Financial technology, or “FinTech,” is changing the way that banking does business. The rise of encrypted transactions, mobile payment apps, digital lending, blockchain networks, and other advances has automated and improved the delivery of financial services for businesses and consumers. It has also created an entirely new career path.

Wilmington University offers two FinTech-focused certificate programs that can help you prepare for the future of the industry and ascend to the next professional level.

The FinTech certificate and the Cybersecurity and FinTech certificate combine courses from the worlds of both business and technology. And both tap experienced, engaged faculty who actively work in these fields to deepen the relevance of your knowledge, equip you with in-demand skills, and boost your résumé.

“In financial services today, FinTech isn’t an area you should know. It’s an area you must know,” said Dr. Donald Stuhlman, academic director of finance and accounting, who chairs WilmU’s FinTech certificate programs. “It is a major disruptive force, a $100 billion industry that exists entirely in cyberspace. What’s happening is really a reinvention of financial systems.”

Each of these interdisciplinary undergraduate-level programs cover the fundamentals of FinTech, including surveys of the industry’s trends and disruptions, the effect of payment systems, the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence, the current regulatory framework, cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin), and blockchain technology.

The six-course certificate in FinTech builds on this foundation with an in-depth study of Python programming, big data and data visualization, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

The seven-course Cybersecurity and FinTech certificate provides training in network operations and information assurance given financial technology’s reliance on cloud computing and electronic transfers, as well as its vulnerability to ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other computer crimes. “Knowledge of cybersecurity should be a part of any financial professional’s tool kit,” said Stuhlman. Through WilmU’s exclusive Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™ feature, students who complete a FinTech certificate can apply the credits they’ve earned toward a bachelor’s degree program in a range of related business or technology subjects. “These certificates are stackable credentials that can quickly enhance one’s résumé,” says Stuhlman.

As the No. 1 most affordable private, nonprofit university in our region, WilmU makes education accessible. We’re recognized for excellence in eLearning, offering more than 150 degree and certificate programs available 100 percent online to accommodate your schedule, as well as advising, tutoring, and other student support services for remote learners. Our rolling admissions process allows you to submit your application at any time, and admission is guaranteed for most WilmU academic programs, with no SAT or ACT scores required.

WilmU’s FinTech certificates deliver the cutting edge in financial technology, and can help you take the next step toward your education and career goals. To learn more please visit the FinTech and Cybersecurity and Fintech certificate program pages at Wilmington University.