to data management and analytics in a business setting. Students learn how to formulate hypotheses, collect and manage relevant data, and use standard tools such as Python and R in their analyses. The course exposes students to structured data as well as semi-structured and unstructured data. There are no pre or co-requisites; however, instructor permission is required for students not belonging to the MS-Business Analytics or other quantitative programs such as the MS-Computational Finance which have program-level pre-requisites in the areas of calculus, linear algebra, and programming. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
|
| MGIS-725 | Data Management and Analytics This course discusses issues associated with data capture, organization, storage, extraction, and modeling for planned and ad hoc reporting. Enables student to model data by developing conceptual and semantic data models. Techniques taught for managing the design and development of large database systems including logical data models, concurrent processing, data distributions, database administration, data warehousing, data cleansing, and data mining. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
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| Total Semester Credit Hours | 12 |
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Note for online students
The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.
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Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is available on-campus or online.
On Campus
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | No |
Online
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | No |
Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. RIT will not issue a student visa for advanced certificates.
Application Details
To be considered for admission to the Accounting and Financial Analytics Adv. Cert. program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
- Letters of recommendation are optional.
- Entrance exam requirements: GRE or GMAT required for individuals with degrees from international universities. No minimum score requirement.
- Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.
English Language Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
| TOEFL | IELTS | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | 6.5 | 60 |
International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.
How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application
Cost and Financial Aid
An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.
A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree
Additional Information
Online Degree Information
The online Accounting and Financial Analytics Advanced Certificate can only be completed part-time, taking one or two courses per term. The average time to completion is one year. Delivery is a blend of asynchronous and synchronous study, and academic advisors work with students to select courses that meet degree requirements and student schedules. Students typically spend 10-12 hours per week per class, depending on the content and their background knowledge. For specific details about the delivery format and learning experience, contact the Program Contact listed on this page. RIT does not offer student visas for online study.
Online Tuition Eligibility
The online Accounting and Financial Analytics Adv. Cert. is a designated online degree program that is billed at a 43% discount from our on-campus rate. View the current online tuition rate.
Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students
Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
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Contact
- Delaney Ball
- Assistant Director
- Office of Graduate and Part-Time Enrollment Services
- Enrollment Management
- 585‑475‑6933
- Delaney.Ball@rit.edu
- Matthew Cornwell
- Associate Director of Student Services
- Student Services
- Saunders College of Business
- 585‑475‑6916
- mcornwell@saunders.rit.edu
Saunders College of Business