Radford University finance degrees earn CFA affiliation

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Two Radford University undergraduate finance degree programs have been welcomed into the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program.

Radford’s Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) and the Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in insurance and real estate qualified for the program because each incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and places emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

Both Radford University finance degree programs are administered by the Davis College of Business and EconomicsDepartment of Accounting, Finance and Business Law.

The finance major at Radford University prepares students for careers in financial management, investment brokerage, insurance and real estate. In addition, it provides appropriate preparation for students who wish to pursue graduate work in finance or other areas of business. 

“Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers and the marketplace that  Radford University’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations,” CFA said. “Through participation in this program, Radford University is eligible to receive a limited number of CFA Program Student Scholarships each year.”

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets standards for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. CFA Institute has more than 174,000 members in 166 countries and territories, including 168,000 CFA charter holders.

Associate professor of finance Feifei Zhu, Ph.D., led the Radford University initiative toward gaining CFA affiliation, working through the stringent application process with Davis College leadership, notably Davis College dean Joy Bhadury, Ph.D., and Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law chair Douglass Brinkman, Ph.D.

The application process included mapping the Radford undergraduate finance curriculum with the CFA candidate body of knowledge and designed a course to meet the CFA ethics and professional standards requirement.

“It is another successful endeavor achieved with joint work and our Highlander spirit,” Zhu said.

Zhu is a CFA charter holder and has served on numerous organization initiatives and working bodies. Radford University’s new affiliation with CFA and Zhu’s status with the organization allow Radford to offer seven total scholarships by August 2021 and a limited number of scholarships each year thereafter. Scholarships can cover as much as $1,100 enrollment and registration costs, Zhu said, for selected students.

The CFA affiliation builds on the growing list of accolades and recognitions garnered by the Radford University finance degree programs. Study.com ranked Radford No. 15 on its 2019 Top 50 schools in the United States that offer a finance degree.

“This coveted designation from the CFA Institute and the list of other Virginia institutions with such designation is a significant feather in the cap for the program as well as the Davis College and an attestation of the high-quality education we provide,” Bhadury said. “Even better, it opens up a host of opportunities for recruitment as well as scholarships for our current students. I am very proud of my colleagues in finance for this achievement and grateful to them, particularly Dr. Zhu, for leading the initiative that led to the successful culmination.”

Mar 17, 2021
Chad Osborne
540-831-7761
caosborne@radford.edu