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University of Charleston

Charleston , West Virginia ,United States

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Financial Planning

This major will prepare you for positions within the financial services industry, business administration, and leadership, as well as to become a trusted financial advisor. Students will acquire a highly marketable skill set involving theory-based financial knowledge, reliable analytical tools, and the ability to calculate and to apply critical finance-related reasoning from a strategic perspective.

Note: Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Financial Planning

The Financial Planning major is an in-seat residential program on the Charleston campus.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for careers in Financial
Planning is strong. The median pay nationally for personal financial advisors in 2018 was
just under $90,000 per year (somewhat lower locally) and the predicted job growth for
the next 5-10 years is 15%, which is much faster than average. There is a growing
demand for financial planners as many current financial planners are close to retirement
and many baby boomers are approaching retirement. Some of the career opportunities in
Financial Planning include:
Registered Investment Advisers
Accounting and Tax Registered Investment Advisors
Banking, Credit Unions, and Trust Companies
Discount Brokerage Companies
Wirehouse Brokerages
Life & Disability Insurance Companies
Property and Casualty Insurance Companies
Independent Broker/Dealers
Government, Academia/Research
Program Description
Graduates in Financial Planning acquire a highly marketable skill set involving
theory-based financial knowledge, strong analytical tools and the ability to calculate and
to apply critical finance-related reasoning from a strategic perspective. The Financial
Planning curriculum is approved by the CFP Board of Standards and prepares students to
sit for the CFP® certification examination.
Program Outcomes
Business Administration Core Outcomes
The graduate will:
1. Develop technical, professional, and interpersonal skills to maximize
effective communication in business and legal environments.
2. Apply ethical frameworks and evaluate global, economic, and cultural
environments.
3. Apply and evaluate various critical thinking and decision-making models
using appropriate analytical and quantitative techniques.
Financial Planning Major Outcomes
The graduate will:
1. Effectively gather and analyze client data to design financial plans that help
clients meet life goals.
2. Communicate effectively with clients throughout the process of creating and
implementing high-quality financial plans.

Campus Information

Charleston

Intakes

  • Jan
  • Sep

Application Processing Time in Days: 20

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Because we believe that learning occurs both in and outside the classroom, the Center for Career Development provides career guidance, internship assistance and professional networking opportunities for students as they move through their academic programs.

The CCD staff works with faculty members, alumni, employers and community leaders to generate high-quality opportunities for students. In turn, the CCD is committed to making the greater Charleston community a more vibrant and prosperous area by enabling UC students to become involved with local employers and organizations.

CCD provides assistance and resources to students and alumni in all aspects of career preparation. We serve as the link between our students and employers. We also help to connect members of the community to the University in a variety of ways. The CCD hosts a number of events and programs for students and maintains several software tools to help students and alumni in all phases of career development.

CCD Resources
Services
Individual Career Coaching
Alumni Assistance
Graduate School Guidance
Events
Annual Career Fair
Etiquette & Networking Dinner
Graduate School Fair
Career Development Week
Tools
Quinncia – for resumes and mock interviews
Career One Stop – for assistance with determining career pathways
Handshake – online job board and career management system for students

PSW Opportunity

3 years PSW

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

First year students must submit the following: University of Charleston application Transcripts (Official transcripts as well as an official English translation from all prior and currently attended secondary institutions are required for an admittance decision. Official transcripts may be scanned and submitted via email.) Exam Scores International students who do not take the ACT or SAT exams must submit one standardized English test score. Acceptable forms of an English test score are as follows: The College Board’s Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (A minimum score of 550 is required for the paper-based test (pBT) and a 61 for the Internet-based test (iBT)) The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (A minimum of 6.0 is required) The duolingo exam (A minimum of 2.6 required) The PTE Academic exam (A minimum of 54 is required) GTEC English Proficiency Test (A minimum of 1100 is required) Other standardized English exams are accepted only upon pre-approval from the Director of International Programs. Note that consideration is taken into account in determining English competence if a student has studied at an American institution. The University of Charleston reserves the right to administer an English proficiency test to any student whose primary language is not English. This test is taken during International Student Orientation before the start of classes. If a student is found lacking in English proficiency, he or she will be required to take the coursework in English as a Second Language (ESL) currently offered at the University of Charleston. If the needed ESL coursework is not offered, the University of Charleston reserves the right to refer the student to an Intensive English Language Program. Students from the following list of countries do not need to submit an ESL test score but should still submit an SAT or ACT score;