The Graduate Certificate in Government Financial Management is designed primarily for individuals who are interested in careers in government financial reporting, government auditing, and government contracting and budgeting. It also prepares you for the Certified Government Financial Manager and Certified Defense Financial Manager examinations.
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• UBalt offers "regional, in-state tuition" for select out-of-state areas.
12 credit hours
The certificate aligns with:
No test requirements for admission.
Financial managers play a crucial role in government at all levels, overseeing budgets, managing funds, and ensuring financial compliance. These functions are essential for the operation of government agencies and are unlikely to be automated entirely. One area that these roles will need to adapt to quickly are the new technologies and data analysis tools, which can enhance their efficiency and decision-making.
If you are currently working for a government agency or aspire to serve in the government as a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) or Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) , the University of Baltimore offers a professional development opportunity to help get you there.
Working for the government at any level is an act of service. For those considering roles in government financial management, you might consider these areas:
You’ll take courses in:
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Your application will be accepted on a rolling basis but you can use these dates as a guide.
Admission will be offered depending on availability of space, strength of your credentials and sufficiency of time for processing.
Questions? Contact an admission counselor at 410.837.4777 or gradadmission@ubalt.edu.
Let us know when you are ready to earn your Government Financial Management Certificate by applying to the program. Our online application will only take you a few minutes to complete. Before you submit the application, you’ll be asked to use your credit card or bank account to pay the $50 application fee.
Insider tips:
The earlier you apply and submit a completed application, the faster you’ll receive
an admission decision. Each one of your supporting admission documents may be sent
individually. Your admission portal will keep track of what the UBalt Admission team
has received.
When you attend an information session or discuss your application with an Admission counselor or Merrick School of Business representative be sure to get your application fee waiver code and save yourself $50.
A bachelor’s degree in any field is required for admittance into the UBalt Government Financial Management Certificate. This program is open to students without an accounting undergraduate degree as well as those who have earned an accounting-focused bachelor’s degree. The undergraduate GPA for admitted students typically ranges from 2.9 to 4.0.
Historically, admitted Government Financial Management Certificate students have average cumulative GPA's of 3.2 and come from a variety of academic majors, with the majority having some sort of prior accounting education.
The University of Baltimore has several scholarships that may be available for those students who have submitted competitive GPA documentation.
A key factor for all applicants is the undergraduate GPA, although graduate coursework will be taken into account. Request your official transcripts as soon as possible, as they can take time to print, prepare and mail. The Office of Admission requires original transcripts from all universities you’ve attended. It’s easiest to have the institution send your transcript directly to us.
If you are mailing an institution’s transcript, do not break the seal upon receipt. If you attended a non-U.S. institution, you must provide the official transcript and a transcript evaluation with a course-by-course analysis conducted by a transcript evaluation service such as World Education Services.
Send your resume to our team via email. By submitting your resume you are signaling that you are a polished professional. That’s great because our students are professionals who are looking to enhance or change their careers. The diversity of your overall work experience is important to us.
The Admissions Committee holistically considers your transcripts, work experience, personal statement and professional recommendation in the evaluation process.
Your personal statement is important, so take your time writing it. Please submit it to documents@ubalt.edu.
Clearly tell the admissions committee more about your background and your interests. Share the reasons why you are interested in pursuing a University of Baltimore Government Financial Management Certificate.
Include your thoughts about how the program will assist you in achieving your academic and professional development goals. Make sure your essay is well written and exhibits a high level of academic and professional competency. Again, don’t forget to proofread for grammatical and spelling errors.
One recommendation letter is required for candidates with a GPA less than 3.0. It should come from someone with the ability to evaluate your academic aptitude and/or professional experience, such as a professor, supervisor, project partner, or mentor.
Candidates with a GPA above 3.0 are not required to submit a letter of recommendation but it is welcomed.
Examples should include details of your work history, thoughts on your competence as an employee, an explanation of why they think you’d be a successful Government Financial Management Certificate candidate, description of your academic ability, etc.
Ask the writers to put their letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes with their signatures on the back flap. Give those individuals who are writing your letters of recommendation at least two weeks—but preferably a month—to complete the task. This allows them to take their time and communicate their thoughts and recommendations of the likelihood that you will succeed in the program.
University of Baltimore
Office of Graduate Admission
1420 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
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