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Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Financial Management (Specialization in Financial Planning, Grant Writing)

Academic unitHBIU College of Business and EconomicsTotal credits60Estimated duration2 years

Program Overview

Official program overview

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

A.A. in Faith-Based Financial Management

Total program length

60 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years

General education

18 credit hours

Faith-Based Financial Management core

30 credit hours

Professional application courses

9 credit hours

Capstone requirement

3 credit hours

The Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Financial Management offers a foundational academic framework for individuals seeking to integrate financial stewardship with professional competency. This program emphasizes the intersection of economic theory, resource management, and social impact, equipping students with essential skills to serve within organizational and community settings. Through a rigorous curriculum, students analyze financial systems, explore grant acquisition strategies, and develop the ethical decision-making capabilities necessary for sustainable administration. The program provides a balanced approach to financial planning and nonprofit sustainability, rooted in the principles of integrity and servant leadership. By fostering a deep understanding of fiscal responsibility, the curriculum prepares students to address complex resource management challenges with precision and purpose.

The Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Financial Management provides a rigorous foundational study in financial stewardship, integrating principles of biblical wisdom with contemporary economic practices. Students engage in a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes financial planning, grant writing, and ethical resource management, while simultaneously exploring human development, effective communication, and the application of professional ethics. By leveraging community resources and evidence-based supportive service practices, this program prepares graduates to navigate the complexities of organizational and personal finance within faith-centered contexts, fostering both technical proficiency and a heart for service.

Program Facts

Program facts

Degree abbreviation
A.A. in Faith-Based Financial Management
Total program length
60 semester credit hours
Normal completion time
Two academic years
General education
18 credit hours
Professional application courses
9 credit hours
Capstone requirement
3 credit hours
Academic unit
HBIU College of Business and Economics
Total credits
60
Duration
2 years

Program Description

Official program description

Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes

  • Analyze foundational economic and financial concepts relevant to nonprofit and organizational settings.
  • Apply technical skills in financial planning, budgeting, and grant writing to support organizational goals.
  • Evaluate ethical dilemmas in financial management through the lens of biblical stewardship and professional integrity.
  • Develop strategic grant proposals that clearly articulate organizational needs and project objectives.
  • Integrate principles of servant leadership into administrative practices to enhance community engagement.
  • Communicate complex financial data effectively to diverse stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
  • Course Outline
  • Semester 1 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • BUS101
  • Introduction to Business Administration
  • 3
  • None
  • ENG101
  • Composition I
  • 3
  • None
  • MAT110
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • 3
  • None
  • BUS105
  • Principles of Organizational Ethics
  • 4
  • None
  • BUS101 — Introduction to Business Administration: An overview of foundational business concepts including management, marketing, and operations. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • ENG101 — Composition I: Exploration of academic writing styles, rhetorical analysis, and research methodologies. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MAT110 — Introduction to Statistics: Study of data collection, interpretation, and statistical analysis relevant to professional research. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • BUS105 — Principles of Organizational Ethics: This course examines ethical theories and their application to decision-making processes within professional and organizational settings. Students analyze case studies to identify best practices for maintaining integrity and accountability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 2 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • BUS205
  • Principles of Accounting
  • 4
  • BUS101
  • COM105
  • Professional Communication
  • 3
  • ENG101
  • SOC120
  • Sociology of Community Organizations
  • 3
  • None
  • MGT210
  • Principles of Management
  • 4
  • BUS101
  • BUS205 — Principles of Accounting: Introduction to fundamental accounting principles, financial statements, and ledger management. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • COM105 — Professional Communication: Development of verbal and written communication skills for diverse organizational environments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • SOC120 — Sociology of Community Organizations: Analysis of how community-based institutions function within the broader social and cultural landscape. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MGT210 — Principles of Management: Study of organizational structure, leadership styles, and human resource development. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 3 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • BUS301
  • Nonprofit Financial Management
  • 4
  • BUS205
  • RES310
  • Grant Writing and Research
  • 4
  • ENG101
  • BUS320
  • Principles of Financial Planning
  • 3
  • BUS205
  • MGT220
  • Professional Responsibility and Resource Management
  • 3
  • CHR101
  • BUS301 — Nonprofit Financial Management: Application of fiscal management strategies specifically for tax-exempt and mission-driven entities. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • RES310 — Grant Writing and Research: Instruction on identifying funding sources, researching needs, and writing successful grant proposals. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • BUS320 — Principles of Financial Planning: Exploration of budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial stability for organizations. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MGT220 — Professional Responsibility and Resource Management: This course explores the principles of organizational resource allocation and the professional responsibilities associated with managing assets effectively. Students study methods for fiscal oversight and sustainable operations management in the nonprofit sector. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 4 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • BUS410
  • Resource Development Strategies
  • 3
  • RES310
  • MGT405
  • Leadership in Service Organizations
  • 3
  • MGT210
  • BUS420
  • Compliance and Ethics in Administration
  • 3
  • BUS301
  • CAP490
  • Capstone Project: Financial Strategy
  • 4
  • BUS301, RES310
  • BUS410 — Resource Development Strategies: Advanced tactics for donor cultivation, fundraising, and organizational sustainability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MGT405 — Leadership in Service Organizations: Study of servant leadership models and their application in administrative roles. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • BUS420 — Compliance and Ethics in Administration: Review of regulatory requirements and ethical standards for financial and nonprofit management. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • CAP490 — Capstone Project: Financial Strategy: Synthesis of skills through the development of a comprehensive financial plan and grant strategy. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Admission Requirements

