FINA 102 Personal Finance
This is an introductory course highlighting personal financial planning including: goal setting budgeting, tax planning, housing, consumer credit, buying automobiles, insurance protection, retirement planning, and in introduction to investing. Projects encourage students to apply course concepts to their own situation.
General Education Competency
[GE Core type]
FINA 102Personal Finance
Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.
I. General Information
Department
Business & Economics
II. Course Specification
Course Type
Program Requirement
General Education Competency
[GE Core type]
Semester Contact Hours Lecture
45
Semester Contact Hours Lab
0
Semester Contact Hours Clinical
0
Grading Method
Letter grade
III. Catalog Course Description
This is an introductory course highlighting personal financial planning including: goal setting budgeting, tax planning, housing, consumer credit, buying automobiles, insurance protection, retirement planning, and in introduction to investing. Projects encourage students to apply course concepts to their own situation.
IV. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- Explain financial literacy and how sound financial decisions can increase a person’s standard of living and wealth.
- Develop and evaluate a spending/savings plan.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the effects on consumer decisions.
- Summarize the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.
- Describe the nature of tax liabilities and demonstrate the ability to prepare personal income tax forms.
- Evaluate services provided by financial institutions to make decisions for personal banking needs.
- Plan for home ownership and identify types of mortgages.
- Evaluate Savings and investment options to meet short and long term goals.
- Analyze factors which affect the choice of credit, the cost of credit, and the legal aspects of using credit.
- Analyze choices available to consumers for protection against risk, identity theft, and financial loss.
V. Topical Outline (Course Content)
Personal Financial Planning in Action
Money Management Skills
Taxes in Your Financial Plan
Financial Services: Savings Plans and Payment Accounts
Consumer Credit: Advantages, Disadvantages, Sources, and Costs
Consumer Purchasing Strategies and Wise Buying of Motor Vehicles
Selecting and Financing Housing
Insurance: Home, Auto, Health, and Disability Income
Investing Basics: Bonds, Stocks, and Mutual Funds
Retirement and Estate Planning
VI. Delivery Methodologies
Required Assignments
Goal Setting and Budget Forms
Book Report
Housing Assignment
Retirement Planning
Required Exams
Common Final
Required Text
Kapoor, Dlabay, and Hughes. Focus on Personal Finance, Fifth Edition Irwin/McGraw-Hill. ©2016. (recommended textbook—if another textbook is being used it needs to be approved prior to teaching the course)
Other Reading Material (available online or a local library)
Computer Access (ability to PDF, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, download software/basic computer skills)
Internet access (ability to stream video/audio, access virtual content
Access to Student Learning Management System
Specific Course Activity Assignment or Assessment Requirements
Goal Setting and Budget Forms
Book Report
Housing Assignment
Retirement Planning
Common Final 1.
2.