The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno has been welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. The College’s Bachelor of Science in Finance has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct within the program. This program positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.

“The distinction of being a recognized CFA-affiliated program is only held by a handful of business schools,” Chunlin Liu, professor and chair of finance, said. “Considering that the CFA Program is widely acknowledged as the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program, recognition as a CFA Institute Affiliated University demonstrates that our curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be an investment professional.”

Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signifies that the University’s finance program is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to prepare students for CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, the College is also eligible to receive a limited number of CFA Program Student Scholarships each year.

“The University can provide the CFA program coursework to our students, which helps them gain the advantage of knowledge developed by one of the world’s leading associations of investment professionals,” Dongjoon Lee, lecturer of finance, said. “Also, we can provide scholarships (entrance exam waivers) to students who have successfully completed the undergraduate curriculum for the finance major and would like to take the CFA Level 1 exam.”

A bachelor’s degree in finance provides knowledge essential for careers in financial management, banking and other financial institutions, investments and insurance. Students coming from the finance program have the skills necessary to credibly weigh in on fiscal matters associated with business investment and stock and mutual fund research and analysis. Moreover, the finance major is an excellent stepping-stone for students interested in earning an MBA or other postgraduate degree.