Iowa State University
College of Human Sciences


Program Descriptions:


The Masters of Family Consumer Sciences Specialization in Family Financial Planning is a structured 42-credit degree offered over the web.


The Family Financial Planning (FFP) Graduate Certificate is an 18-credit subset of the Masters of Family and Consumer Sciences degree offered over the web. The Family Financial Planning Certificate Program has been registered by the Certified Financial Planner (TM) Board of Standards. Students completing the specified Family Financial Planning courses successfully will be eligible to sit for the CFP (TM) examination.

 

Name of graduate degree: Master of Family and Consumer Sciences
Name of major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Name of area of specialization: Family Financial Planning

About the Programs:


These programs are offered by the Great Plain Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GP-IDEA). Seven universities currently participate within this program: Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, and Montana State University. The GP-IDEA universities have combined resources to enable students to obtain a Master of Science in Family Financial Planning (MFCS-FFP) via distance education.


Students select a "home" institution from which their degree will be granted. Students take courses through both their home institution and the participating GP-IDEA schools. Course registration and assistance is provided through their home institution.

Why study Financial Planning?


The financial planning industry is a growing field. Financial planners work in companies such a banks, insurance companies, and brokerage firms, or in employee benefits and pension departments of all types of corporations. Other choose to establish their own personal practice, with their own clientele.

These programs are designed to prepare individuals to work in the financial planning field. The courses for this program are completely Web-based. Completion of course work in the Master's degree and Graduate Certificate meets the educational requirements to sit for the CFP Certification Examination from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.


CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are owned by  Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. This title may be used only by individuals who successfully complete  CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. 


Iowa State University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ title.  CFP® certification is granted only by  the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP® Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements. http://www.cfp.net.


Students typically complete the program in three years while employed full time.  A computer with minimum specifications, Web access, and an email address are required for completing the program.