The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) Track

Students at Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences can prepare themselves for a career in investment management by choosing the CFA Track in the International Management (IM) Bachelor Program. The CFA Track distinguishes the International Management Bachelor Program as one of the few university programs in Europe to have integrated elements of the CFA Program into its undergraduate curriculum. http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprogram/pdf/schools.pdf.
We are offering this program as an opportunity for our students to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive employment market.

The CFA Track provides students with many of the fundamentals necessary to prepare them for the CFA exams and a career path in the investment industry while pursuing a BBA Degree in International Management. Eleven of the required business courses for the International Management Bachelor Program have been updated to include textbooks, learning objectives, and reference materials required for the Level I CFA exam. Reference materials also include questions adapted from previous CFA exams.

According to Professor Dr. Jack Bauersachs, Director of the IM Program, "The CFA examinations are strenuous six hour timed exams offered only in English. Since our IM students are taught and tested in English using a curriculum matched to the requirements set for the CFA exams, we feel our students will be at a distinct advantage if they subsequently choose to pursue the CFA designation. There is no substitute for studying international business courses in English to gain the confidence necessary to pass these tough international exams!"

About the CFA Professional Designation

The CFA charter is globally recognized as the key professional designation in investment management and is preferred increasingly as an alternative to an MBA in Finance. The designation is awarded by the CFA Institute to candidates who master a comprehensive body of knowledge. The CFA designation is recognized by securities regulators throughout the world as signifying the highest level of investment management competence and professional ethical standards. In recognition of the standards encompassed in the CFA designation, investment regulators in the UK, USA, Canada and Singapore exempt CFA charter holders from the licensing requirements for investment advisors. Australia and other countries are expected to follow in the near future.

About the CFA Exams

The professional investment community frequently relies on the CFA designation in its hiring and promotion decisions. Many investment firms require entry-level employees to obtain the CFA designation as a condition of employment. To earn the CFA designation a candidate must pass three levels of exams and meet the experience requirement specified by CFA Institute. One six-hour exam may be taken each June and December. A candidate must receive a passing score (around 70%) on each exam to proceed to the next level. The topics emphasized on each exam include: ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, financial statement analysis and corporate finance, analysis of derivative investments, analysis of fixed-income securities, analysis of equity investments, analysis of alternative investments, and portfolio management.

Courses comprising the CFA® Track

We have attempted to cover most of the learning objectives published by CFA Institute for the Level I exam either in the core IM curriculum or in the elective courses that complete the CFA Track. The CFA Track is completed by taking courses in Business Mathematics, Business Statistics, Accounting I and II, Economics I and II, Financial Management, International Economics, International Finance, International Accounting, Tax, business electives in Investment Banking plus writing a bachelors thesis on a relevant investment management topic. Students who are interested in obtaining the designation will be assigned to a mentor.

For more information contact Prof. Dr. Jack Bauersachs.
To download the brochure and application for the International Management Bachelor Program click here

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