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Financial Counseling and Planning

This is an archived copy of the 2016-2017 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Administered by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Leading to the degree bachelor of science.

The Financial Counseling and Planning curriculum prepares students for careers in family financial services, offering three Emphases: Financial Planning, Financial Counseling or Family Financial Studies. Financial Counseling and Planning is a growing career field and appeals to students who want to work with individuals and families to help them meet their financial goals and improve their financial capability to better meet financial challenges. Coursework provides students with the family resource management and interpersonal skills needed to help families remain financially secure. Based on individual specific career goals, students may select a path that leads to fulfilling the education requirements for the leading designations and certifications in financial counseling and planning. Graduates of the program are prepared for employment in personal banking, financial services, insurance, financial counseling and planning, and human service organizations. Laboratory and practicum opportunities exist in the Iowa State University Financial Counseling Clinic. An internship encourages students to apply their studies and to experience the profession in real-world settings.

Total credits required: 120 

Communications and Library: 13 credits

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
One of the following:3
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Conflict Management
LIB 160Information Literacy1
One of the following3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication
Total Credits13

 Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines: 10 credits

STAT 101Principles of Statistics4
Computer Science course3
ACCT 284Financial Accounting3
or MATH, STAT, or Natural Sciences course from approved HD FS list
Total Credits10

Social Sciences: 9 credits

ECON 101Principles of Microeconomics3
SOC 134Introduction to Sociology3
ANTHR, ECON, POL S, PSYCH, or SOC course3
Total Credits9

 Humanities: 9 credits

Humanities course from approved HD FS list9
Total Credits9

 HD FS orientation: 1 credit

HD FS 110Freshman Learning Community Orientation1
or HD FS 111 New Transfer Student Seminar
Total Credits1

 Human development and family studies core: 19-20 credits

HD FS 102Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being3
HD FS 369Introduction to Research in Human Development and Family Studies3
HD FS 418BProfessional Practice Reflection/Discussion: Internships2
HD FS 449Program Evaluation and Proposal Writing3
HD FS 491Internship8-9
Total Credits19-20

 Financial Counseling and Planning core (AFC exam ready): 13 credits

HD FS 283Personal and Family Finance3
HD FS 341Household Finance and Policy3
HD FS 383Fundamentals of Financial Planning3
HD FS 489Financial Counseling2
HD FS 489LFinancial Counseling Laboratory2
Total Credits13

Emphasis: 15-18 credits

Choose an emphasis of Family Financial Counseling, Family Financial Planning or Family Financial Studies, see below for curriculum.

Electives: 27-31 credits as needed to equal 120 total credits

Courses from accounting, architecture, art, and design, community and regional planning, economics, family and consumer sciences education, finance, gerontology, interior design, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology are suggested.

Total credits: 120 credits

U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement: Students fulfill the U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement by choosing three credits of coursework from each of the university-approved lists.

Emphasis 1: Family Financial Counseling (AFC exam ready): 18 credits

HD FS 239Housing and Consumer Issues3
HD FS 249Parenting and Family Diversity Issues3
HD FS 270Family Communications and Relationships3
HD FS 360Housing and Services for Families and Children3
HD FS 377Aging and the Family3
HD FS 395Children, Families, and Public Policy3
Total Credits18

OR

Emphasis 2: Family Financial Planning (CFP exam ready): 15 credits

HD FS 378Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits3
HD FS 482Family Savings and Investments3
HD FS 484Estate Planning for Families3
HD FS 485Capstone Course in Family Financial Planning3
FIN 361Personal Risk Management and Insurance3
Total Credits15

 OR

Emphasis 3: Family Financial Studies: 18 credits

Select 18 credits from either Emphasis 1 or Emphasis 2

Financial Counseling and Planning, B.S.-family financial studies emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 1023ACCT 2843
HD FS 1101SOC 1343
HD FS 2833Computer science course**3
LIB 1601Humanities course**3
ENGL 1503Area of emphasis course3
RELIG 205 (humanities course)3PSYCH 131 (recommended elective)1
 14 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 3693Area of emphasis course3
HD FS 3413ECON 101 (or COMST 212 or COMST 218)3
STAT 1014SP CM 212 (or COMST 212 or 218)3
ENGL 2503Humanities Course**3
HD FS 3833Elective*3
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 4892HD FS 4493
Area of emphasis course3HD FS 489L+2
Area of emphasis course3ENGL 302 (or ENGL 309 or ENGL 314)3
Electives3Area of emphasis course3
Humanities3Electives*6
 14 17
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Area of emphasis course3HD FS 491 (8-9 credits)9
ANTHRO, ECON, POL S, PSYCH or SOCsocial sciences3Electives*5
Electives*6 
HD FS 418B***2 
 14 14
Total Credits: 120
+

HD FS 489L can be repeated for up to four credits.

