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. 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 courses that lead 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 and with industry partners. A field experience encourages students to apply their studies and to experience the profession in real-world settings.
Student Learning Outcomes
Financial Counseling and Planning graduates are prepared to:
- Help individuals and families make personal finance decisions using time value of money calculations.
- Deliver professional, competent, and ethical financial counseling and planning services to clients.
- Apply principles of client psychology within consumer and financial decision making.
- Measure individual and family financial health and use these measures to create a comprehensive personal financial plan.
- Attain the leading designations in financial counseling and planning. Upon graduation students have completed the educational requirements for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Financial Counselor® designations.
Total credits required: 120
Financial Counseling and Planning core (AFC & CFP exam ready): 39 credits
| HDFS 1020 | Human Development | 3 |
| or PSYCH 2300 | Developmental Psychology | |
| HDFS 2390 | Consumer Issues | 3 |
| HDFS 2700 | Family Communications and Relationships | 3 |
| HDFS 2830 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| HDFS 3170G | Field Experiences: Family Finance Programs | 1-6 |
| HDFS 3410 | Income Tax Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 3780 | Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits | 3 |
| HDFS 3830 | Fundamentals of Financial Planning | 3 |
| HDFS 3840 | Family Insurance Planning | 3 |
| or FIN 3610 | Personal Risk Management and Insurance | |
| HDFS 4820 | Family Savings and Investments | 3 |
| or FIN 3200 | Investments | |
| HDFS 4840 | Estate Planning for Families | 3 |
| HDFS 4850 | Capstone: Family Financial Planning | 3 |
| HDFS 4890 | Financial Counseling | 2 |
| HDFS 4890L | Financial Counseling Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 37-42 | |
Communications and Library: 13 credits
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines: 10 credits
| ACCT 2840 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| COMS 1130 | Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases | 3 |
| or Computer Science course | 3 | |
| STAT 1010 | Principles of Statistics | 4 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Social Sciences: 9 credits
| ECON 1010 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| SOC 1340 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or PSYCH 2800 | Social Psychology | |
| Social Science course from approved general education options | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Humanities: 6 credits
| Humanities course from approved general education options | 6 | |
HD FS orientation: 1 credit
| HDFS 1100 | Freshman Learning Community Orientation | 1 |
| or HDFS 1110 | New Transfer Student Seminar | |
| Total Credits | 1 | |
Electives: 42 credits as needed to equal 120 total credits
Recommended HDFS Electives (part of total electives).
| HDFS 2340 | Adult Development | 3 |
| HDFS 2490 | Parenting and Family Diversity Issues | 3 |
| HDFS 3600 | Housing and Services for Families and Children | 3 |
| HDFS 3690 | Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| HDFS 3770 | Aging and the Family | 3 |
| HDFS 3950 | Children, Families, and Public Policy | 3 |
| HDFS 4490 | Program Evaluation and Proposal Writing | 3 |
| HDFS 4790 | Family Dynamics Through a Social and Cultural Lens | 3 |
| HDFS 4910 | Internship | 4 |
Other recommended electives include courses from accounting, community and regional planning, economics, finance, gerontology, human development and family studies, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Total credits: 120 credits
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives Requirement: Students fulfill the U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives Requirement by choosing three credits of coursework from each of the university-approved lists.
The courses listed in this section are approved general education course options for this major.
Natural Sciences and Mathematics: 9 credits total (3 credits from list below). Coursework designed to facilitate students' understanding of the structure and behavior of the natural world and appreciate mathematics as a valuable tool of the sciences and an intrinsically important way of thinking.
| Computer Science (COMS) | ||
| Accounting (ACCT) | ||
| Mathematics (MATH) | ||
| Statistics (STAT) | ||
Social Sciences: 9 credits. Coursework designed to help students develop an understanding of the principal methods of studying human behavior and an understanding of the structure and functioning of institutions.
| ACCT 2150 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| AESHM 4210 | Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential | 3 |
| AFAM 3300 | Ethnic and Race Relations | 3 |
| AMD 1650 | Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in U.S. Society | 3 |
| AMD 3620 | Global Dress in the Fashion System and Society | 3 |
| AMD 4670 | Consumer Studies in Apparel and Fashion Products | 3 |
| AMIN 3100 | Contemporary Topics in American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMIN 3150 | Archaeology of North America | 3 |
| AMIN 3220 | Peoples and Cultures of Native North America | 3 |
| Anthropology (ANTHR) - except 2020 | ||
| Economics (ECON) | ||
| FSHN 3420 | World Food Issues: Past and Present | 3 |
| INTST 2350 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| LING 2190 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 4710 | Language and Reading Development in Children | 3 |
| Political Science (POLS) | ||
| Psychology (PSYCH) - except 1310 | ||
| Sociology (SOC), including Criminal Justice (CJST) | ||
| WGS 2010 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGS 2030 | Introduction to Lesbian Communities | 3 |
| WGS 3010 | International Perspectives on Women and Gender | 3 |
| ENVS 3200 | Ecofeminism | 3 |
| WGS 3270 | Gender and Sexualities in Society | 3 |
| WGS 3280 | Sociology of Masculinities and Manhood | 3 |
| WGS 3460 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| AFAM 3500 | Women of Color in the U.S | 3 |
| WGS 3850 | Women in Politics | 3 |
Humanities: 6 credits. Coursework designed to assist students to develop an understanding of human cultural heritage and history, and an appreciation of reasoning and the aesthetic value of human creativity.
