Program: Financial and Tax Planning, M.S. - San Diego State University

May 08, 2025

2025-2026 University Catalog

The Master of Science degree in Financial and Tax Planning is a CFP Board-Registered program. This program has been registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards since 1987. The goal of the program is to prepare students for the CFP designation and to be able to deliver wealth management services at the highest level possible.

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the general requirements for master’s degrees as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees, the student must complete a graduate program of at least 30 approved units to include at least 15 units in 600- and 700-numbered courses. Up to 9 units of coursework may be accepted as transfer credit. All transfer units are subject to the approval of the Graduate advisor. Not more than a total of six units in courses Finance 797 (Research), Finance 798 (Special Study), and Business Administration 780 (Field Studies in Business), may be accepted for credit toward the degree.

The Master of Science in Financial and Tax Planning requires Plan A, Thesis; or Plan B, a comprehensive project offered while enrolled in FIN 590 (Personal Financial Planning Practicum). The program must be approved by the college and departmental adviser.
For regulations concerning grade point averages, final approval for the granting of the degree, award of the degree, and diplomas, see Requirements for Master’s Degrees.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing in the university and admission to the Fowler College of Business, as described above, and in Requirements for Master’s Degrees, the student must have satisfactorily completed equivalents of the following courses:

ACCTG 201 - Financial Accounting Fundamentals Units: 3
B A 640 - Financial Reporting and Analysis Units: 2

In Addition

Satisfactory completion means that the student’s grade in each course must be a B (3.0) or better. The requirement to complete the prerequisites may be waived based on evaluation of prior professional experience, course content, institution at which courses were taken, grades received, and time since courses were taken. Current students are required to complete any needed program prerequisites by enrolling in graduate courses and may not satisfy prerequisites by enrolling in undergraduate equivalency courses. Please contact the Program Advisor for more information.

Notice of admission to a curriculum with classified graduate standing will be sent to the student upon the recommendation of the Fowler College of Business and the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees.

Students concurrently enrolled in deficiency coursework may be given permission to take the comprehensive examination in their concentration prior to actual completion of all coursework. However, comprehensive examinations will not be evaluated and results will not be reported to the College of Graduate Studies until all deficiency coursework has been successfully completed. This may delay graduation.

Core Requirements

(21 units)

ACCTG 503 - Federal Taxation of Individuals Units: 3
B A 674 - Financial Management Units: 3
FIN 522 - Individual Insurance Management Units: 3
FIN 585 - Estate Planning Issues and Practice Units: 3
FIN 589 - Personal Financial Planning Units: 3
FIN 651 - Seminar in Investments Units: 3
FIN 652 - Seminar in Security Analysis and Portfolio Management Units: 3

Electives

Select 6 units from the following list. Students may choose electives not listed below upon the approval from the graduate advisor.

FIN 659 - Decision Making in the World Economy Units: 3
FIN 696 - Seminar in Selected Topics Units: 3
FIN 798 - Special Study Units: 1-3
MGT 722 - Seminar in Business Ethics and Social Institutions Units: 3
MKTG 763 - Seminar in Sales Management Units: 3

Complete a Culminating Experience

(3 units)

B A 799A - Thesis Units: 3
or
FIN 590 - Personal Financial Planning Practicum Units: 3