Marquette University’s College of Business Administration is launching a new Certified Professional Banking Program, according to a recent press release, with a vision to further professionalize the banking industry and grow the pipeline of bankers.
Beginning with a pilot, the new program is expected to begin in late 2024 and will offer a common body of knowledge to all bankers, including a curriculum that emphasizes accounting, finance, economics, and evolving technology.
The new certification program expands on the College of Business Administration’s foundational Commercial Banking Program, which has placed 100% of its graduates in the industry since its inception in 2017. The offering is one of the few undergraduate programs of its kind in the nation and the only known program of its type in the Midwest.
The certification program will culminate with an exam to establish a common standard of professionalism in the field, taking a similar approach to how chartered financial analyst and certified public accountant programs are completed.
Experiential learning plays an essential role in the current undergraduate program, as students evaluate and analyze actual small business loans, presenting them to a committee of bankers. The loans, which come from partnerships with many banks and community development financial institutions, aim to create growth, jobs, and improved communities.
