Program Contact/Coordinator
Kathryn J. Morrison, Ph.D., CFP®, CFCS
Department of Consumer Sciences
Email: kathryn.morrison@sdstate.edu
Program Information
The online M.S. in Human Sciences – Family Financial Planning program will allow students to enhance personal finance knowledge, gain eligibility to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination, increase networking opportunities, and improve career options. Family financial planning is an emerging area with job opportunities in areas related to insurance, real estate, investments, retirement, tax and estate planning. Financial planners are increasingly in demand as Americans seek advisors to help manage their income, assets, and debts.
The curriculum consists of twelve 3-credit courses taken in any order with the Financial Planning Case Study course designed as a capstone to the program. The remaining six credit-hours are supervised experiences or projects in family financial planning.
Course Delivery Format
The online program has been developed by faculty from the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GP-IDEA). Courses will be entirely Internet based and will be taught by faculty within the Alliance (Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Montana State University, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, University of Missouri, and University of Nebraska). Courses are offered fall, spring and summer semesters.
Additional program application requirements
Students enter the Great Plains IDEA program through application and admission to the South Dakota State University Graduate School. The Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for unconditional admission into any program. The program accounts for life experience as a part of conditional admission to the program. Three Letters of Recommendation from persons acquainted with the academic ability or professional competency of the applicant should be sent directly to Dr. Morrison at Kathryn.Morrison@sdstate.edu.
