Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

FCS 3460 Personal and Family Finance and Management

Sponsoring Institution: University of Idaho

4 Credits

Instructor Information Instructor Kelsie Smathers

Course Instructor: Kelsie Smathers 

  • Email: ksmathers@uidaho.edu
  • Phone: 208 596-0766
  • Office Hours: By appointment – please email to discuss
  • Copy the ISI office at indepst@uidaho.edu on all communications.

Kelsie Smathers currently lives in Moscow, ID with her husband, Samuel, and two kids. She spent the first half of her childhood roaming the woods of Big Fork, MT until her family relocated to Moscow. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho (UI) in Vocal Music Education but transferred to Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). FCS addresses a wide variety of topics such as human development, food science, personal finance, clothing/textile design, consumer economics, and family relationships.

After four years in undergrad, followed by a short break from school, Kelsie decided to pursue a Masters of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a focus on personal finance education. She received this degree from the UI in May of 2016, eight months after having her first child. Since the beginning of her career in academia Kelsie has assisted with and taught a variety of course for the UI: “Personal and Family Finance and Management,” “Consumer Economic Issues,” “Adulting: Life, Love & Money,” “Housing America’s Families,” and “Financial Counseling and Debt Management.”

At this stage in life, Kelsie spends most of her time managing two little ones and lesson planning. Her family enjoys frequent trips to the park, never-ending home improvement projects, watching movies, and meal planning. In her spare time, Kelsie teaches harp lessons and cleans houses for precious coffee money.

Course Description

Principles and procedures of individual and family management and their relationship to human and economic resources; applications of management principles to spending, saving, borrowing, and investing decisions. Co-requisite/Prerequisite: None

This course will have you thinking about what money means to you (and your family) and how that affects your daily decisions on spending, saving, and investing.

Money management and an understanding of finances are important tools to have as you go through life. Too often people lack the knowledge they need to make smart financial decisions and sometimes end up in devastating financial situations. Through chapter readings and practical assignments, this course will give you the knowledge you need to confidently manage your money and make smart financial decisions.

Course Learning Outcomes

  • The primary objective of this course is to build your knowledge of and confidence in managing your personal finances.
  • Each lesson has detailed objectives specific to the lesson’s topic.

Required Materials

Textbook

Garman, E. Thomas, and Raymond E. Forgue. Personal Finance, 12th Boston: Cengage Learning, 2015. Book. ISBN-10: 1133595839, ISBN-13: 9781133595830.

Technology

  • Access to a computer
  • Scientific calculator
  • Access to a digital camera
  • Word processor program
  • Suggested: Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, PowerPoint

Recommended Materials

The 11th edition of this text comes with a free student companion website from Cengage Learning filled with helpful resources and study. The website for the 12th edition costs around $120 per person so we will be using the 11th edition website for supplementary material. The most helpful part of this website is the practice quizzes for each chapter. Use these to help you test your knowledge and study for exams. The link for the website is listed in each lesson.

Course Rules and Requirements

Overview

All the material you need for this class will be found in your textbook and online through Canvas.

Each textbook chapter corresponds with one lesson in Canvas. Each lesson contains a PowerPoint and narrative, sometimes “Do the Math” questions, helpful videos, and websites to visit. There are ten assignments designed to help apply the concepts and skills you will learn through this course. The four exams are spread evenly throughout the course and contain true/false questions, multiple choice questions, math problems, short answer questions, and short essay questions. Each exam has a single page study guide that you may print, make notes, and take with you and use during your exam.

Assignment Guidelines

  • Students may submit up to one assignment at once. Students may submit up to three assignments in one week.
  • It is advised to wait for grades and feedback on assignments before submitting subsequent assignment.
  • This course has 10 graded assignments and 4 exams.
  • All assignments are viewed as a professional example of your understanding of the course material.
  • All assignments are expected to be free of spelling and grammatical errors. It is advised you follow APA style guidelines when composing the discussion portions of the assignments.
  • For most of the assignments it is appropriate to copy the questions into your word document and write your answer below. Please be sure to clearly mark where your answer begins; you might use bullet points or indentations to do this. 
  • Always submit your document in Canvas by attaching it as a .docx or .pdf file (unless otherwise specified). Do not copy and paste your assignment into the submission box or the comment box in Canvas.
  • Lessons that do not have an assignment are referred to as “self-study.” None of the material is graded, and answers to any worksheets will be provided in the lesson.
  • Some of the assignments will ask you to report on your personal finances. Your information is kept confidential between you and the instructor, but If you have any concerns please contact your instructor as soon as possible.

Exam Guidelines

  • There are no practice exams for this course. However, there are practice quizzes that will help you prepare for the exams. The link to the website that contains the quizzes is listed in each lesson.
  • A one-page study guide will be provided for each exam. Prior to your exam you may print the study guide, make notes, and use it during your exam.
  • Exams are closed book, open notes: the allowed notes are a print copy of your single sided exam study guide with any handwritten notes you can fit on the single side of the paper.
  • For exams, students have available a scientific calculator and their printed study guide with notes.
  • All exams are two hours.

Study Hints:

  • Complete all reading assignments, taking notes as you read.
  • Watch all supplementary videos, explore all supplementary material, and complete the “Do the Math” problems.
  • Use the PowerPoints to guide your studying as they highlight the most important concepts. 
  • Take the practice quizzes offered on the Cengage Learning student companion webpage (link in lessons).
  • Keep a copy of all assignments you complete.
  • Set a schedule allowing for course completion one month prior to your personal deadline. 
  • Webpages and URL links in the World Wide Web are continuously changing. Contact your instructor if you find a broken Web page orURL.

Grade Information

The course grade will be based upon the following considerations:

Assignments

  • Assignment 1 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 2 = 50 pts
  • Assignment 3 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 4 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 5 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 6 = 50 pts
  • Assignment 7 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 8 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 9 = 20 pts
  • Assignment 10 = 50 pts

290 total assignment points possible

Exams

  • Exam 1 = 100 pts
  • Exam 2 = 100 pts
  • Exam 3 = 100 pts
  • Exam 4 = 100 pts

400 total exam points possible

690 total course points possible

The final course grade is issued after all assignments and exams have been graded.

Academic Integrity

Acts of academic dishonesty, including cheating or plagiarism are considered a very serious transgression and may result in a grade of F for the course.

Course Policies

Refer to the ISI Policies for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services.