Quinnipiac University Online 
MBA / CFA Chartered Financial Analyst ®
Online Degree Program 
Chartered financial analyst® (CFA) is the designation of professional excellence within the global investment community.
The curriculum emphasizes knowledge necessary to work in asset valuation or portfolio management. Students who complete this track receive a master of business administration degree and graduate prepared to sit for the first (Level I) of three exams offered by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. Students must pass the institute's Level I, Level II and Level III exams and meet all eligibility requirements to become a CFA® charter holder.
Curriculum for MBA / CFA Chartered Financial Analyst ® Track
- Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Business Communications
- Business Decision Analysis
- Accounting for Managers
- Economics for Business Decision Making
- Financial Analysis & Decision Making
- Managing in a Global Economy
- Business Ethics & Legal Environment
- Managing Customers and Markets
- Managing People & Organizations
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Global Investment Analysis
- Fixed Income Investments
- Capstone Seminar in Investment Analysis
- Electives: 6 additional credits in finance
CFA Career FAQ's
1. What is "CFA"?
The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation is regarded by most to be the key certification for investment professionals, especially in the areas of research and portfolio management.
The CFA designation is given to investment professionals who have successfully completed the requirements set by the globally recognized CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research®, or AIMR). To be eligible for the CFA designation, candidates must attain the following:
1. Have at least three years of professional investment experience.
2. Pass three rigorous six-hour exams over at least three years.
3. Commit to abiding by CFA Institute's Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
The exams test the candidates' knowledge of investment theory, ethics, financial accounting and portfolio management. This course of study was formed in 1962 and is constantly updated to ensure that the curriculum meets the demands of the global investment decision-making practice. This graduate-level curriculum generally entails six months of study prior to each exam date. Pass rates vary from year to year, but since the first exam was given in 1963, the overall rate is 59%; fewer than 20% of the candidates pass all three tests within three years.
Believe me, this is not an easy test. I studied on average 19-20 hours each week from the end of December to the end of May. The concentrated study, however, was a better education than graduate school because of its total focus on investment management and practice.
CFA Institute is a global non-profit professional organization of more than 58,000 financial analysts, portfolio managers and other financial professionals in 112 countries. In addition to administering the CFA Program, the institute is also recognized around the world for its investment performance standards, code of ethics and standards of professional conduct.
2. What careers are popular among CFA charterholders?
CFA Institute indicates on its website that CFA charterholders represent all investment professional careers within all types of investment firms.
According to CFA Institute, CFA member careers are broken down as follows:
- 25% Investment Companies/Mutual Funds
- 16% Broker Dealers
- 11% Private Client Wealth Manager/Advisor
- 7% Banks
- 6% Hedge Funds
- 4% Insurance Companies
- 2% Pensions and Foundations
- 29% within Research Firms, Governments, Universities and Consulting Firms
3. When must the required three years of qualifying work experience be completed in order to become a CFA charterholder?
According to the CFA Institute, the three years of qualifying work experience in a financial field can be completed before the first level exam is written, during the time a candidate is preparing for CFA exam levels I, II, and III, or after the level III exam has been completed.
4. What type of work experience can count towards the work experience required in order to obtain the CFA charter?
CFA Institute provides a list of job titles that qualify for the work experience an individual must gain to be awarded with the CFA charter; click here for the list. However, be warned that a job title alone is not sufficient.
You must have spent at least 40% of your time utilizing financial data or supervising or teaching those who utilize financial data--for financial analysis, investment management, or other typical financial decision-making processes.
Additionally, your employment with the stated job title must have been full-time; accrued employment from summer, internship and part-time positions do not qualify.
5. Is there any difference between a holder of a Chartered Financial Analyst Designation and a Certified Financial Analyst?
Using the title "Certified Financial Analyst" to refer to the CFA® program offered by the CFA Institute is incorrect. CFA Institute holds the trademarks associated with the CFA® program. The acronym "CFA®" can refer only to the Chartered Financial Analyst designation or charter.
6. How many attempts at each CFA exam is a candidate permitted?
The CFA Institute allows an individual an unlimited amount of attempts at each examination.
7. What is the maximum amount of time that can elapse between CFA examinations?
According to the CFA Institute, a candidate can take as much time as necessary between examinations.
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