IRVINE, Calif. – January 17, 2008 – Sound financial decisions are vital both to business success and individual security. Opportunities abound for those who have the qualifications needed to assist with decisions affecting the bottom line. To help individuals understand sound financial management principles and practices, and prepare to embark on careers involving financial analysis, UC Irvine Extension will be launching a new portfolio of investment management courses this spring.
Designed to appeal to a diverse range of individuals, these courses were developed to serve as the foundational curriculum for UC Irvine Extension’s Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program — providing students with an understanding of key valuation techniques and principles, the ability to calculate ratios and analyze financial statements and the understanding of time value of money concepts. Select course topics include corporate finance, equity analysis, fixed income analysis and portfolio management.
“Our courses are a great primer for individuals planning to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) exam or considering an MBA program,” explains Lori Muñoz-Reiland, director of business, management, legal, information technology, and corporate education at UC Irvine Extension. “They’re also a great fit for corporate employees who want to move up in a finance capacity, who perhaps don’t have formal training but instead possess on-the-job training and a bachelor’s degree. Increasingly, companies are seeing the value of real-world investment management knowledge and are searching for training options for their staff.”
UC Irvine Extension is unique in its approach and has made an education in finance and investment management much easier by adhering to a model that promotes flexibility. Students have the opportunity to take courses online, and can learn course content without the pressures of a degree program. In addition, our courses do not require matriculation tests. The curriculum provides a solid foundation that can be applied toward an MBA program. It proffers knowledge, not credits – which is a large part of its appeal.
“What really is unique about our portfolio of courses is that the content works for professionals, business students and students that are completely new to finance and investment management – three different constituencies,” said Munoz-Reiland. “The content is built around the needs of these three groups, so that students can upgrade existing finance skills, supplement learning, get acquainted with concepts or just gauge what it’s all about. One of our course instructors, Dan Ham, is a CFA with years of experience working in the industry and he knows firsthand that there is value in learning from both an external investment standpoint and an internal, corporate standpoint. Our students will benefit from his point of view and these courses offer both perspectives.”
Three new courses will be offered this spring: “Equity Analysis Primer,” “Fixed Income Analysis Primer,” and “Portfolio Management Primer.” For more information about these courses, contact Lori Muñoz-Reiland at 949-824-2282.
About UCI Division of Continuing Education
The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education (DCE) provides lifelong learning
opportunities to thousands of students worldwide each year – fulfilling the school’s
60-year curriculum platform to connect degree programs to the world of work and achievement after
graduation. The Division offers a broad range of certificate programs, specialized studies, and
sequential courses to local, regional and global markets through online, on-campus and on-site
delivery. A leader in the open education movement, the Division offers free
Massive
Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and content through the
UCI Open initiative.
For more information about UCI Division of Continuing Education, visit ce.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine
Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier
research, innovation, and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000
students and offers 222 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most
economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing
$5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit
uci.edu.