"This strategic articulation agreement came about as a result of UC Irvine Extension's desire to provide ongoing value to students, by helping them with next steps once they have received their PFP Certificate and the Personal Financial Professional designation," said Lori Muñoz-Reiland, director of business management, corporate education and information technologies for UC Irvine Extension. "CLU offers the only MBA program designed for financial planning professionals -- an industry in which an MBA will always be a competitive advantage."
UC Irvine Extension's PFP certificate program satisfies the educational requirement to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Exam, a respected credential underscoring an individual's dedication to this field of study. By partnering with CLU, UC Irvine Extension broadens career options for personal financial planning professionals, and provides greater value to students and alumni.
This is both the first MBA articulation available at UC Irvine Extension, and the first graduate-level articulation agreement offered through CLU. Students interested in pursuing both the Personal Financial Planning program from UC Irvine Extension, and the MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University may complete both programs fully online.
Graduates of UC Irvine Extension's PFP program may begin the MBA in Financial Planning program at California Lutheran University, CIF, as early as January 2009.
"This articulation is a natural collaboration for two such synergistic educational institutions," said Somnath Basu, director of the California Institute of Finance at California Lutheran University. "To be affiliated with the UC system, and especially UC Irvine, is an honor. The articulation is a win-win for all: for both the institutions, and especially for the students."
For more information about this articulation agreement, or to enroll in UC Irvine Extension's Financial Planning Certificate Program, contact Lori Munoz-Reiland at (949) 824-2282. For information about the California Institute of Finance at California Lutheran University and the MBA in Financial Planning, please visit www.clunet.edu/cif.
About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education unit of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
About California Lutheran University: Founded in 1959, California Lutheran University (CLU) is dedicated to educational excellence at all levels of higher learning. Our intimate size and beautiful location create the perfect setting for lively debate, and a learning environment that values the individual. CLU offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and continuing education programs through its College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and School of Education. The university offers 36 majors and 28 minors, in addition to professional preparation programs in specified fields of study. Master's degree programs are offered in education, business administration, public policy and administration, computer science and psychology. A doctoral program in educational leadership is offered through the School of Education.