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Personal Financial Planning (PFP)

1000 Freshman Level2000 Sophomore  Level 3000 Junior Level4000 Senior Level

5000 Graduate Level6000 Graduate Level7000 Research Level 8000 Doctoral Level

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1000 Level Course

1115. Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: PFP major.An introductory course to the PFP major. Topics include advising, study techniques, involvement in the program and profession, academic integrity, professionalism, student motivation, and networking.

1301. Cultural Issues in Personal Finance (3:3:0). Study of financial attitudes and behaviors of cultural and gender groups in the U.S. Financial content includes budgeting, banking and saving, credit and debt management, major purchases, and other basic financial activities. F, S.Back to Top

 

2000 Level Courses

2310. Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Introduction to computer software programs used in financial planning, including spreadsheets, word processing, data base management, and presentations. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

2315. Personal Financial Planning for Professionals (3:3:0). Prerequisites or corequisites: Any 1000- or 2000-level MATH course, ACCT 2300 and ECO 2301 or 2302 with a grade of C or higher; PFP majors and minors only. Introduction to personal financial planning, including goal setting, cash management, credit, housing, education planning, and selected professional issues. F, S.

2325. Family Financial Counseling (3:3:0). For nonmajors only. Methods and procedures to assist individuals and families of different socioeconomic environments to resolve dysfunctional financial behaviors including skills essential in counseling clients. S.

2330. Personal Financial Counseling I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 2315. Methods and skills to assist individuals and families to resolve financial problems. Addresses personal and professional attitudes and behaviors toward money.

2370. [ECON 1301, 1303] Consumers in the Marketplace (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and the decision-making process. Overview of consumer policies and programs for consumer protection and education.Back to Top

 

3000 Level Courses

3178. Estate Planning Lab (1:0:1). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA. Enrollment in this course and concurrent enrollment in PFP 3378 will provide coverage of all aspects of estate planning and taxation. F , S.

3210. Professional Field Experience (2:2:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, 6 hours of PFP. Supervised attendance and participation in professional conferences, tours of professional practices, and seminars focusing on professional issues. May be repeated for up to 4 hours of credit. F.

3275. Employee Benefits (2:2:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; ACCT 3307; PFP 3374, 3376, and 3497 with a grade of C or better. Designed to examine the topics of employee benefits from both the employer and employee setting.

3301. Introduction to Personal Finance (3:3:0). For nonmajors only. Introduction to personal finance, including goal setting, cash management, credit, insurance, taxes, housing, investment alternatives, and retirement plans. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement. F, S, SS.

3321. Financial Counseling and Consumer Credit (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3301. Introduces students to the financial counseling process, provides a detailed examination of various types of consumer credit, including credit cards, consumer loans, mortgages, student loans, and an overview of consumer credit laws.

3330. Personal Financial Counseling II (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315, 2330, and ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or higher. PFP majors only. Counseling techniques and interviewing strategies for use in financial counseling and planning settings. Emphasis on the importance of communication processes in helping individuals and families. F. (Writing Intensive)

3333. Legal and Regulator Aspects of Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite or corequisite: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315, PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of law, ethics, and regulatory policies to personal financial planning.

3341. Personal Finance: Goal Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3301. Provides a detailed examination of the financial planning process related to attaining major goals such as emergency planning, purchasing/leasing automobiles, buying/renting housing, and funding education and retirement.

3350. Individual Tax Planning Topics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, ACCT 3307 and PFP 2315 with a grade of C or better. Study of the impact of federal and state taxation on personal financial planning decisions. S.

3361. Personal Finance: Managing Risk (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3301. Focuses on the concepts of risk management and how to plan for managing risk, including building cash reserves, investing in human capital, and purchasing insurance. Also covers employee benefits, government entitlements, and estate planning.

3374. Retirement Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 2315, ACCT 3307, and ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 3376. A foundation course in retirement planning. F, S.

3376. Asset Management I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 2315, MATH 2345 with a grade of C or better. Focuses on the theory and practice of personal asset allocation planning with a special emphasis on the basic tools, techniques, and methodologies employed by financial planners. Topics covered include basic security valuation and analysis, capital markets, investment alternatives, fundamentals of portfolio design, money management process, client goals and expectations, regulation of financial advisors, and financial planning issues in asset management. F, S.

3378. Estate Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; BLAW 3391, PFP 2310, 2315. Prerequisite or corequisite: ACCT 3307. Application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning. F, S.

