Financial and Housing Counseling Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Contact/Coordinator

Wookjae Heo, Assistant Professor
Department of Consumer Sciences
Wagner Hall 229, Box 2275A
605-688-5196

Program Information

The program prepares students to apply for the Certified Housing Counselor (CHC) and the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) certifications, which are appropriate to meet the needs of military spouses, active duty service members, civilians providing services, and retired military or civilians in the areas of financial and housing counseling.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will communicate a financial plan with consumers and communities.
Students will recognize ethical standards for financial planners as prescribed by the CFP Board. (Transferable Skill: Ethics - Moral Decision Making/Moral Reasoning; Awareness of Public Policy - Regulatory Affairs)
Students will demonstrate listening and counseling skills needed to help families with financial management. (Transferable Skill: Mentoring)
Students will calculate time value of money calculation.

Certification and Licensure

In collaboration with the Association for Financial Planning and Counseling Education (AFCPE), students successfully completing the Financial & Housing Counseling (FHC) Certificate program will be able to sit for the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) examination or the Certified Housing Counselor (CHC) examination.

To become an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC), candidates must have 1000 hours of experience in admissible financial counseling experience to enroll. To become a Certified Housing Counselor (CHC), candidates must have 1500 hours of admissible housing counseling experience. For additional information on AFC and CHC certification, visit the AFCPE website.

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, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University and University of Nebraska). Courses are offered fall, spring and summer semesters.

Certificate Requirements

CA 612 - Financial Counseling Credits: 3
CA 621 - Financial Theory and Research I Credits: 3
CA 640 - Fundamentals of Family Financial Planning Credits: 3
CA 715 - Housing and Real Estate in FFP Credits: 3

Electives

Select six credits from the following:

CA 595 - Practicum Credits: 3-6 (3 credits required)
CA 645 - Military Personal Financial Readiness Credits: 3
CA 660 - Investing for Family’s Future Credits: 3
CA 680 - Insurance Planning for Families Credits: 3
CA 704 - Estate Planning for Families Credits: 3
CA 725 - Family, Employment Benefits and Retirement Planning Credits: 3
CA 735 - Personal Income Taxation Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 18

Additional Admission Requirements

Please refer to the following for additional information:

Graduate School Admission
Distance Education

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.