Approved by Faculty Senate.

University Studies Course Proposal

 

 

Department or Program: Administrative Information Systems Department

Course Number: 215

Semester Hours: 3

Frequency of Offering: Every Semester

Course Title: Personal Finance

Catalog Description: For all students. Units focus on the major personal financial planning problems that individuals and families encounter as responsible economic citizens. Emphasis on using personal financial planning activities as a framework for developing effective money management practices and addressing contemporary consumer issues. Consumer issues involving personal and family economics are addressed in such units as budgets, banking, tax strategies, investments, credit, insurance, real estate, interest, pensions, and estate and retirement planning.

This is an existing

course previously

approved by A2C2: Yes

This is a new course

proposal: No

Department Contact

Person: Jeanette A. Karjala jkarjala@winona.edu

University Studies

Approval is requested in: Unity and Diversity—4. Contemporary Citizenship

Attachment: Although each faculty member is responsible for his or her course syllabus, an attached syllabus includes an outline of the course content and requirements. Items meeting the Contemporary Citizenship requirements are identified by corresponding letters matching the listed outcomes--a, b, d, e, and/or f.

Below each of the five outcomes listed under the "Contemporary Citizenship" requirement are

listed the course requirements, content, learning activities, and documentation relevant to the

outcomes that promote students’ abilities to:

  1. Use critical thinking to analyze contemporary issues. The Personal Finance course focuses on the major personal financial planning problems that individuals and families encounter. Students research the effects of limited resources on personal resource management and analyze ways to meet wants and needs through wise consumer decision making. Analysis toward planning a framework for effective money management practices includes such units as budgets, banking, tax strategies, investments, credit, insurance, real estate, interest, pensions, and estate and retirement planning.
  2. Demonstrate effective oral and/or written communication of ideas, informed opinions,

and/or values. As indicated on the syllabus, students work collaboratively on certain

projects and in discussion- and case-based groups during class. Students present printed as

well as oral reports. Students have opportunities to discuss the effects of personal values

and ethics on personal economic decision making.

  1. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively independently and/or in collaborative

    2. problem-solving groups. As indicated on the attached syllabus, students participate actively within in-class discussion and problem-solving groups as well as on collaborative groups that research information for projects. Students use decision making steps and other frameworks and matrices for preparing research reports.

  2. Identify principles and applications of personal, civic, and/or economic responsibility;

    3. understand personal responsibility for lifestyle choices. Students address the issues of

    personal, civic, and/or economic responsibility throughout the course. They have access to information sources through the library as well as web sites and from resource people repre-senting establishments such as banks, insurance companies, investment groups, and realtors. In order to have a higher quality of life, students need opportunities to learn about making better choices for using their limited time and income. As ethical questions arise more often within our technological society, students need to learn techniques for coping with the issues and consuming in a highly complicated, technological society. There are an increasing number of personal bankruptcies and consumers who are finding it difficult to cope with unmanageable debt loads. Identifying personal finance principles related to consumer issues allows for making responsible choices that have a positive impact on personal, civic, and the national economics. Whether discussing such topics as insurance, health care, and mortgages, students have opportunities for understanding the importance of taking personal responsibility for the outcomes of lifestyle choices. The syllabus outlines numerous application opportunities for students.

  3. Participate actively (e.g., class discussion, volunteerism, etc.) in issues significant to

citizenship in contemporary society. As indicated on the syllabus, students participate on a daily basis within in-class groups. In addition, they discuss the citizenship issues as they relate to topics such as insurance, credit, and planning for the future.