Financial Planning and Counseling (FPC)

At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.

Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:

• Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
• Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
• Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.

Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:

• Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
• Participate in and guide online discussions.
• Attend online office hours in discussion threads or on the phone.
• Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.

46 Credit Hours: 34 credits in FPC, plus 12 allied credits in designated departments outside of economics. (This does not include gen ed/bachelor degree requirements or the university's 122-hour rule.)

A student who can manage 4 major classes each semester could finish the program in 4 semesters. For best course sequencing, plan to begin the major in a Spring or Summer semester.

Financial Planning emphasis is optional.

There are no prerequisites to the FPC major. Students will complete 34 credits in the FCS department and 12 allied credits (most students who come to our program with previous college coursework have already fulfilled this requirement)

FPC Core (22 credit hours)

FCS 1500	Lifespan Human Development BF OR FCS 2400 Modern Family BF (3)
FCS 3010	Intro to FCS Careers (2)
FCS 3200	Research Methods (4) CW
FCS 3210	Statistics (QB, QI) (4)
FCS 3450	Family Economic Issues BF QI OR FCS 3500 Financial Skills for Life QI (3) *

Two courses from this list of community/diversity-focused courses 

FCS 2180	Family School and Community Connections (3)
FCS 3245	Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity (3) DV
FCS 3290	Race, Ethnicity, and Family Diversity (3) DV HF
FCS 3420	Housing Policy and Issues (3) CW*
FCS 3430	Family Advocacy and Policy (3)
FCS 3510	Tax Preparation and Community Engagement (3)*
FCS 4980	CSBS Internship in FCS (3) *^
FCS 5180	Autism across the Lifespan (3) DV
FCS 5200	Families and Social Policy (3)*
FCS 5390	Gender, Race, and Sexuality across the Lifespan (3) DV
FCS 5450	Nonprofit Community Organization (3)*
FCS 5630	Healthy Communities (3)
FCS 5700	Analyzing Community Growth (3) QI*

*If not used to fulfill this requirement can be used as an elective

^up to 3 credits of FCS 4890 can be used towards the community/diversity requirement. 6 total credits can be used towards the major as a whole.

FPC Electives (12 credits, 6 credits must be 5000-level or above)

FCS 3520	Personal Financial Counseling (3)
FCS 5282	Conflict and Mediation (3)
FCS 5510	Building Family Wealth: Investment and Life Insurance Planning (3)
FCS 5520	Retirement and Benefits Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5530	Income Tax Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5540	Protecting Family Wealth (3)
FCS 5550	Family Financial Planning Capstone (3)

Allied coursework (12 credits)

The goal of this requirement is to foster a broader educational base for FPC majors, consistent with the general aims of a liberal arts degree. Courses from 35 different departments can count towards this requirement. See catalog or Degree Audit for list. Class must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better to count. The allied requirement is waived with the completion of a second major or a minor from any department.

Allied departments: accounting, anthropology, business, city and metropolitan planning, communication, economics, educational psychology, entrepreneurship and strategy, ethnic studies, finance, gender studies, geography, health education and promotion, health society and policy, honors, management, marketing, peace and conflict studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology This requirement can be waived with the completion of a second major, minor, or certificate.

Students who successfully complete FCS 3420, FCS 3500, FCS 3520, and one of the following: FCS 3510, FCS 5510, 5520, 5530, or 5540, can sit for the AFCPE® Exam at a discounted fee. AFCPE® exam needed to become an Accredited Financial Counselor ®.

$520/credit.*
*Effective Fall 2024. Subject to change without notice.

For an estimate of the full course, use the TUITION Estimator

New students enrolling in UOnline beginning Fall 2024 may be able to apply university employee tuition reduction in some situations. For more information please email us at uonline@utah.edu.

Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning and Counseling

CFP® professionals may work at large financial firms, small boutique firms, or insurance companies. They can also start their own practices. No matter which path you choose, you can positively impact the lives of many as a trusted advisor, counselor, and coach.

If you choose not to pursue a career as a CFP®, here are some examples of careers that may interest you:

• Human Resources
• Customer Relations
• Housing Counseling
• Real Estate
• Various positions at banks and credit unions
• Tax counseling and VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) programs
• Financial Aid
• Financial Literacy (ex: U of U Financial Wellness Center, AAA Fair Credit Foundation)
• Go on to Master’s in Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, etc.

See more information on career options. 

At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.

Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:

• Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
• Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
• Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.

Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:

• Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
• Participate in and guide online discussions.
• Attend online office hours in discussion threads or on the phone.
• Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.

47 Credit Hours: 41 credits in FPC, plus 6 allied credits in designated departments outside of economics. (This does not include gen ed/bachelor degree requirements or the university's 122-hour rule.)

A student who can manage 4 major classes each semester could finish the program in 4 semesters. For best course sequencing, plan to begin the major in a Spring or Summer semester.

