This year's Fundamental's of Municipal Finance Credential will take place virtually, offering the same University of Chicago programming to participants throughout the country. 

This five day program provides a thorough foundation in municipal finance within the United States, with a focus on urban planning, economic development, and potential funding models for infrastructure.

The program will include half-day courses featuring both live discussions and prerecorded lectures covering the following modules from 9:00am to 12:45pm (Central Time Zone) every day:

  • Urban Economics and Growth
  • Intergovernmental Fiscal Frameworks, Revenues, Budgeting
  • Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure Maintenance
  • Debt/Municipal Securities 
  • Land Value Capture
  • Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Financial Analysis for Land Use and Development Decision Making
  • Public-Private Partnerships 
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

While the University appreciates international perspectives in all of our courses, this program is currently limited to municipal finance topics within the United States and does not include any content within an international context. Potential students who are interested in additional course topics are encouraged to explore additional University of Chicago and Harris Executive Education courses here. 

Program Agenda

This course will take place Monday May 8 - Friday 12, 2023. The live virtual programming will last approximately 3.75 hours each day. Students are also expected to watch pre-recorded lectures and read introductory materials that correspond to each live module. The total time expected to complete all pre-recordings and required readings is 6 to 7 hours.

The 2023 Agenda will be available soon.

Who Should Attend

Space for this credential program is limited. If you would like more information to be notified when enrollment is opened to the public, please contact us at munifinance@uchicago.edu. 

This course is for professionals with limited or no knowledge of how public finance works in the United States. The goal of this course is not to teach you to be a finance expert, but rather, to help you understand the field of municipal finance so that you can make better informed decisions in your current or future careers. Those with the following experience will be given preference for admission:

  • New to senior-level urban planners who work in both the private and public sectors as well as individuals in the land development industry at large.
  • Job titles including:
    • Urban Planners 
    • Community and Economic Development Staff

Benefits of the Program

Participants will gain an improved understanding about the interplay among finance, urban economics, and public policy as it relates to urban planning and economic development. This will enable participants to make strategic planning and financing decisions.  

Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a Fundamentals of Municipal Finance credential.

For planners maintaining their AICP credentials, this course provides Certification Maintenance (CM) credits from the APA.

Cost and Logistics

See the cost and logistics of the Fundamentals of Municipal Finance Credential virtual program.