Personal Financial Planning (PFP)
1000 Freshman Level2000 Sophomore Level 3000 Junior Level4000 Senior Level
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1000 Level Course
1101. Money Management Basics: Cash Management and Credit (1). For nonmajors only. Introduces basic financial decision-making regarding spending, saving, and the use of consumer credit. F, S.
1115. Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (1). 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. F, S.
1302. Cultural and Gender Diversity in Personal Finance (3). Introductory study of financial attitudes and behaviors affected by culture and gender, including financial issues related to career choice, debt accumulation, and expenditure patterns of affected groups in the United States.
1305. Life, Love, and Money (3). Examines the interconnected behaviors among various human relationships and money to improve decision-making abilities in the areas of money, relationships, time, and values. F, S, SS.Back to Top
2000 Level Courses
2101. Money Management Basics: Major Purchases and Insurance (1). For nonmajors only. Introduction to basic financial decision making regarding the acquisition of transportation, housing, and other major purchases and ways to protect assets through the use of various types of insurance.
2310. Technological Applications in Personal Financial Planning (3). 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.
2315. Personal Financial Planning for Professionals (3). Prerequisites: PFP 3301 with a grade of C or higher, PFP majors and minors only. Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 1115, any 1000- or 2000-level MATH course, ACCT 2300, and ECO 2301 or 2302 with a grade of C or higher. Introduction to personal financial planning, including goal setting, cash management, credit, housing, education planning, and selected professional issues. F , S.
2330. Financial Problem Solving (3). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 2315. Methods and skills to assist individuals and families in resolving financial problems. Addresses personal and professional attitudes and behaviors toward money. S.
3000 Level Courses
3101. Money Management Basics: Personal Investing (1). For nonmajors only. Introduces common savings and investment vehicles and strategies used by individuals and families to meet their financial goals.
3210. Professional Field Experience (2). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315. 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. This is a pass/fail course. F, S.
3275. Employee Benefits (2). Prerequisites: 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). Introduction to personal finance, including goal setting, cash management, credit, insurance, taxes, housing, investment alternatives, and retirement plans. Fulfills core Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement. Distance and on campus. F, S, SS.
3321. Financial Counseling and Consumer Credit (3). For nonmajors only. 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. Distance. F, S, SS.
3330. Communication and Counseling Skills for Financial Planners (3). Prerequisites: PFP 2330 and ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or higher, 2.8 GPA, PFP majors only. Counseling techniques and interviewing strategies for use in financial counseling and planning settings. Emphasizes the importance of communication processes in helping individuals and families. F. (Writing Intensive)
3333. Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite or corequisite: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315, PFP major, or consent of instructor. Application of law, ethics, and regulatory policies to personal financial planning. S.
3341. Personal Finance: Goal Planning (3). For nonmajors only. 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. Distance. F, S, SS.
3350. Individual Tax Planning Topics (3).Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315 and 3378, ACCT 3307, with a grade of C or better. For nonmajors only. Study of the impact of federal and state taxation on personal financial planning decisions. S.
3361. Personal Finance: Managing Risk (3). For nonmajors only. 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. Distance. F, S, SS.
3374. Retirement Planning (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315, ACCT 3307, and ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 3376. A foundation course in retirement planning. Topics include corporate and individual retirement plans, planning strategies to meet client goals, and retirement income management. S.
3376. Asset Management I (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, MATH 2345 with a grade of C or better; PFP major, minor or consent of instructor. Focuses on the theory and practice of investment analysis with a special emphasis on the basic tools, techniques, and methodologies employed by financial planners. F.
3378. Estate Planning (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; PFP 2315.. Prerequisite or corequisite: ACCT 3307. Application of estate planning methodologies and policies to personal financial planning. F.
3381. Personal Finance: Investing (3). For nonmajors only. 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. Distance. F, S, SS.
3386. Asset Management II (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3376 and ACCT 3307 with a grade of C or better. Theory and practice of asset management, including modern portfolio design and implementation, evaluation and use of risk tolerance, tax management, behavioral finance, product evaluation and selection, and regulatory issues. S.
