Personal Financial Planning
Course Sequence
Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.
| First Year - Fall Semester | ||
| MTH 115 | Brief Calculus With Applications I | 4 hours |
| ATG 157 | Accounting Principles-Financial | 3 hours |
| COM 103 | The Oral Communication Process | 3 hours |
| BUS 100 | Contemporary Business | 3 hours |
| BCC (FA, HUM, GS or WC, or NS) | 3 hours | |
| EHS 120 | University Experience | 1 hour |
| Total | 17 hours | |
| First Year - Spring Semester | ||
| ATG 158 | Accounting Principles-Managerial | 3 hours |
| FIN 200 | Introduction to Finance | 3 hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition | 3 hours |
| MIS 173 | Introduction to Business Analytics | 3 hours |
| BCC (FA, HUM, GS/WC, or NS) | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Sophomore - Fall Semester | ||
| ECO 221 | Microeconomics | 3 hours |
| Q M 262 | Quantitative Analysis I | 3 hours |
| BCC (FA, HUM, GS/WC, or NS) | 6 hours | |
| FIN 220 | Personal Finance | 3 hours |
| ATG 201 (pre-req for ATG 301) | Accounting Principles-Accounting Techniques | 1 hour |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Sophomore - Spring Semester | ||
| FIN 322 | Business Finance | 3 hours |
| QM 263 | Quantitative Analysis II | 3 hours |
| ECO 222 | Macroeconomics | 3 hours |
| M L 350 | Managing for Results in Organizations | 3 hours |
| ATG 301 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Junior - Fall Semester | ||
| FIN 325 | Investment Analysis (EL Tag) | 3 hours |
| FIN 331 | Personal Investing | 3 hours |
| MTG 315 | Principles of Marketing | 3 hours |
| ENG 306 | Business Communication | 3 hours |
| FCB Core Elective | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Junior - Spring Semester | ||
| FIN 328 | Financial Institutions and Markets | 3 hours |
| FIN 330 | Financial Services Marketing | 3 hours |
| BLW 342 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 hours |
| FCB Core Elective | 3 hours | |
| General Elective | 3 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Senior - Fall Semester | ||
| FIN 422 | Senior Finance Elective (WI Tag) | 3 hours |
| ATG 479 | Personal Tax and Estate Planning | 3 hours |
| M L 452 | Strategic Management in Organizations | 2 hours |
| BUS 400 | Client Consulting Project (EL & WI Tag) | 2 hours |
| General Electives | 6 hours | |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Senior - Spring Semester | ||
| FIN 495 | Personal Finance Capstone (WI Tag) | 3 hours |
| General Electives | 9 hours | |
| Total | 12 hours | |
The Personal Financial Planning Major will provide students with the foundation needed to pursue a career in financial advisory services. This career track includes personal wealth management, insurance, and personal banking. The major aligns with, and will help students, earn the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation
Students interested in the Personal Financial Planning Major are encouraged to consider classes in Social Media Marketing and/or Professional Sales. Students cannot double major in corporate and personal financial planning.
Preparing You For Success
A degree in Personal Financial Planning at Bradley University enables you to determine how to weigh risk and return as you assist others in reaching their financial goals. This is a noble field given that so many Americans are financially illiterate and need help with their budgeting and planning. You will be prepared to assist individuals with investments, taxation, insurance, retirement planning and estate planning.
By the time you graduate, your experiences may include:
- Prepare for the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) exam
- Networking and professional development through the Financial Management Association
- Use Refinitiv/Eikon Datastream© which is the world’s most comprehensive financial time series database
- Have an opportunity to participate in a Student-Managed Investment Fund, an investment portfolio managed by students
- Mentoring relationships with faculty who are financial professionals and active researchers
Making Your Mark
The Personal Financial Planning major is just that – personal. It prepares students for careers in serving others through financial advisory services. Graduates have found jobs with Morgan Stanley, Equitable Advisors, Merrill Lynch, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), HSBC, Heartland Bank and Trust Company, Edward Jones and Ernst and Young.
Major Requirements
Finance Core - 19 hrs.
- FIN 200: Introduction to Finance - 3 hrs.
- ATG 201: Accounting Processes - 1 hr.
- ATG 301: Intermediate Accounting - 3 hrs.
- FIN 322: Business Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 325: Investment Analysis - 3 hrs.
- FIN 328: Financial Institutions and Markets - 3 hrs.
- FIN 422: Financial Analysis - 3 hrs.
Personal Financial Planning Courses -15 hrs.
- FIN 220: Personal Finance - 3 hrs.
- FIN 330: Financial Services Marketing - 3 hrs.
- FIN 331: Personal Investing - 3 hrs.
- ATG 479: Personal Tax and Estate Planning - 3 hrs.
- FIN 495: Personal Finance Capstone - 3 hrs.
Additional requirements - 7 hrs.
- MTH 115: Brief Calculus with Applications I - 4 hrs.
- Q M 263: Quantitative Analysis II - 3 hrs.
This table sets out the teaching schedule for Finance classes. Students must also complete Foster College's business core.