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Master of Financial Planning and Analytics, M.F.P.A.

  • Requirements
  • Graduation Plan
  • Department
  • Program Details

Requirements

The Master of Financial Planning and Analytics (MFPA) degree program prepares students for professional positions in financial planning and financial analytics.  Our curriculum is also designed to help our students progress towards professional certifications, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) (CFP®) certification and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)certification.
Students with foundational courses in financial planning or financial analytics can further expand their existing knowledge by selecting relevant elective courses in new areas of study. With extensive connections to firms across the nation, we seek to provide the best graduate education possible in financial planning and financial analytics.

Total Program Credits: 36

Matriculation Requirements:

The university uses a selective admissions process for admitting students to graduate programs.  Meeting minimum admissions criteria does not guarantee admission to the graduate program or to the University as a graduate student.  The minimum admissions criteria include the following:

  1. Acceptance of an application to the Master of Financial Planning and Analytics program, including payment of the application fee by the established deadline.
  2. Official transcripts from all universities attended properly submitted.
  3. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university, a nationally accredited program, or the international equivalent.
  4. A 3.0 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 or higher GPA calculated on the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate coursework.
  5. For international students whose native language is not English, a TOEFL score of 80 iBT (550 pBT) or higher, or an IELTS band score of 6.5 or higher within the past two years.
  6. For international students, all US government requirements for international students must be met.
Discipline Core: 18 Credits
Complete the following Core classes  
FIN 6130 Financial Statement Analysis and Modeling 3
FIN 6140 Regulatory Policy in the Financial Services 3
FIN 6170 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Analysis 3
FIN 6340 Analytics and Advanced Statistics 3
FIN 6820 Research Methods 3
FIN 6840 Behavioral Finance Seminar 3
Elective Requirements: 18 Credits
Select 18 semester credit hours from the following courses 18
Students preparing to sit for the CFP(R) exam will need to complete the following elective courses:  
FIN 6060
 Financial Planning for Professionals (3)  
FIN 6210
 Retirement Planning (3)  
FIN 6260
 Estate Planning (3)  
FIN 6300
 Income Tax Planning (3)  
FIN 6800
 Financial Planning Capstone and Case Analysis (3)  
Students preparing to sit for the CFA(R) exam (Level 1) are strongly encouraged to take the following elective courses:  
FIN 6510
 CFA I Investment Products (3)  
FIN 6520
 CFA I Financial Markets (3)  
FIN 6810
 CFA Exam Preparation (3)  
Additional elective courses:
  
FIN 6160
 International Financial Management (3)  
FIN 6350
 Retirement Income Planning (3)
(Can substitute for Retirement Planning for the CFP® certification)		  
FIN 6370
 Wealth Management (3)  
FIN 6380
 Advanced Estate Planning and Asset Protection (3)  
FIN 6390
 Financial Technology (3)  
FIN 6400
 Managing Client Relationships (3)  
FIN 6450
 Planning for Financial Planning Business Owners (3)  
FIN 6700
 CFP Exam Preparation (3) Strongly recommended to prepare for the CFP® exam  
FIN 679R
 Special Topics in Finance (3)  
FIN 689R
 Internship (3)  
FIN 690R
 Independent Study (3)  
Other graduate level courses as approved by the MFPA Program Director or Advisor
  

 

Graduation Requirements:

  1. Complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours at the graduate level.
  2. Earn a grade of C or higher for all courses used to satisfy the graduation requirement.
  3. Achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  4. Complete a minimum of 24 of the graduate program credit hours at Utah Valley University.

Graduation Plan

This Plan of Study is recommended for full-time students.

Semester 1 Course Title Credit Hours
FIN 6130 Financial Statement Analysis and Modeling 3
FIN 6840 Behavioral Finance Seminar 3
Select two elective courses: 6
FIN 6060 Financial Planning for Professionals  
FIN 6300 Income Tax Planning  
FIN 6380 Advanced Estate Planning and Asset Protection  
FIN 6450 Planning for Financial Planning Business Owners  
FIN 6510 CFA I Investment Products  
FIN 6520 CFA I Financial Markets  
  Credit Hours: 12
Semester 2 Course Title Credit Hours
FIN 6170 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Analysis 3
FIN 6340 Analytics and Advanced Statistics 3
Select two elective courses: 6
FIN 6260 Estate Planning  
FIN 6210 Retirement Planning  
FIN 6350 Retirement Income Plan  
FIN 6370 Wealth Management  
FIN 6810 CFA Exam Preparation  
  Credit Hours: 12
Semester 3 Course Title Credit Hours
FIN 6140 Regulatory Policy in Financial Services 3
FIN 6820 Research Methods 3
Select two elective courses: 6
FIN 6160 International Financial Management  
FIN 6390 Financial Technology  
FIN 6700 CFP Exam Preparation  
FIN 6800 Financial Planning Capstone and Case Analysis  
  Credit Hours: 12
  Degree total: 36

Department

Financial Planning and Analytics Graduate Program

The Master of Financial Planning and Analytics Graduate Program is in the Woodbury School of Business. To find the most up-to-date information, including Program Learning Outcomes for the Financial Planning and Analytics Graduate Program, visit their website.

Financial Planning and Analytics Graduate Program

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes
  1. Apply financial and behavioral theories to investment analysis, portfolio construction, and other financial decisions.
  2. Evaluate challenges and opportunities that financial professionals, individuals, and firms face using financial ratios and other analytics.
  3. Develop research skills through appropriate methods and analytics for individual and institutional investors.
  4. Communicate effectively as competent and ethical financial professionals.
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