February 8, 2007

Kellogg to offer certificate programs for undergraduates

The Kellogg School of Management will begin offering two certificate programs for undergraduates this fall. Designed by Kellogg School faculty exclusively for highly qualified students, the new certificate programs build on the analytical strengths and technical skill sets of the undergraduates while providing a curriculum relevant for a career in business.

Kellogg’s certificate program in financial economics begins this September in partnership with the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. This program focuses on corporate finance, capital markets and securities pricing and has been developed for those undergraduates with a strong foundation in analytics, mathematics and economics.

A second certificate program in managerial analytics will be offered in conjunction with the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science beginning in September 2008. The managerial analytics curriculum will teach undergraduates to apply their analytical skills to guide strategic as well as tactical business decisions in the context of finance, marketing, operations and strategy.

“These two new Kellogg programs will provide a strong foundation as well as advanced study in key areas of finance and management to those Northwestern undergraduates who are considering a career in business,” said President Henry S. Bienen. “We’re very pleased that Northwestern will be able to offer these innovative programs designed and taught by Kellogg faculty members to our undergraduate students.”

Financial services and consulting firms are increasingly looking to hire and retain talented undergraduates both as interns and full-time employees. The Kellogg certificate programs for undergraduates aim to fulfill this need in the market. In addition to the rigorous classroom education, students accepted into the certificate programs will receive assistance in finding a business internship or in doing a research project with a Kellogg faculty member between their junior and senior years.

“During my visits with corporate recruiters around the world I’ve heard them express the need for college graduates who have a strong quantitative background rooted in liberal arts and who are infused with business acumen,” said Kellogg Dean Dipak C. Jain. “The Kellogg faculty is very supportive of the new certificate programs.”

The Kellogg certificate programs will each admit approximately 50 students per year. Students will take the four-course sequence during their junior and senior years. To enroll in the program, students must have completed a series of prerequisite undergraduate-level courses including calculus, probability, statistics and economics.

The new programs are partially funded by the recently received grant from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Trust. Northwestern is beginning the process of raising funds to support the new programs.