Diploma in Financial Planning
Laurier's Diploma in Financial Planning is the first such program in Canada and prepares the students to respond proactively to this complex and rapidly changing field. The diploma will involve courses primarily from the finance area, but also from accounting, policy and economics. The quality of this financial planning program has been recognized by the Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC), which has accredited this program.
Financial Planning diploma students must complete 6.5 credits in finance, accounting, policy and economics. The diploma will be offered on a part-time or full-time basis at the WLU campus in Waterloo. In the part-time program, over a 12-week period, students will complete two 0.5-credit courses. At this rate, six 0.5-credit courses will be taken per year and students will complete the diploma requirements in slightly over two years.
The program requirements are given in the following chart:
Diploma in Financial Planning
| Diploma in Financial Planning |
|---|
| Required Courses | Admission Requirements | Academic Regulations | Notes |
BU111
EC140
BU227
BU231
BU353
BU357
BU383
BU393
BU413
BU473
BU483
BU493k
BU493m | Program participants
must have at least three years of work experience in business or
government following their most recent formal education or an
undergraduate degree in any discipline. Prior to admission to the
program students must have completed Introduction to Applied Statistics
(BU205/EC205)
or an equivalent course. Applicants must have a minimum grade point
average (GPA) of 7.00 in the pre-admission course or any transfer
credits. Students with an undergraduate degree are required to have a
minimum overall average (GPA) of 6.00 to be admitted in the diploma
program. Participants may be granted a maximum of 2.0 credits (four
courses) toward the diploma for university courses taken prior to
admission into the program. This rule applies to all students with or
without a previous degree or diploma. This program may be taken on a
full-time or part-time basis. | Program
participants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) to
graduate. Participants may repeat a maximum of 2 0.5-credit courses
over the duration of the program. The last grade received on any course
attempt will be used to calculate the GPA and no course may be
attempted more than twice. | Graduates
with a Diploma in Financial Planning will also have fulfilled the
educational requirements for writing the Certified Financial Planner
(CFP) professional proficiency exam. Passing this exam combined with
two years work experience will entitle the graduate to use the CFP
certification mark. |