Admission and entry requirements

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or state-recognized equivalent (GED) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Prospective students are expected to demonstrate an alignment with the university's mission and a commitment to academic inquiry within a faith-based educational environment. Culminating Project The Capstone Project serves as the culminating academic experience for the Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Financial Management, requiring students to synthesize their learning through the development of a comprehensive financial and grant strategy for a real-world or simulated community entity. This 4-credit project challenges students to apply technical proficiency in budgeting and resource acquisition while navigating complex ethical considerations and stakeholder expectations. By addressing a specific organizational need, students demonstrate their capacity to integrate academic knowledge with a commitment to responsible, faith-informed administration. Beyond technical delivery, the capstone facilitates a deep reflection on the student's spiritual formation, focusing on how personal values such as stewardship and integrity influence professional practice. Students are required to articulate a personal philosophy of service, demonstrating how their academic competence serves to advance a broader mission. This project underscores the student's growth as a servant leader prepared to manage resources with discernment, reflecting a Christian worldview that prioritizes both social impact and institutional sustainability.

Protected Curriculum

Complete program outline available after verification

Graduation Requirements

Graduation and completion requirements

  • Graduation requires the successful completion of 60 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students must earn a passing grade in all core and elective courses, with particular emphasis on the successful completion of the capstone project. Beyond academic achievement, students are expected to engage in consistent spiritual formation activities, including regular participation in institutional chapel services and documented community service hours that demonstrate character development and service-oriented leadership.
  • Graduation signifies not only the fulfillment of professional competency requirements but also the maturation of the student's ethical and spiritual character. Candidates for graduation must demonstrate readiness to serve in organizational and community settings with integrity, reflecting the institution's commitment to cultivating leaders who pair academic rigor with an unwavering commitment to faith-informed service and moral stewardship.
  • Career Opportunities
  • Church Financial Administrator
  • Nonprofit Development Coordinator
  • Grant Writing Assistant
  • Community Outreach Program Manager
  • Stewardship Assistant
  • Assistant Financial Planner for Faith-Based Organizations
  • Administrative Specialist in Mission-Driven Agencies
  • Important Notices
  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.A. in Faith-Based Financial Management
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years
  • General education | 18 credit hours
  • Faith-Based Financial Management core | 30 credit hours
  • Professional application courses | 9 credit hours
  • Capstone requirement | 3 credit hours
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • BUS101 | Introduction to Business Administration | 3 | None
  • ENG101 | Composition I | 3 | None
  • MAT110 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | None
  • BUS105 | Principles of Organizational Ethics | 4 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • BUS205 | Principles of Accounting | 4 | BUS101
  • COM105 | Professional Communication | 3 | ENG101
  • SOC120 | Sociology of Community Organizations | 3 | None
  • MGT210 | Principles of Management | 4 | BUS101
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • BUS301 | Nonprofit Financial Management | 4 | BUS205
  • RES310 | Grant Writing and Research | 4 | ENG101
  • BUS320 | Principles of Financial Planning | 3 | BUS205
  • MGT220 | Professional Responsibility and Resource Management | 3 | CHR101
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • BUS410 | Resource Development Strategies | 3 | RES310
  • MGT405 | Leadership in Service Organizations | 3 | MGT210
  • BUS420 | Compliance and Ethics in Administration | 3 | BUS301
  • CAP490 | Capstone Project: Financial Strategy | 4 | BUS301, RES310

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities

Career Opportunities

  • Church Financial Administrator
  • Nonprofit Development Coordinator
  • Grant Writing Assistant
  • Community Outreach Program Manager
  • Stewardship Assistant
  • Assistant Financial Planner for Faith-Based Organizations
  • Administrative Specialist in Mission-Driven Agencies

Additional Official Information

Additional source information

Important Notices

  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.A. in Faith-Based Financial Management
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years