SBS-HC296 Personal Finance, Budgeting, and Your Financial Future
An experiential introduction to personal finance that equips students with the knowledge, tools, and habits needed to make smart financial decisions throughout their lives. The course emphasizes practical, real-world applications, focusing on how everyday choices about spending, saving, borrowing, and investing shape long-term financial well-being. Students learn core concepts including budgeting and cash flow management, credit and debt, taxes, insurance, and investment fundamentals. The course also explores major life financial decisions such as financing higher education, managing student loans, renting versus buying housing, purchasing vehicles, and planning for retirement. Throughout the semester, students develop the ability to evaluate financial products, compare alternatives, and assess trade-offs under uncertainty. A strong emphasis is placed on building effective financial habits and understanding the psychological factors that influence decision-making, such as present bias, overconfidence, and risk perception. Through hands-on activities, simulations, and case-based exercises, students actively apply financial concepts to realistic scenarios.
Prerequisite
Student has satisfied all of the following Student has completed any of the following course(s) MATH 128 - Math for the Modern World, MATH 130 - Topics in Finite Mathematics, MATH 134 - Calculus for Management and Social Sciences, MATH 164 - Calculus 1 Bridge With Trigonometry, MATH 165 - Calculus I, MATH 166 - Calculus II And Student has satisfied all of the following Student has completed any of the following course(s) STATS 240 - Introduction to Statistics, STATS 250 - Applied Statistics, STATS H240 - Honors Introduction to Statistics, STATS H250 - Honors Applied Statistics Only 1 registration counts toward academic progress for these courses STATS 250 - Applied Statistics, STATS H250 - Honors Applied Statistics Only 1 registration counts toward academic progress for these courses STATS 240 - Introduction to Statistics, STATS H240 - Honors Introduction to Statistics