Doctoral Program (Online/On Campus):
Program Requirements

The Personal Financial Planning doctoral program requirements include the following:

• 91 credit hours minimum
• 30 hours minimum of research
• 15 hours minimum at the 800 level or above
• 6 credit hours maximum at the 500 level
• 6 credit hours maximum of readings
• 30 hours maximum from master’s degree*
• 12 doctoral core courses meeting the following criteria:
  • credit hours at the 900 level; OR
  • 800-level course covering concepts and knowledge critical to the degree OR
  • 800-level course in which the majority of students enrolled are in the doctoral program
• Writing a traditional dissertation OR preparing three papers for publication
• 10-day, in-person meeting each summer
  • First three years — residency sessions at the K-State campus
  • Fourth year — group international experience

* Students with an M.S. or M.B.A. in financial planning can expect to apply 21 to 27 credit hours towards the degree.

The program can be completed in five years. Students generally take one to two online courses in the fall and spring semesters for three to four years. The final two years consist of dissertation research hours.

Each student will develop, with the support and approval of their graduate committee, a graduate plan of study. See the sample plan below for an example. It is possible that courses not shown in the sample plan of study may be incorporated into a student’s plan; for example, a student may elect to take courses in the College of Business Administration through the graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership or Business Administration. Possible courses include GRAD 801 – Foundations of Leadership; GRAD 820 – Leadership Practicum; ACCTG 810 – Accounting Concepts and Analysis; FINAN 815 – Managerial Finance I; MANGT 810 – Operations Management and Analysis; MKTG 810 – Marketing Concepts and Research; and MANGT 820 – Behavioral Management Theory. Students may also take elective courses in Statistics, Education and Psychology.

Sample Plan of Study

Major Area (21 credit hours)

• FSHS 709 Public Policy and Family Economic Well-Being (3)
• FSHS 756 Financial Counseling (Theory of FP&C) (3)
• FSHS 757 Financial Behavioral Assessment Consulting (3)
• FSHS 836 Case Studies (3)
• FSHS 894 Readings in Family Studies and Human Services (6)
• FSHS 979 Advanced Family Life Education and Consultation (3)

PFP/FSHS/Other Electives (minimum 6 credit hours) (6)

Statistics and Research Methods (minimum 6 credit hours of the following) (6)

• STAT 702 Statistical Methods for Social Sciences OR
• STAT 703 Statistical Methods for Natural Sciences AND
• STAT 704 Analysis of Variance and Covariance
• STAT 705 Regression and Correlation Analysis OR
• EDCEP 817 Statistical Methods in Education AND
• EDCEP 917 Experimental Design

Research Methods (9 credit hours)

• FSHS 888 Research Methods in FSHS I OR (3)
• EDCEP 816 Research Methods OR
• FSHS 776 Program Evaluation & Research Methods in Gerontology AND (3)
• FSHS 890 Research Methods in FSHS II (3)
• Other 800+ Research Methods Course (3)

Ph.D. Research (minimum 31 credit hours) (e.g., FSHS 903)

• FSHS 990 Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Seminar (1)
• FSHS 999 Ph.D. Dissertation Research (30)

Supporting Courses (minimum 18 credit hours)

• FSHS 624 Fundamentals (3)
• FSHS 766 Insurance Planning for Families (3)
• FSHS 762 Investing for the Family’s Future or FINAN 653 (3)
• FSHS 772 Personal Income Taxation (3)
• FSHS 760 Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits & The Family (3)
• FSHS 764 Estate Planning for Families (3)

Total: 91 credit hours

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP (with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. K-State does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® certification marks. CFP® Certification is granted only by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.