Master of Science in Financial Analysis
Why Choose College for Financial Planning®?
Skills & Recognition
A master’s degree shows you have reached a high level of expertise. A graduate degree in financial analysis is immediately recognizable to both clients and firms.
CFA Institute University Affiliation Program
Our Master of Science in Financial Analysis program is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. It is recognized by CFA Institute as embedding at least 70% of the CFA® Program Candidate Body of Knowledge™ (CBOK) from the CFA Program into our curricula.
Knowledge for the CAIA® exam
In addition, a unique portion of the master’s degree includes some of the CAIA® Charter exam curriculum, helping you prepare for the CAIA® exam.In addition, a unique portion of the master’s degree includes some of the CAIA® Charter exam curriculum, helping you prepare for the CAIA® exam.
Prior Learning Credit
If you hold a financial designation or license, or have successfully completed certain courses at the College for Financial Planning®, you may qualify for prior learning credit toward our master’s in financial analysis.
Program Learning Objectives
Graduates should be able to:
Know: Identify appropriate tools, techniques, and fiduciary responsibilities used in financial analysis in complex situations for firms and institutional and individual clients.
Apply: Apply accounting, economic, and quantitative methods and analyses in financial analysis used in various client-based scenarios and situations.
Relate: Relate the practice of portfolio management according to ethical standards.
Critical Analysis and Evaluation: Synthesize a sophisticated level of critical evaluation and analysis to financial analysis scenarios and apply advanced techniques in security analysis, asset allocation, and portfolio management for a firm and/or client.
Communicate: Prepare comprehensive written reports and effective presentations of financial analysis.
Professional Practice: Employ ethical and professional standards when making financial analysis and recommendations, abiding by regulatory and legal guidelines.
Lifelong Learning: Engage with the CFA Institute in being contemporary and adopting changes in the financial analysis industry, including related standards and regulations.
Discovery: Engage in learning and adopting new thinking in financial analysis including such areas as valuation, corporate performance, and portfolio management as it may apply to contributing to a firm and/or advising clients on complex financial analysis situations.
Program Curriculum
You must complete 30 semester credits with a minimum 3.00 grade point average to graduate from the program.
Topics Include
Economic analysis utilized in investment decision making
Financial statement analysis
Quantitative methods and analysis beneficial to financial analysis
The investment environment including financial markets and institutions
Corporate finance
Security analysis and valuation
Alternative investments, derivatives, and risk management
Advanced portfolio management
Professional standards and ethics in the investments industry
Core Courses
ACCT545: Financial Statement Analysis
ACCT550 Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
ECON535 Economics for Financial Analysis
FINA515 The Financial System, Markets and Instruments
FINA525 Quantitative Methods
FINA565 Security Analysis and Valuation
FINA575 Corporate Finance
FINA585 Derivatives and Alternative Investments
FINA595 Portfolio Management
FINA650 Financial Analysis Capstone
Demand for Financial Analysts: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm.
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