| AESHM 3420 | Aesthetics of Consumer Experience | 3 |
| AFAM 2010 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 3340 | Africana Religions | 3 |
| AFAM 3470 | African American Literature | 3 |
| AFAM 3530 | History of African Americans I | 3 |
| AFAM 3540 | History of African Americans II | 3 |
| AMD 3540 | Euro-American Dress History: Prehistoric to Mid-19th Century | 3 |
| AMD 3560 | Euro-American Dress History: Mid-19th Century to the Present | 3 |
| AMIN 2100 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMIN 2400 | Introduction to American Indian Literature | 3 |
| AMIN 3460 | American Indian Literature | 3 |
| ARCH 2210 | Histories and Theories of Architecture to 1750 | 3 |
| ARCH 4200 | Topics in American Architecture | 3 |
| Art History (ARTH) | ||
| American Sign Language (ASL) | ||
| Classical Studies (CLST) | ||
| DANCE 2700 | Dance Appreciation | 3 |
| DANCE 3600 | History and Philosophy of Dance | 3 |
| DSNS 1830 | Design in Context | 3 |
| ENGL 2010 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2250 | Survey of British Literature to 1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 2260 | Survey of British Literature since 1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 2270 | Survey of American Literature to 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL 2280 | Survey of American Literature since 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL 2370 | Survey of Film History | 3 |
| ENGL 2400 | Introduction to American Indian Literature | 3 |
| History (HIST) | ||
| HSPM 2600 | Global Tourism Management | 3 |
| MUSIC 1020 | Introduction to Music Listening | 3 |
| MUSIC 3020 | Masterpieces of Music and Art in Western Culture | 3 |
| MUSIC 3040 | History of American Rock 'n' Roll | 3 |
| MUSIC 3830 | History of Music I | 3 |
| MUSIC 3840 | History of Music II | 3 |
| Philosophy (PHIL) | ||
| Religious Studies (RELIG) | ||
| THTRE 1060 | Introduction to the Performing Arts | 3 |
| THTRE 1100 | Theatre and Society | 3 |
| THTRE 4650 | Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century | 3 |
| THTRE 4660 | Theatre History: 19th Century to Present | 3 |
| WGS 2010 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGS 3360 | Religion, Sex and Gender | 3 |
| WGS 3380 | Feminist Philosophy | 3 |
| WGS 3450 | Women's Literature | 3 |
| WGS 3700F | Studies in English Translation: French Topics on Women and Gender Studies | 3 |
| or WGS 3700R | Studies in English Translation: Russian Topics on Women or Feminism | |
| or WGS 3700S | Studies in English Translation: Hispanic Topics on Women or Feminism | |
| WGS 3740 | Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 3 |
| World Languages and Cultures (ARABC, CHIN, FRNCH, GER, GREEK, RUS, SPAN) | ||
Financial Counseling and Planning
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMS 1130 | 3 | ENGL 2500 | 3 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | HDFS 1020 or PSYCH 2300 | 3 |
| HDFS 1100 or 1110 | 1 | HDFS 2830 | 3 |
| HDFS 2390 | 3 | STAT 1010 | 4 |
| ECON 1010 | 3 | ACCT 2150, ECON 1020, or INTST 2350 (Or Social Sciences Course) | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ACCT 2840 | 3 | HDFS 3830 | 3 |
| HDFS 2700 | 3 | PHIL 2300, 2350, or RELIG 2050 (Or Humanities Courses) | 3 |
| PSYCH 2800 or SOC 1340 | 3 | Electives* | 9 |
| SPCM 2120, COMST 2110, or COMST 2180 | 3 | ||
| PHIL 2300, 2350, or RELIG 2050 (Or Humanities Course) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 3020, 3090, 3140, or AGEDS 3270 | 3 | HDFS 3780 | 3 |
| HDFS 3410 | 3 | HDFS 3840 or FIN 3610 | 3 |
| Electives* | 9 | Electives* | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 4820 or FIN 3200 | 3 | HDFS 3170G | 1-6 |
| HDFS 4890 | 2 | HDFS 4840 | 3 |
| HDFS 4890L | 1 | HDFS 4850 | 3 |
| Electives* | 9 | Electives* | 6 |
| 15 | 13-18 | ||
- *
Electives: Courses from accounting, community and regional planning, economics, family and consumer sciences education, finance, gerontology, human development and family studies, journalism, management, marketing, political science, psychology, and sociology are suggested.
- **
See Approved General Education options.
Students in Financial Counseling and Planning fulfill the U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. 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.
The Financial Counseling and Planning minor may be earned by completing 15 credits
| HDFS 2830 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| Twelve credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Consumer Issues | ||
| Income Tax Planning for Families | ||
| Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits | ||
| Fundamentals of Financial Planning | ||
| Family Insurance Planning | ||
| Family Savings and Investments | ||
| Estate Planning for Families | ||
| Capstone: Family Financial Planning | ||
| Financial Counseling | ||
| Financial Counseling Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Graduate Programs
A master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences (MFCS) with a specialization in Family Financial Planning as well as a Family Financial Planning certificate are available. More information can be found at: https://online.hs.iastate.edu/graduate-degrees/family-financial-planning/.