Minor in Financial Planning
Overview
Biola’s minor in financial planning is an optimal program for non-business majors or students seeking to build their financial knowledge and expand their career opportunities. With this minor, you will learn critical personal financial skills in a field that is becoming more service-oriented and experiencing job growth. In fact, financial planner was listed as the third best business job for 2017, according to U.S. News & World Report. Without the full business degree, this minor offers the skills and knowledge you need to launch into a proven career track as it qualifies you to take the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) examination.
The financial planning minor will give you the financial expertise you need to not only handle your own finances, but to effectively advise and coach individuals and families seeking to reach their financial goals — from taxes, debt, savings, real estate to retirement planning. You will also learn how to develop and implement an integrated financial plan for yourself and others. Biblically integrated courses and your understanding of biblical values and stewardship will make you uniquely fit to serve Christian households. You will also gain hands-on, cross-cultural experience working with organizations that offer services to underserved communities.
Courses
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Core Requirements
| BUSN 243 | Fundamentals of Financial Planning |
This course will teach students the process of formulating, implementing, and monitoring financial decisions into an integrated plan that guides an individual or family to achieve their financial goals. A strong emphasis will be placed on formulating financial goals that are consistent with Biblical truth. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 339 | Estate Planning |
This course focuses on the components of estate planning which include property titling mechanisms, tax implications, types of trusts, wealth transfer strategies, and postmortem estate planning techniques. Throughout the course, the student will develop a comprehensive, biblical perspective of wealth within the context of estate planning and wealth transfer. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 342 | Retirement Planning |
This course focuses on analyzing client retirement and benefit needs, differentiating between retirement plans, evaluating the rules and tax implications of retirement plans, applying the Social Security system to the financial planning process, recommending retirement plans for businesses, and selecting suitable client investments. Throughout this course, the student will develop a comprehensive, biblical perspective of retirement and benefits planning. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 354 | Insurance and Tax Planning |
This course provides detailed coverage on the taxation of individuals and businesses, as well as the principles of risk and insurance. These topics will be analyzed through both an economic and biblical lens. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 462 | Investments |
| Principles for the individual investor; tests of a sound investment, information sources; types of stocks and bonds; mechanics of purchase and sale. Grade Mode: A. | |
| BUSN 477 | Capstone for Financial Planning |
This course synthesizes the principles and practices of financial planning. Students will create a comprehensive financial plan that considers the fundamentals of financial planning, risk management, income tax, retirement, employee benefits, investment, and estate planning. Students will also integrate biblical principles of leadership, discipleship, stewardship, decision-making, question-asking, and goal-setting involved in the financial planning process. Grade Mode: A. | |