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
| HD FS 102 | Human Development | 3 |
| or PSYCH 230 | Developmental Psychology | |
| HD FS 239 | Consumer Issues | 3 |
| HD FS 270 | Family Communications and Relationships | 3 |
| HD FS 283 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| HD FS 317G | Field Experiences: Family Finance Programs | 1-6 |
| HD FS 341 | Income Tax Planning for Families | 3 |
| HD FS 378 | Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits | 3 |
| HD FS 383 | Fundamentals of Financial Planning | 3 |
| HD FS 384 | Family Insurance Planning | 3 |
| or FIN 361 | Personal Risk Management and Insurance | |
| HD FS 482 | Family Savings and Investments | 3 |
| or FIN 320 | Investments | |
| HD FS 484 | Estate Planning for Families | 3 |
| HD FS 485 | Capstone: Family Financial Planning | 3 |
| HD FS 489 | Financial Counseling | 2 |
| HD FS 489L | Financial Counseling Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 37-42 | |
Communications and Library: 13 credits
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 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 284 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| COM S 113 | Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases | 3 |
| or Computer Science course | 3 | |
| STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics | 4 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Social Sciences: 9 credits
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| SOC 134 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or PSYCH 280 | 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
| HD FS 110 | Freshman Learning Community Orientation | 1 |
| or HD FS 111 | New Transfer Student Seminar | |
| Total Credits | 1 | |
Electives: 42 credits as needed to equal 120 total credits
Recommended HD FS Electives (part of total electives).
| HD FS 234 | Adult Development | 3 |
| HD FS 249 | Parenting and Family Diversity Issues | 3 |
| HD FS 360 | Housing and Services for Families and Children | 3 |
| HD FS 369 | Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| HD FS 377 | Aging and the Family | 3 |
| HD FS 395 | Children, Families, and Public Policy | 3 |
| HD FS 449 | Program Evaluation and Proposal Writing | 3 |
| HD FS 479 | Family Dynamics Through a Social and Cultural Lens | 3 |
| HD FS 491 | 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. 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.
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 (COM S) | ||
| 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 215 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| AESHM 421 | Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential | 3 |
| AF AM 330 | Ethnic and Race Relations | 3 |
| A M D 165 | Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in U.S. Society | 3 |
| A M D 362 | Cultural Perspectives of Global Dress | 3 |
| A M D 467 | Consumer Studies in Apparel and Fashion Products | 3 |
| AM IN 310 | Contemporary Topics in American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AM IN 315 | Archaeology of North America | 3 |
| AM IN 322 | Peoples and Cultures of Native North America | 3 |
| Anthropology (ANTHR) - except 202 | ||
| Economics (ECON) | ||
| FS HN 342 | World Food Issues: Past and Present | 3 |
| INTST 235 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| LING 219 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 471 | Language and Reading Development in Children | 3 |
| Political Science (POL S) | ||
| Psychology (PSYCH) - except 131 | ||
| Sociology (SOC), including Criminal Justice (CJ ST) | ||
| WGS 201 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGS 203 | Introduction to Lesbian Communities | 3 |
| WGS 301 | International Perspectives on Women and Gender | 3 |
| WGS 320 | Ecofeminism | 3 |
| WGS 327 | Gender and Sexualities in Society | 3 |
| WGS 328 | Sociology of Masculinities and Manhood | 3 |
| WGS 346 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| WGS 350 | Women of Color in the U.S | 3 |
| WGS 385 | 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 342 | Aesthetics of Consumer Experience | 3 |
| AF AM 201 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3 |
| AF AM 334 | Africana Religions | 3 |
| AF AM 347 | Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| AF AM 353 | History of African Americans I | 3 |
| AF AM 354 | History of African Americans II | 3 |
| A M D 257 | Museum Studies | 3 |
| A M D 354 | Euro-American Dress History: Prehistoric to Mid-19th Century | 3 |
| A M D 356 | Euro-American Dress History: Mid-19th Century to the Present | 3 |
| AM IN 210 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AM IN 240 | Introduction to American Indian Literature | 3 |
| AM IN 346 | American Indian Literature | 3 |
| ARCH 221 | Histories and Theories of Architecture to 1750 | 3 |
| ARCH 420 | Topics in American Architecture | 3 |
| Art History (ART H) | ||
| American Sign Language (ASL) | ||
| Classical Studies (CL ST) | ||
| DANCE 270 | Dance Appreciation | 3 |
| DANCE 360 | History and Philosophy of Dance | 3 |
| DSN S 183 | Design in Context | 3 |
| ENGL 201 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 225 | Survey of British Literature to 1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 226 | Survey of British Literature since 1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 227 | Survey of American Literature to 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL 228 | Survey of American Literature since 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL 237 | Survey of Film History | 3 |
| ENGL 240 | Introduction to American Indian Literature | 3 |
| History (HIST) | ||
| HSP M 260 | Global Tourism Management | 3 |
| MUSIC 102 | Introduction to Music Listening | 3 |
| MUSIC 302 | Masterpieces of Music and Art in Western Culture. | 3 |
| MUSIC 304 | History of American Rock 'n' Roll | 3 |
| MUSIC 383 | History of Music I | 3 |
| MUSIC 384 | History of Music II | 3 |
| Philosophy (PHIL) | ||
| Religious Studies (RELIG) | ||
| THTRE 106 | Introduction to the Performing Arts | 3 |
| THTRE 110 | Theatre and Society | 3 |
| THTRE 465 | Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century | 3 |
| THTRE 466 | Theatre History: 19th Century to Present | 3 |
| WGS 201 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGS 336 | Religion, Sex and Gender | 3 |
| WGS 338 | Feminist Philosophy | 3 |
| WGS 345 | Women and Literature: Selected Topics | 3 |
| WGS 370 | Studies in English Translation | 3 |
| WGS 374 | 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 |
| COM S 113 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | HD FS 102 or PSYCH 230 | 3 |
| HD FS 110 or 111 | 1 | HD FS 283 | 3 |
| HD FS 239 | 3 | STAT 101 | 4 |
| ECON 101 | 3 | ACCT 215, ECON 102, or INTST 235 (Or Social Sciences Course) | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ACCT 284 | 3 | HD FS 383 | 3 |
| HD FS 270 | 3 | PHIL 230, 235, or RELIG 205 (Or Humanities Courses) | 3 |
| PSYCH 280 or SOC 134 | 3 | Electives* | 9 |
| SP CM 212, COMST 211, or COMST 218 | 3 | ||
| PHIL 230, 235, or RELIG 205 (Or Humanities Course) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 302, 309, 314, or AGEDS 327 | 3 | HD FS 378 | 3 |
| HD FS 341 | 3 | HD FS 384 or FIN 361 | 3 |
| Electives* | 9 | Electives* | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HD FS 482 or FIN 320 | 3 | HD FS 317G | 1-6 |
| HD FS 489 | 2 | HD FS 484 | 3 |
| HD FS 489L | 1 | HD FS 485 | 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 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.
The Financial Counseling and Planning minor may be earned by completing 15 credits
| HD FS 283 | 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/.