There are no prerequisites to the FPC major with Financial Planning Emphasis. Students will complete 41 credits in the FCS department and 6 allied credits (most students who come to our program with previous college coursework have already fulfilled this requirement)

FPC Core (20 credit hours)

FCS 1500	Lifespan Human Development BF OR FCS2400 Modern Family BF (3)
FCS 3200	Research Methods (4) CW SUSL
FCS 3210	Statistics (QB, QI) (4)
FCS 3500	Financial Skills for Life (QI) (3)

Community/diversity-focused courses (choose two). 

FCS 2180	Family School and Community Connections (3)
FCS 3245	Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity (3) DV
FCS 3290	Race, Ethnicity, and Family Diversity (3) DV HF
FCS 3420	Housing Policy and Issues (3) CW*
FCS 3430	Family Advocacy and Policy (3)
FCS 3510	Tax Preparation and Community Engagement (3)*
FCS 4980	CSBS Internship in FCS (3) *^
FCS 5180	Autism across the Lifespan (3) DV
FCS 5200	Families and Social Policy (3)*
FCS 5390	Gender, Race, and Sexuality across the Lifespan (3) DV
FCS 5450	Nonprofit Community Organization (3)*
FCS 5630	Healthy Communities (3)
FCS 5700	Analyzing Community Growth (3) QI*

*If not used to fulfill this requirement can be used as an elective

^up to 3 credits of FCS 4890 can be used towards the community/ diversity requirement. 6 total credits can be used towards the major as a whole.

Financial Planning Core (15 credits)

FCS 5510	Building family Wealth: Investment and Life Insurance Planning (3)
FCS 5520	Retirement and Benefits Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5530	Income Tax Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5540	Protecting Family Wealth (3)
FCS 5550	Family Financial Planning Capstone (3)

FPC Elective Courses (6 credits)

FCS 3450	Family Economic Issues across the Lifespan (3) QI
FCS 3520	Personal Financial Counseling (3)
FCS 5282	Conflict and Mediation (3)

Allied coursework (6 credits)

The goal of this requirement is to foster a broader educational base for FPC majors, consistent with the general aims of a liberal arts degree. Courses from 35 different departments can count towards this requirement. See catalog or Degree Audit for list. Class must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better to count. The allied requirement is waived with the completion of a second major or a minor from any department.

Allied departments: accounting, anthropology, business, city and metropolitan planning, communication, economics, educational psychology, entrepreneurship and strategy, ethnic studies, finance, gender studies, geography, health education and promotion, health society and policy, honors, management, marketing, peace and conflict studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology This requirement can be waived with the completion of a second major, minor, or certificate.

$520/credit.*
*Effective Fall 2024. Subject to change without notice.

For an estimate of the full course, use the TUITION Estimator

New students enrolling in UOnline beginning Fall 2024 may be able to apply university employee tuition reduction in some situations. For more information please email us at uonline@utah.edu.

Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning and Counseling with Financial Planning Emphasis

Here are some examples of careers that may interest you:

• Human Resources
• Customer Relations
• Housing Counseling
• Real Estate
• Various positions at banks and credit unions
• Tax counseling and VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) programs
• Financial Aid
• Financial Literacy (ex: U of U Financial Wellness Center, AAA Fair Credit Foundation)
• Go on to Master’s in Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, etc.

See more information on career options. 

At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.

Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:

• Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
• Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
• Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.

Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:

• Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
• Participate in and guide online discussions.
• Attend online office hours in discussion threads or on the phone.
• Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.

16 Credit Hours: 6 credits in FPC, plus 10 credits in electives.

FPC Minor Core (6 credit hours from the following list)

FCS 3450	Family Economic Issues BF QI OR FCS 3500 Financial Skills for Life QI (3) *
FCS 3520	Personal Financial Counseling (3)

FPC Minor Electives (10 credits. 3 credits must be 5000-level)

FCS 3420	Housing Policy and Issues (3) CW
FCS 3450	Family Economic Issues (3) BFQI*
FCS 3500	Financial Skills for Life (3) QI*
FCS 3510	Tax Preparation and Community Engagement (3)
FCS 4980	CSBS Internship in FCS (1-4) ^
FCS 5200	Families and Social Policy (3)
FCS 5282	Conflict and Mediation (3)
FCS 5450	Nonprofit Community Organization (3)
FCS 5510	Building Family Wealth: Investment and Life Insurance Planning (3)
FCS 5520	Retirement and Benefits Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5530	Income Tax Planning for Families (3)
FCS 5540	Protecting Family Wealth (3)
FCS 5550	Family Financial Planning Capstone (3)
FCS 5700	Analyzing Community Growth (3) QI

*If not used to full fill core requirement

^up to 4 credits of FCS 4890 may be used towards the FPC minor

Students who successfully complete FCS 3420, FCS 3500, FCS 3520, and one of the following: FCS 3510, FCS 5510, 5520, 5530, or 5540, can sit for the AFCPE® Exam at a discounted fee. AFCPE® exam needed to become an Accredited Financial Counselor ®.

$520/credit.*
*Effective Fall 2024. Subject to change without notice.

For an estimate of the full course, use the TUITION Estimator

New students enrolling in UOnline beginning Fall 2024 may be able to apply university employee tuition reduction in some situations. For more information please email us at uonline@utah.edu.

Minor in Financial Planning and Counseling