Finance majors choose between the Option in Financial Analysis, the Option in Financial Planning, or the Option in Risk Management and Insurance. The Option in Financial Planning includes the set of courses approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to prepare students to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
The CFP® exam is part of a professional certification for financial planners. Financial planners advise clients on how to achieve their financial objectives in investing, insurance, taxes, education, retirement, and estate planning. Completing the Option in Financial Planning at CSUN satisfies the education requirement and allows access to the CFP® exam. For more information about financial planning and the exam, see https://www.cfp.net/become-a-cfp-professional.
Requirements for the Option in Financial Planning
You must be a Finance major with an Option in Financial Planning and complete the following CFP® Board-required courses, one finance elective (preferably, FIN 302 Personal Finance), BLAW 308 Business Law, and satisfy the Communications requirement.
FIN 303 Financial Management
FIN 336 Principles of Insurance
FIN 352 Investment Management
FIN 440 Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
FIN 446 Income Tax and Estate Planning
FIN 442 Theory and Practice of Financial Planning
Students in “good standing” will receive permission numbers for FIN 336, 440, 446, and 442. To earn good standing, students must earn a C or better in all financial planning courses, attend one-on-one financial planning advising every semester, and attend a financial planning networking event every semester.
Students in “great standing” must also earn good grades in financial planning courses, and participate in the Los Angeles and Ventura FPA Chapters and other financial planning program activities. These students will receive permission numbers and assistance with financial planning competitions, internships, and career placement.
