This year's Municipal Finance Certificate program will take place virtually, offering the same University of Chicago programming to participants throughout the country. In lieu of our traditional in-person course, the Center is pleased to offer a 10% tuition reduction for all applicants who apply before Friday, September 18th. 

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.

The program will include half-day courses featuring both live discussions and prerecorded lectures covering the following modules:

• Urban Economics and Growth
• Intergovernmental Fiscal Frameworks, Revenues, Budgeting
• Capital Budgeting/Accounting and Infrastructure Maintenance
• Debt/Municipal Securities 
• Land-Based Finance/Land Value Capture
• Public-Private Partnerships 
• Cost Benefit Analysis – Across Instruments
• Fiscal Impact Analysis
• How Do You Pay For Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation?

While the University appreciate 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 October 5 - Friday, October 9. Programming will last approximately four hours each day.

The complete course schedule and agenda for the 2020 Virtual Program can be viewed here.

Who Should Attend

Space for this certificate course is limited. Individuals who had previously enrolled in either our Chicago or Phoenix certificate courses will be given an opportunity to transfer their previous enrollment to this new program, before enrollment is opened to the general public. If you would like more information to be notified when enrollment is opened to the public, please contact us at munifinance@uchicago.edu. 

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
  • Developers and real estate professionals 
  • Real Estate Attorneys

Benefits of the Program

Participants will learn how to effectively apply tools of financial analysis to make strategic decisions and gain an improved understanding about the interplay among finance, urban economics and public policy as it relates to urban planning and economic development.

Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance. 

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 2020 Certificate in Municipal Finance virtual program.