Personal Financial Planning
Individuals and families today bear an ever-growing responsibility for achieving and sustaining financial and economic success across their life span. Never has there been a greater need for well-trained professionals who can help individuals and families make informed and effective financial and economic decisions. In addition, research that helps to evaluate and recommend public policies that influence the economic opportunities and futures of individuals and families is in high demand.
Graduate course work in Personal Financial Planning at the University of Missouri analyzes household and consumer economic conditions and behavior, evaluating the interrelationships between households and markets with a focus on improving social policy. Students’ programs are designed to develop professional competencies and interests. A resident doctoral and two masters programs are available. Online graduate offerings may be viewed at pfp.missouri.edu/graduate_distance.html
Degrees Offered
Financial and Housing Counseling, Graduate Certificate
100% Online
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Degree Dependent: No
Total Credit Hours: 18
Certificate description: The purpose of the Financial and Housing Certificate is to develop a student’s financial and housing counseling skills and to prepare a student to sit for the Accredited Financial Counselor and Certified Housing Counselor exam offered through the National Association for Financial Planning and Counseling Education. Students with this background would be equipped to provide professional assistance in debt counseling, financial management, and housing finance to those in need. Typical clients would include those with low levels of income and resources, disaster recovery, and military personnel dealing with financial and housing issues related to deployment or relocation. This certificate is offered collaboratively with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GP-IDEA).
Certificate web site:
http://online.missouri.edu/degreeprograms/financialplanning/housing-counseling.aspx
For information about certificate, contact:
Dr. Deanna Sharpe
Email: sharped@missouri.edu
Phone: (573) 882-9652
Address: 239 Stanley Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO 65211
Human Environmental Sciences with Personal Financial Planning Emphasis, Doctor of Philosophy
On Campus
Admission Criteria
Fall deadline: April 1 (February 1 for assistantship application)
Spring deadline: October 1
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
Minimum English Proficiency Requirements
| Test Type | Total Score | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing |
| TOEFL Internet-based | 80 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| TOEFL Paper-based | 550 | 52 | 52 | N/A | 52 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Personal Financial Planning Program
- 3 letters of recommendation
- GRE or GMAT scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- Resume
Personal Financial Planning, Master of Science
Admission Criteria
Fall deadline: April 1 (February 1 for assistantship application)
Spring deadline: October 1
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
Minimum English Proficiency Requirements
| Test Type | Total Score | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing |
| TOEFL Internet-based | 80 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| TOEFL Paper-based | 550 | 52 | 52 | N/A | 52 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Personal Financial Planning Program
- 3 letters of recommendation
- GRE or GMAT scores (not required for the applied track- Personal Financial Planning)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- Resume
Personal Financial Planning, Graduate Certificate
100% Online On Campus
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Degree Dependent: No
Total Credit Hours: 18
Certificate description: Students may earn a Certificate in Personal Financial Planning in this resident, non-degree, post-baccalaureate CFP® Board registered program. Graduate coursework in Personal Financial Planning at the University of Missouri analyzes household and consumer economic conditions and behavior, economic and social policy and the interrelationships among these elements. The Certificate focuses just on the education needed to sit for the CFP® exam.
Certificate web site:
http://online.missouri.edu/degreeprograms/human-environmental-sciences/personal-financial-planning/grad-cert/
For information about certificate, contact:
Dr. Deanna L. Sharpe, PhD. Associate Professor
Email: sharped@missouri.edu
Phone: (573) 882-7836
Address: Department of Personal Financial Planning, College of Human Environmental Sciences 239 Stanley Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211