Fintech Innovation, Graduate Certificate

Application Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• College transcripts
• Personal statement
• Resume – Work experience preferred but not required.
• Video interview as part of the online application
• Additional requirements apply for international applicants

Learn more about the application process and what you will need to apply.

The program can be completed in as little as 9 months (2 semesters).

Two-Semester Program of Study

Required Courses

• FI 8460 – The Fintech Ecosystem
  Throughout this hands-on course, students develop a broad understanding of fintech’s impact on financial industries. Topics include but are not limited to blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Altcoins, smart contracts, decentralized applications, smart contracts, P2P lending and crowdfunding, machine learning and applications of blockchain technologies in various finance sectors.
  View Sample Syllabus
• ENI 8010 – Innovation Studio 1: Innovation & Design Thinking
  Design thinking is taught as a systematic approach to innovation and creative problem-solving that can be used in many industries. In this course, students are introduced to resourceful problem discovery through methods of noticing, observing and analyzing data. Using a combination of the lean startup methodology and design thinking, students conduct experiments as well as interviews, and test prototypes to verify the viability of proposed solutions. Further, ideation models are applied to conceptualize new-to-the-world technologies, business models, products and services as potential business ventures. Students will become comfortable with ambiguity, experimentation and online collaboration. Particular is placed on AI and how it can be leveraged every step of the way.

  View Sample Syllabus

• FI 8462 – Blockchain and Business Disruption
  This course provides an introduction to blockchain technology and its disruptive role in sectors such as banking, payments, securities exchanges, real estate, insurance, supply chains, healthcare and media. Topics include fundamentals of blockchain technology, applications and use cases of blockchain in different industries, implications of blockchain on business practices and regulation, cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, blockchain platforms (Ethereum, Quorum, Corda), smart contracts and web-based decentralized applications.
  View Sample Syllabus

Elective Courses (Select One)

• ENI 8011 – Innovation Studio 2: Launch and Scale
  This experiential, AI-heavy course is treated as a mini-accelerator. The class teaches “the entrepreneurial mindset” as well as how to apply that to launch and scale a business, develop solutions to business challenges or create new products and services that result in growth opportunities for an organization. Students explore a rigorous and disciplined approach to validating product market fit, building teams, developing viable business models and crafting messaging and pitches that resonate with the audience. Students apply these learnings on a remote team project. The challenge? Launching and scaling a business or solution, ideally generating revenue before the end of the semester. Every few weeks, students convene in the classroom to receive feedback and coaching on their approaches, results and future experiments.
  View Sample Syllabus
• RMI 8400 – InsureTech: New Technologies in Insurance Markets
  Through a blend of lectures, case discussions, guest speakers, and student presentations, students explore topics such as the Internet of Things (IoT) in insurance markets, automated underwriting, blockchain for claims processing and automation, big data/machine learning in actuarial science and related ethical issues and telematics. By the end of the course, students will learn to: (1) describe a variety of applications of technology to the insurance industry, (2) think critically about the viability of each of these innovations, and identify threats and opportunities and (3) discuss insurtech concepts confidently and expertly in front of a variety of audiences.
  View Sample Syllabus
• FI 8092 – AI and Machine Learning Applications in Finance
  Students will develop skills for applying modern machine learning methods and other analytics techniques (such as Python programming) to address practical problems encountered in asset management, corporation finance and financial institution settings. The techniques include tree regression, neutral network, textual analysis, web scraping, data visualization and model assessment and selection using cross-validation.
• FI 8090 – Financial Data Analytics
  Through hands-on assignments, students will use modern machine learning techniques, statistical methods, and prediction models to analyze and address modern financial industry problems. Topics include an introduction to R, financial data visualization, simple and multiple linear regression, classification models, high-dimensional data analysis using Lasso, tree-based regression and model assessment and selection using cross-validation.
  View Sample Syllabus

Georgia residents: $3,726 per semester
Non-Georgia residents: $8,898 per semester

Tuition is subject to change.

Please note: the above tuition rates apply to new non-degree-seeking students. Students who are enrolled in a cohort master's program will be charged at their current cohort tuition rate. Students who are enrolled in the Flexible MBA program will be charged at their current flexible tuition rate.

Financial Aid

These non-degree seeking programs do not qualify for federal loan funds (such as unsubsidized loans through the FAFSA). For information on additional payment options and scholarships to help with the cost of the program, please contact [email protected].

Contact Graduate Student Financial Services
We are here to help you understand the cost of your program (including the financial aid cost of attendance (https://sfs.gsu.edu/resources/coa/)), the payment schedule and financing opportunities.

[email protected]
404-413-7086

The mission of the Graduate Certificate in Fintech Innovation is to ground students with an understanding of the impact fintech technologies make on the financial services field, and to equip them with the ability to tackle business problems with creative and innovative fintech-driven solutions.