3381. Personal Finance: Investing (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3301. Focuses on the fundamentals of personal investing to meet financial goals, including cash management, investing terminology, risk and return, tax implications of investments, stocks and bonds, mutual funds and exchange traded funds, portfolio management, and retirement income management.

3398. Professional Practices in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite or corequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3375, 3376, 3378, and 3397 with a grade of C or better. Principles of professional practices focusing on business and marketing principles, effective managerial strategies and the student’s transition to the professional workplace. Enrollment precedes PFP 3399. S. (Writing Intensive)

3399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA, PFP 3398 with a grade of C or better. Supervised intern experiences in established career-related positions. May be repeated for credit. SS.

3497. Risk Management and Insurance Planning (4:4:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2310, 2315, ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or better. Explores the use of life insurance, health insurance, and annuities in personal financial planning, with an emphasis on advanced planning techniques. F.Back to Top

 

4000 Level Courses

4000. Individual Study (V1-6). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA and consent of instructor. Individual study or research under the guidance of a family financial planning faculty member to enhance the degree program. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit. F, S.

4175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: varies, depending on topic; 2.8 GPA. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. Can be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary. F, S.

4361. Personal Finance: Advanced Topics and Case Studies (3:3:0). Prerequisites: PFP 3301, 3321, 3341, 3361, and 3381. Students are ex-pected to develop a sound financial plan; analyze information; justify financial decisions; and describe the process used to track, evaluate, and adjust financial plans to meet goals.

4370. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3375, 3376, 3378, 3397, 3398, 3399 with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 3330, 3350 with a grade of C or higher. Integrates the financial planning content areas into the development of comprehensive financial plans. Coursework includes case studies and work with clients. F, S.

4376. Asset Management II (3:3:0).Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3376 with a grade of C or better. Theory and practice of asset allocation, along with analysis of mutual funds, ETFs, and variable annuities using industry leading software. F, S.

4377. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA; Consent of instructor. Supervised experience designed to prepare the student for a career in financial planning/counseling

4380. Professional Technology in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA. Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 4370 with a grade of C or higher. Advance coursework in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications. F, S.

4396. Asset Management III (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 4376 with grade of B or higher. Students will work with issues regarding the blending of client risk tolerance investment objectives and holding periods into a successfully conceived investment plan. F , S.Back to Top

 

5000 Level Courses

5175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. Can be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary. F, S.

5198. Professional Practices in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in PFP 5371 with a grade of C or higher. Emphasis on the principles of professional practice focusing on ethics, effective managerial strategies, and the student's transition to the professional workplace. Enrollment precedes PFP 5399.

5210. Professional Field Experience (2:2:0). Prerequisite: 6 hours of PFP courses with a grade of C or higher or consent of instructor. Supervised attendance and participation in professional conferences, tours of professional practices, and seminars focusing on professional issues. May be repeated for up to 4 hours credit.

5311. Independent Study in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Individual study or research under the guidance of a personal financial planning faculty member to enhance the degree program. May be repeated for credit.

5322. Personal Finance: Professional and Personal Applications (3:3:0). Survey course in personal financial planning for nonmajors who want to use this information in their personal and professional lives. F, S, SS, Distance.

5330. Financial Planning and Law for Settlement Planners (3:3:0). Exploration of the theoretical and practical environmental framework upon which settlement planning rests. Topics include principles of financial planning, property law, alternative dispute resolution, planning for incapacity, and other relevant topics.

5335. Settlement Planning Seminar (3:3:0). Exploration of the emerging profession of settlement planning, defined as personal financial planning for the recipient of a legal settlement. Topics include forecasting needs, structured settlement annuities, dissipation risk, and many others.

5340 Case Studies in Settlement Planning (3:3:0). Case study course designed to enable students to synthesize their understanding of settlement planning by producing comprehensive settlement plans. Emphasis will be on the needs of catastrophically injured persons.

5350. Individual Tax Planning Topics (3:3:0) .Prerequisites: PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311 with a grade of C or higher. Studies legal research skills and the impact of federal and state tax regulations on personal financial planning decisions.

5362. Asset Management I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major. Investment management concepts in a personal financial planning context; client goals, expectations, and risk tolerance; capital markets; investment alternatives; security valuation; risk assessment; and portfolio management concepts.

5367. Product Evaluation and Applications in Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 3376 and 4376 or PFP 5362; PFP 3375 and 3397 or PFP 5395 and 5397; and PFP 3374 or 5394 with a grade of C or higher. This course focuses on the evaluation and use of financial planning products to meet client needs and on related client communications.

5370. Consumers in the Marketplace (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and the decision-making process. Overview of consumer policies and programs for consumer protection and education, including decision-making and other relevant theories.

