Offered through the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, in partnership with the Mary Frances Early College of Education, the online Graduate Certificate in Financial Literacy Education provides financial educators serving diverse audiences the foundational training and knowledge for successful engagement with their audiences. Students will be introduced to a variety of personal finance instructional curriculums, materials, teaching methods, and learning activities appropriate for audiences ranging from high school students to college students to other specific adult sub-populations.
The Graduate Certificate in Financial Literacy Education is open to all students who have completed an undergraduate degree.
Qualified students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate for Financial Literacy Education can also pursue the Financial Literacy Endorsement approved by GaPSC. The Financial Literacy Endorsementis an add-on credential that allows certified teachers in Georgia the ability to provide direct instruction to students in their areas of initial certification. Teachers with the Financial Literacy Endorsement can support students in courses that center on personal finance and economics education in grades 6-12.
The Financial Literacy Endorsement program is open to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate for Financial Literacy Education who are certified to teach or will be certified to teach in the state of Georgia.
The courses in the Financial Literacy Education Certificate Program emphasize scholarly work and best practices to teach personal finance principals and concepts to diverse audiences. Topics covered include: generating income, personal taxation, saving, investing, borrowing, credit scores, risk management, insurance, and retirement decisions. Time value of money concepts will be integrated throughout the curriculum. The courses also cover economic decision-making, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international trade. The courses are aligned with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s educator preparation rules. This program has also been formally approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Curriculum
The Graduate Certificate in Financial Literacy Education is available online during Summer semesters. Ambitious students can tackle the curriculum in one summer, but most students will be benefit most by completing the curriculum over two summers.
Course offerings include:
| SEMESTER | COURSE |
|---|---|
| Summer Maymester | ESOC 7030E (Teaching Economics) |
| Summer Thru Session | FHCE 8200E (Financial Planning and Analysis) |
| Summer Short I Session | FHCE 7200E (Advanced Financial Counseling and Client Communication) |
| Summer Short II Session | FHCE 6200E (Advanced Wealth Management I) |
| Summer Thru Session | FHCE 6210E (Advanced Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits) |
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Admissions
Applications for the program are accepted for summer semester matriculation only. All materials should be received by May 1.
- Submit a Graduate School application
- Transcripts from all institutions attended
- A brief statement of purpose on why you would like to pursue the graduate certificate.
Deadline to Apply
May 1 (summer start)
For those seeking the Endorsement to the Georgia Teaching Certificate
To add Financial Literacy Endorsement to your teaching certificate, you must be recommended as a program completer of the endorsement program. This includes action items outside of coursework that you will need to complete.
- During the first course in the endorsement series, students will be contacted by Shayla Lee in the Office of Academic Programs to indicate their intent to seek the Financial Literacy Endorsement. By indicating intent, students will be set up with access to the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement non-Athena eLC course. This is the place where students will archive all materials for their Financial Literacy Endorsement review.
- By indicating intent, you are not “admitted” to a program, but rather are indicating to seek the endorsement.
- During each of the five courses, students will need to submit the required key assessments into their Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement folder. The rubric for evaluation and the key assessment will need to be submitted.
- Please keep each of your key assessments and evaluation information from your course instructor to submit in the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement eLC site. Once your course ends, you will not have access to that information when the course closes. It is suggested that you submit those as you complete them in each course.
- In addition to the key assessments and rubrics, students will complete a grade form that asks them to submit the numerical grade for the key assessments, as well as the final grade for the course. These are also pieces of information that need to be saved or entered while you have access to your eLC courses.
When are portfolios reviewed?
The Office of Academic Programs sets a date each term when all portfolios have to be submitted, and so the financial literacy faculty reviews portfolios about a week ahead of that due date.
If you have all of your key assessments, rubrics/evaluation information and grade forms in the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement site by Reading Day, your portfolio will be reviewed in the 2-3 weeks following the term. If you have not submitted your portfolio by the end of the term, it will be reviewed during the next cycle (at the end of the next term).
How to Apply
All applicants must complete the College’s internal endorsement application form in addition to any other applications required by the endorsement program or UGA Graduate School.