*

Electives: Courses from accounting, architecture, art, and design, community and regional planning, economics, family and consumer sciences education, finance, gerontology, interior design, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology are suggested.

**

See HD FS General Education Selections sheet for course options.

***

HD FS 418B is prerequisite to HD FS 491, Internship, and requires junior classification. HD FS 491 Reservation Request is due every September 15th for spring internship and every February 15th for summer and fall internship.

Students in Financial Counseling and Planning fulfill the US Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement by choosing three credits of coursework from each of the university-approved lists.

This sequence is only an example. The number of credits taken each semester should be based on the individual student's situation. Factors that may affect credit hours per semester include student ability, employment, health, activities, and grade point consideration.

Financial Counseling and Planning, B.S.-financial counseling emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 1023ACCT 2843
HD FS 1101SOC 1343
HD FS 2833Computer science elective**3
LIB 1601Humanities course**3
ENGL 1503Electives*3
RELIG 205Humanities course3PSYCH 131 (recommended elective)1
 14 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 3413HD FS 2493
HD FS 3693HD FS 2703
STAT 1014Humanities course**3
ENGL 2503ECON 1013
HD FS 2393SP CM 212 (or COMST 212 or COMST 218)3
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 3833HD FS 4493
HD FS 3603ENGL 302 (or ENGL 309 or ENGL 314)3
HD FS 3773HD FS 489L+2
HD FS 4892Electives*5
Electives*3ENGL 3023
 14 16
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANTHR, ECON, POL S, PSYCH or SOC**Social science course3HD FS 491 (8-9 credits)9
HD FS 418B (***)2Electives*6
Electives*9 
 14 15
Total Credits: 120
+

HD FS 489L can be repeated for up to four credits.

*

Electives: Courses from accounting, architecture, art, and design, community and regional planning, economics, family and consumer sciences education, finance, gerontology, interior design, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology are suggested.

**

See HD FS General Education Selections sheet for course options.

***

 HD FS 418B is prerequisite to HD FS 491, Internship, and requires junior classification. HD FS 491 Reservation Request is due every September 15th for a spring internship and every February 15th for a summer or fall internship.

US Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement: Students in Financial Counseling and Planning fulfill the US Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement by choosing three credits of coursework from each of the university-approved lists. 

This sequence is only an example. The number of credits taken each semester should be based on the individual student's situation. Factors that may affect credit hours per semester include student ability, employment, health, activities, and grade point consideration. 

Financial Counseling and Planning, B.S.-financial planning emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 1023ACCT 2843
HD FS 1101SOC 1343
HD FS 2833Computer Science course**3
LIB 1601Humanities course**3
ENGL 1503Electives*3
RELIG 205Humanities course3PSYCH 131 (recommended elective)1
 14 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 3413HD FS 3783
HD FS 3693ECON 1013
STAT 1014HD FS 3833
ENGL 2503SP CM 212 (or COMST 102 or COMST 218)3
HD FS 3833Electives*3
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 4823HD FS 4493
HD FS 4892HD FS 489L^+2
ANTHRO, ECON, POL S, PSYCH OR SOC**3ENGL 302 (or ENGL 309 or ENGL 314)3
Electives*6HD FS 4843
 Electives*4
 14 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HD FS 418B (***)2HD FS 4853
FIN 3613HD FS 4918-9 credits9
Electives*10Electives*3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
+

HD FS 489L can be repeated for up to four credits.

*

Electives: Courses from accounting, architecture, art, and design, community and regional planning, economics, family and consumer sciences education, finance, gerontology, interior design, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology are suggested.

**

See HD FS General Education Selections sheet for course options.

***

HD FS 418B is prerequisite to HD FS 491, Internship, and requires junior classification. HD FS 491 Reservation Request is due every September 15th for a spring internship and every February 15th for a summer or fall internship.

US Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement: Students in Financial Counseling and Planning fulfill the US Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement by choosing three credits of coursework from each of the university-approved lists.

This sequence is only an example. The number of credits taken each semester should be based on the individual student's situation. Factors that may affect credit hours per semester include student ability, employment, health, activities, and grade point consideration.