5371. Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Focus on the financial planning process and the profession, including the study of cash management, time value of money, education funding, and other planning areas.

5372. Asset Management II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5362 or FIN 5325 with a grade of B or higher and PFP 5372 (concurrent enrollment allowed). Theory and practice of asset allocation, along with analysis of mutual funds, ETFs, and variable annuities using industry leading software. S.

5373. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3:3:0).Prerequisites PFP 5362 or FIN 5325; and PFP 5371 with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5372, 5394, 5395, 5397, 5398, and ACCT 5311 with a grade of B or higher. Techniques and methods for utilizing financial planning practice standards in the development of comprehensive financial plans for clients.

5377. Personal Financial Counseling (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP majors only, dual degree students, or consent of instructor. The study and use of methods to assist families of different socioeconomic groups in correcting financial behavior. S.

5378. Research Methods I (3:3:0). Prerequisites: PFP 6374. Introduces doctoral students to the scientific research process. Various elements of the research process will be identified and analyzed and students will have an opportunity to work with data and statistical software to engage in the research process.

5380. Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:3). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5373 with a grade of C or better, PFP major, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. Advanced studies in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications.

5385. Behavioral Finance from a Personal Financial Planning Perspective (3:3:0). Prerequisites: PFP 5372 and 5377 with a grade of C or higher. This course introduces concepts in behavioral finance that relate to an individual's decision making within the area of personal financial planning.

5390. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: GPA of 3.0 and consent of instructor. Supervised experience designed to prepare the student for a career in financial planning/counseling. May be repeated for up to 6 hours credit.

5394. Retirement Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisites: PFP 5362 (may be concurrent), PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311 with a grade of C or higher; PFP major only, joint degree student, or consent of instructor. The study of retirement planning models, retirement plans, and selected employee benefit plans from the perspective of employees and employers. Current retirement issues will be studied.

5395. Risk Management and Employee Benefits (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of risk management theory, personal risk analysis, and financial loss prevention with private insurance and employee benefits throughout the family life cycle.

5396. Asset Management III (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA, PFP 5362 and 5372 with a grade of B or higher or consent of instructor. Synthesis of portfolio management and risk tolerance assessment concepts, participation of an actual securities portfolio, and evaluation of portfolio performance.

5397. Life and Health Insurance Planning (3:3:0).Prerequisite: PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Explores the use of life insurance, health insurance, and annuities in financial planning with heavy emphasis on advanced planning techniques. F.

5398. Estate Planning (3:3:0). Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311 with a grade of C or higher; PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning. S.

5399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3:1:6). Prerequisite: PFP 5198 with a grade of C or higher. Supervised internship experiences in established career-related positions in the financial planning field.Back to Top

 

6000 Level Courses

6000. Master’s Thesis (V1-6).

6101. Research Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (1:1:0). Seminar in current research topics and methodology in personal financial planning. Should be taken by doctoral student each semester of the program.

6330. Research Fund Development (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5378. Exploration of processes for preparing research ideas for presentation to individuals, groups, and/or organizations. Study of research proposal characteristics, how proposals are reviewed, strategies for success, and public versus private funding sources.

6374. Family Economics (3:3:0). Economic status of families at all income levels; factors influencing their standard of living; interrelationships with the economy.

6375. Current Consumer Issues (3:3:0). Analysis of current consumer problems and decision-making responsibilities. Policies and programs for consumer protection and education.

6376. Family and Personal Consumption Behavior (3:3:0). Emphasis on factors involved in individual and family consumption. Concepts related to levels and standards of living and quality of life will be examined.

6378. Research Methods II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PFP 5378 or equivalent and 3 credit hours of statistics with a grade of B or higher. Application of statistical packages to analyze data and interpret results. Includes mainframe and micro applications.

6383. Regulatory Policy (3:3:0). A survey of regulatory policies focusing on current issues, alternatives, and dilemmas concerning consumers.

6395. Financial Planning Program Development Seminar (3:3:0). Seminar focusing on the development and management of high-quality, university-level programs in personal financial planning.

6397. Doctoral Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (3:3:0). Doctoral seminar on theories and empirical evidence in personal financial planning and its areas of specialization. May be repeated for credit for up to 6 hours when topics vary.

6399. Residency in Financial Planning Research and Education (3:1:6). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Supervised residency teaching and conducting research in personal financial planning at cooperating universities. May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.

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7000 Level Course

7000. Research (V1-12). Back to Top

 

8000 Level Course

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).Back to Top