UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Program: Minor in Financial Counseling and Management

Program Description

A minor in Financial Counseling and Management consists of 18 units of coursework. Lecture courses focus on consumer rights, financial management, and housing. Seminars focus on communication in financial counseling, financial challenges, and retirement and resource management. This program prepares students to sit for Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)® certification examination offered by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU, and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., Social Security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements is available from the department. See Notice to Students: Licensure and Certification for more information.

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses (18 units)

Upper Division Required Courses (12 units)

FCS 323 Family and Individual Money Management (3)*
FCS 324 Consumer Rights, Issues, and Problems (3)*
FCS 422 Family Financial Counseling (3)
FCS 423 Analysis of Family Economic Issues (3)

Select 6 units from the following:

Alternatively, a student in the Financial Counseling and Management minor may substitute one or two relevant lower or upper division 3-unit courses with approval of a Family and Consumer Sciences advisor.

*General Education Courses: FCS 315, FCS 323 or FCS 324 satisfy 3 units of the Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning or Lifelong Learning requirement.

Total Units in the Minor: 18

Contact

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Chair: Yi Cai
Sequoia Hall (SQ) 141
(818) 677-3051

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a minor in Financial Counseling will be able to:

  1. Analyze a situation and specify the financial decision needs appropriate to meet an individual or family’s goal.
  2. Apply knowledge of consumer rights, decision making, and the financial market, and evaluate the tools and approaches necessary to reach the desired goal.
  3. Apply terminology, formulas, and concepts in financial management.
  4. Write a debt recovery plan applying quantitative reasoning.
  5. Appraise ethical, legal, social, and professional issues and responsibilities in financial counseling and management.
  6. Demonstrate effective communication techniques for financial counseling and management.