3398. Professional Development in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: PFP 2330, 3374, 3376, 3378, and 3497 with a grade of C or higher (can be taken concurrently); 2.8 GPA. Preparation for internship experience. Business models, back office and staffing. Includes 30 hours of volunteer service work with VITA to give students client experience before internships. S. (Writing Intensive)
3399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: PFP 3374, 3376, 3378, and 3497 with a grade of C or higher; 2.8 GPA. Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 2330. Preparation for internship experience. Business models, back office and staffing. Includes 30 hours of volunteer service work with VITA to give students client experience before internships. S.
3497. Risk Management and Insurance Planning (4). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA, PFP 2315, ENGL 2311 with a grade of C or better. Explores the application of risk management and insurance planning for individuals in the personal financial planning environment.Back to Top
4000 Level Courses
4000. Individual Study (V1-6). Prerequisites: 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.
4101. Financial Senior Seminar (1). For non-PFP majors only. Introduces financial planning issues that emerge when starting a career, including compensation negotiations, cash flow management, employee benefits, and the impact of taxation. F , S.
4175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1). Prerequisite: varies, depending on topic; PFP major; 2.8 GPA. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. May be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary. This is a pass/fail course. F , S.
4325. Introduction to Charitable Giving (3). Prerequisite: 2.8 GPA. Introduces students to the techniques and tax laws of charitable planning. F.
4361. Personal Finance: Advanced Topics and Case Studies (3). Prerequisites: PFP 3301, 3321, 3341, 3361, and 3381. For nonmajors only. Students are expected 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. Distance. F, S, SS. (Writing Intensive)
4370. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; PFP 3374, 3376, 3378, 3386, 3398, 3399, 3497 with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 3330 and 4380 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.
4377. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; consent of instructor. Supervised experience designed to prepare the student for a career in financial planning/counseling. F, S.
4380. Professional Technology in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: 2.8 GPA; ACCT 3307, PFP 3374, 3376, 3378, 3386, and 3497, all with a grade of C or higher. Advance coursework in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications. F , S.Back to Top
5000 Level Courses
5000. Individual Study in Personal Financial Planning (V1-6). 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 up to 6 hours credit. F, S.
5115. Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (1). Prerequisite: PFP major. An introductory course to the graduate PFP major. Topics will include advising, involvement in the program and profession, academic integrity, professionalism, student motivation, and networking. F, S.
5175. Special Topics in Personal Financial Planning (1). Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA, PFP major. Study of special topics in personal financial planning. May be repeated for up to 6 hours when topics vary. This is a pass/fail course. F, S.
5210. Professional Field Experience (2). 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. This is a pass/fail course. F, S.
5295. Employee Benefits (2). Prerequisites: ACCT 5311; PFP 5362, 5394, 5497 with a grade of C or better. Examines advanced topics of employee health benefits from both the employer and employee setting.
5311. Independent Study in Personal Financial Planning (3). 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.
5320. Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5371, PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Application of law, ethics, and regulatory policies to personal financial planning. S.
5322. Personal Finance: Professional and Personal Applications (3). Survey course in personal financial planning for nonmajors who want to use this information in their personal and professional lives. F, S, SS, Distance and on campus.
5325. Introduction to Charitable Giving (3). Introduces students to the techniques of charitable planning as viewed from the perspective of donors, financial planners, and fundraising professionals. F.
5326. Advanced Charitable Planning (3). Review of sophisticated charitable planning techniques with a special emphasis on creative uses of private foundations, donor advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, and advanced charitable estate planning techniques. S.
5327. Charitable Giving: Research, Theory and Marketing (3). Review of research findings and theoretical models of charitable giving from the academic literature. Focuses on determinants and motivations in charitable giving with an emphasis on applying these findings in a professional context for financial advisors and fundraising professionals. F.
5330. Financial Planning and Law for Settlement Planners (3). 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). 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). 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) .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. S, SS.
5362. Asset Management I (3). 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. F, SS.
5365. Financial Life Planning (3). Examines the topics of financial planning around the unique life transitions, goals and fiscal philosophy within individual client settings.
5367. Product Evaluation and Applications in Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: PFP 3376 and 4376 or take 5362; PFP 3497 or 5497; PFP 3374 or 5394; all with a grade of C or higher. Focuses on the evaluation and use of financial planning products to meet client needs and on related client communications.
5371. Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 5115 and 5322, PFP major, dual 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. F , S, SS.
