Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter is a professional designation awarded by the CFA Institute. Perhaps the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world, it demonstrates a mastery of a comprehensive body of knowledge important in the investment decision-making process.

Fordham University is an Affiliated University of the CFA Institute that provides currently enrolled students access to the Awareness Scholarship Program.

CFA Requirements:

To earn a CFA designation, a candidate must pass three levels of exams (Levels I, II, III) and meet the experience requirement specified by the CFA Institute.

At Fordham, a sequence of undergraduate courses offered by the Gabelli School will aid in preparation for the CFA exam. Some courses have been designed to prepare students to take the CFA Level I exam. When possible, courses may use the same textbooks and reference materials as the CFA curriculum. Also, questions from previous CFA exams are used on some course exams.

The CFA Body of Knowledge has 10 topic areas: 

• ethical and professional standards
• quantitative methods, economics
• accounting and corporate finance
• global markets and instruments
• valuation and investment theory
• analysis of fixed-income securities
• analysis of equity investments
• analysis of alternative investments 
• portfolio management.