Finance Certificate of Achievement

The Certificate of Achievement curriculum is designed for students who desire recognition for completing a rigorous course of study in financial services skills but who may not be interested in pursuing a degree.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Prepare financial analysis using core quantitative skills.
• Communicate business concepts effectively in oral and written formats.
• Outline the relationships between and components of financial markets, institutions and instruments.
• Explain multiple aspects of financial risk management.
• Calculate the value of real and financial assets to make investment decisions.
• Define debt and equity as sources of capital.

While it is impossible to accurately forecast economic expansions and recessions, it is safe to both categorize the present state as a high job opportunity environment and forecast that an economic slow-down will occur at some point in the future.

We therefore expect course enrollment and the number of certificates awarded to increase significantly (as it did in ’08 – ’09 during an economic recession) when an economic recession may occur in the future.  We also expect the impact of “Free City College of San Francisco” program to continue to increase course enrollment.

The projected number of annual completers for the Certificate of Achievement – Finance is 3 - 7 students.  

The goals of the Certificate of Achievement – Finance are to provide students with basic knowledge in finance desirable to help students decide upon further study in the field or help students decide on preparing fora career in a finance-related field, and to enrich the students with basic practical knowledge of finance for their daily lives.

Courses Required for the Certificate of Achievement in Finance

Course	Units
First semester: choose one of the following courses:
FIN 136 - Personal Financial Planning	3.00
or
FIN 136M - Personal Financial Planning - Math Emphasis	3.00
Total:	3.00
First semester required courses:
LERN 50/IDST 50 - College Success	3.00
or
GNBS 119 - Introduction to Business	3.00
Total:	3.00
First semester: choose one of the following courses:
BSMA 68 - Mathematics of Business	3.00
or
MATH 75 - Mathematical Analysis for Business	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester required courses:
BSEN 74 - Written Business Communication	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
MABS 60 - Introduction to Computer Applications for Business	3.00
or
MABS 101 - Spreadsheets for Business/Excel	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
FIN 110 - Principles of Risk Management	3.00
or
FIN 130 - Principles of Bank Operations	3.00
or
FIN 133 - Money and Banking	3.00
or
FIN 138 - Principles of Investment	3.00
Total:	3.00
Total:	18.00

Courses Required for the Certificate of Achievement in Finance

Course	Units
First semester: choose one of the following courses:
FIN 136 - Personal Financial Planning	3.00
or
FIN 136M - Personal Financial Planning - Math Emphasis	3.00
Total:	3.00
First semester required courses:
LERN 50/IDST 50 - College Success	3.00
or
GNBS 119 - Introduction to Business	3.00
Total:	3.00
First semester: choose one of the following courses:
BSMA 68 - Mathematics of Business	3.00
or
MATH 75 - Mathematical Analysis for Business	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester required courses:
BSEN 74 - Written Business Communication	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
MABS 60 - Introduction to Computer Applications for Business	3.00
or
MABS 101 - Spreadsheets for Business/Excel	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
FIN 110 - Principles of Risk Management	3.00
or
FIN 130 - Principles of Bank Operations	3.00
or
FIN 133 - Money and Banking	3.00
or
FIN 138 - Principles of Investment	3.00
Total:	3.00
Total:	18.00

Given 1) the of the main objective of CCSF’s Certificate of Achievement – Finance, to provide an introduction to finance helping students decide upon further study in the field or further preparation for an entry-level job in the field, 2) that there is no other Bay Area community college offering a Certificate of Achievement - Finance aside from CCSF, and 3) that there are opportunities at 8 Bay Area universities with programs in finance, City College of San Francisco’s Certificate of Achievement – Finance Program is much needed to help students decide upon further study in the field or further preparation for work, and to provide students with basic financial life-skills.

Of 22 Bay Area Community Colleges (Berkeley City, Canada, Chabot, College of Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, Contra Costa, DeAnza, Diablo Valley, Evergreen, Foothill, Laney, Las Positas, Los Medanos, Mission, Napa Valley, Ohlone, San Francisco, San Jose, Skyline, Solano and West Valley), City College of San Francisco is the only college offering a Certificate of Achievement – Finance. There are eight 4-year universities or colleges offering undergraduate and/or graduate Degrees in Finance, or BS in Business with concentration in Finance (University of California Berkeley, Stanford, Menlo College, San Francisco State, San Jose State, Santa Clara, Sonoma State and University of San Francisco).