5372. Asset Management II (3). Prerequisite: PFP 5362 or FIN 5325 and ACCT 5311 or LAW 6434 with a grade of C- or higher. Theory and practice of wealth management to include concepts of modern portfolio design and implementation, tax management, behavioral finance, product evaluation and selection, and regulatory issues. F, S.
5373. Personal Financial Planning Capstone (3). Prerequisites: PFP 5362 or FIN 5325, and PFP 5371, all with a grade of C or higher. Prerequisites or corequisites: PFP 5372, 5380, 5394, 5497, 5398 or LAW 6227; ACCT 5311 or LAW 6434; all with a grade of C or higher. Techniques and methods for utilizing financial planning practice standards in the development of comprehensive financial plans for clients.
F , S.
5377. Client Communication and Counseling (3). Prerequisite: PFP majors only, dual degree students, or consent of instructor. Students will explore and apply theory, counseling fundamentals, and communication techniques for effective interactive client communication in financial planning and counseling. Addresses personal relationships with money, including emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. S, SS..
5379. Business Practices and Entrepreneurship in PFP (3). Prerequisite: PFP 5371. Provides a global introduction to the process of creating, developing, and managing a successful financial planning practice. Students will create a business and marketing plan, using real industry data and techniques as a case study for profitable practices. F.
5380. Professional Technology in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5372, 5394, 5497, 5398 or LAW 6227; ACCT 5311 or LAW 6434, all with a grade of C or better, PFP major, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Advanced studies in professional software packages for financial planning and investment portfolio applications. F, S.
5385. Behavioral Finance from a Personal Financial Planning Perspective (3). Introduces concepts in behavioral finance that relate to an individual’s decision making within the area of personal financial planning.
5389. Professional Development in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in PFP 5371 with a grade of C or higher. Preparation for internship experience. Advanced topics in business models, back office and staffing. Includes 30 hours of volunteer work with VITA to give students client experience before internships. Enrollment precedes PFP 5399. S.
5390. Practicum in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisites: 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). Prerequisites: PFP 5371 and ACCT 5311 with a grade of C or higher; Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5362 with a grade of C or higher. PFP major only, dual degree student, or consent of instructor. Advanced studies in retirement planning covering retirement plans in the corporate setting, personal retirement planning, and retirement income strategies. F, SS.
5398. Estate Planning (3). Prerequisites: 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. F.
5399. Internship in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite: PFP 5389 with a grade of C or higher. Supervised internship experiences in established career-related positions in the financial planning field. SS.
5497. Risk Management and Insurance Planning (4). Prerequisite or corequisite: PFP 5371. Explores risk management theory, personal risk analysis, and financial loss prevention with private insurance. F, S.Back to Top
6000 Level Courses
6000. Master’s Thesis (V1-6).
6101. Academic Leadership in Personal Financial Planning (1). Seminar focusing on leadership in the academic setting, including teaching, research, and service.
6305. Introduction to Ph.D. Studies in Personal Financial Planning (3). Prerequisite: PFP major. Provides an introduction to doctoral study in personal financial planning. Includes an explanation of the unique program of study in PFP, culture, expectations, professional development, and the research process. F.
6330. Seminar in Research and Philanthropic Fund Development (3). Prerequisite: PFP 6377. 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. Household Economic Theory (3). Prerequisites: Doctoral standing in the PFP division and ECO 5310. Personal financial planning doctoral students are required to have an understanding of the household from an economic perspective. Consumption, saving, and investment behavior are the topics of focus.
6377. Research Methods I (3). Prerequisites: PFP 6305 and 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.
6378. Research Methods II (3). Prerequisite: PFP 6377. A continuation of Research Methods I. Students will be expected to formulate and conduct scientific research as well as prepare a manuscript to communicate the results of their research study.
6381. Research Seminar in Asset Management (3). Prerequisite: PFP 6374. Introduces the theory of investment, literature and theory describing the unique process of household investment decision-making, quantitative investment analysis and the instruments used to construct an efficient household portfolio.
6383. Seminar in Regulatory Policy (3). Review of theory and academic literature related to the regulation of professional financial advice and analysis of the current regulatory structure governing financial planning services.
6395. Financial Planning Program Development Seminar (3). Seminar focusing on the development and management of high-quality, university-level programs in personal financial planning.
6397. Research Seminar in Personal Financial Planning (3). 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). 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.
7000 Level Course
7000. Research (V1-12). Back to Top
8000 Level Course
8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).Back to Top