Fnance, 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. Students completing the curriculum with an average final grade point of C+ or higher (2.5 GPA) will receive the Certificate of Achievement in Finance.

The projected number of annual completers for the Certificate of Achievement – Finance degree is 3 - 7 students.  This estimate is based on past course enrollment data, past certificates awarded data and enrollment/degree projections as a function of macroeconomic environment.

·     Past Certificates Awarded (CCSF Argos Data)

 

Fall ’11 – Spring’12                         3

 

Fall ’12 – Spring’13                                     3

 

Fall ’13 – Spring’14                         2

 

Fall ’14 – Spring’15                         2

 

Fall ’15 – Spring’16                         1

 

Fall ’16 – Spring’17                         3

 

Fall ’17 – Spring’18                         1

 

 

·     Course Enrollment (from CCSF Banner data)

 

Fall ’13 – Spring’14                  Fall ’14 – Spring ’15        

                                   Enrollment  Sections                Enrollment  Sections 

        

FIN 110

Risk Mngmt                0                      0                        17                 1                     

 

FIN 130                     

Bank Ops                    19                   1                        15                 1

 

FIN 136                                       

Fin Plng                      55                   4                        65                 3

 

FIN 138                     

Investments               101                 4                        84                 4

 

 

Fall ’16 – Spring’17     Fall ’17 – Spring ’18                      Fall ’18                              

                                   Enrollment  Sections  Enrollment  Sections   Enroll    Sec

        

FIN 110

Risk Mngmt                13                1                            14                1              0              0            

 

FIN 130                     

Bank Ops                    0                    0                            15               1                19          1

 

FIN 136                     

Fin Plng                      84                4                            118              4              54            2

 

FIN 138                     

Investments               33                2                            87               3                41          2

NOTE:  Fall ’13– Spring ’14, Fall ’14 – Spring ’15, Fall ’16 – Spring ’17 and Fall ’17 –Spring ’18 are annual, two-semester data. Fall ’18 is single semester data. FIN 110 and FIN 130 are offered Fall semester only. FIN 110 was cancelled Fall ’13 and Fall ’18 and FIN 130 was cancelled Fall ’16.

·     Macroeconomic Factors on Enrollment

A negative correlation between economic activity/job growth and course enrollment has been observed over the past twenty years; when BayArea job growth and opportunities are high, class enrollment declines and when job growth and opportunities decline, class enrollment increases. 

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 goals of the Certificate of Achievement – Finance are toprovide students with basic knowledge in finance desirable to help studentsdecide 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 basicpractical knowledge of finance for their daily lives.

Upon completion of the degree, 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.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)

CoursesRequired for the Certificate of Achievement in Finance

Course	Units
First semester required courses:
FIN 110 - Principles of Risk Management	3.00
FIN 130 - Principles of Bank Operations	3.00
FIN 136 - Introduction to Financial Planning	3.00
MABS 101 - Spreadsheets for Business/Excel	3.00
GNBS 119 - Introduction to Business	3.00
Total:	15.00
Second semester required courses:
ECON 1 - Principles of Macroeconomics	3.00
FIN 138 - Principles of Investment	3.00
Total:	6.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
MABS 67 - Database for Business/Microsoft Access	3.00
CS 101 - Introduction to Information Systems	3.00
Total:	3.00
Second semester: choose one of the following courses:
MRKT 122 - Professional Selling	3.00
MRKT 140 - Introduction to Marketing	3.00
Total:	3.00
Total:	27.00

The Certificate of Achievement – Finance has been offered for many decades and continues to go through assessment and modification cycles periodically. City College of San Francisco also offers an Associate in Science Degree – Finance and is discussed in separate supporting documentation. There are no other departments in the college offering similar curriculum.

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). 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.