Course List
- The Master's program consists of 12 required 3-credit courses, listed below, plus 6 credits of practicum. The six practicum credits may all be taken in one semester or split between 2 semesters.
- The Graduate Certificate program consists of 6 required 3-credit courses, indicated by an asterisk (*) in the listing below.
| |
Fall |
|
Spring |
|
Summer |
| |
FFP 520: Family Systems |
|
FFP 535: Financial Counseling |
|
FFP 525: Family Economics |
|
FFP 530: Fundamentals of Family Financial Planning |
|
FFP 540: Estate Planning for Families |
|
FFP 541: Housing and Real Estate in Family Financial Planning |
|
FFP 565: Personal Income Taxation |
|
FFP 555: Insurance Planning for Families |
|
FFP 545: Families, Employment Benefits, and Retirement Planning |
|
FFP 583: Investing for the Family's Future |
|
FFP 570: Professional Practices in Family Financial Planning |
|
FFP 591 Practicum |
| |
FFP 591 Practicum |
|
FFP 591 Practicum |
|
FFP 595 Financial Planning Case Studies |
| |
FFP 595: Financial Planning Case Studies |
|
|
|
|
Notes:
* = Course required for certificate
Based on demand, some courses may be offered more frequently than the above table indicates.
Priority for registration will go to students admitted into the Family Financial Planning program.
Course Descriptions
FFP 520: Family Systems (Cr. 3, Fall)
Research and theory relative to family functioning throughout the life cycle will be studied, especially financial decision making during crisis and conflict. Emphasis will be given to factors that shape family values, attitudes, and behaviors from a multi-cultural perspective. New and emerging issues critical to family functioning will be addressed.
FFP 525: Family Economics (Cr. 3, Summer)
This course will cover the major issues relative to the economics of families including household production, and human capital development. It will also cover the economics of crises, public policy and family life cycle spending, saving and borrowing. A theoretical and research perspective will be used to illuminate the concepts in the course. New and emerging issues in the field of family economics will be emphasized. Special attention will be given to the role of ethics in family economic issues throughout the course.
FFP 530: Fundamentals of Family Financial Planning (Cr. 3, Fall)
This course provides an overview of family financial planning by integrating concepts and issues with planning and counseling applications. Students will be introduced to the key concepts of family financial planning, including: insurance, tax, investments, retirement, and estate planning. The family financial planning process is introduced with an emphasis on the integration and application of concepts in meeting individual and family financial goals and objectives. Other topics presented include an ethics overview, compensation trends within the industry, and regulatory frameworks.
FFP 535: Financial Counseling (Cr. 3, Spring)
Theory and research regarding the interactive process between the client and the practitioner, including communication techniques, motivation and esteem building, the counseling environment, ethics, and methods of data intake, verification, and analysis. Other topics include legal issues, compensation, uses of technology to identify resources, information management, and current or emerging issues.
FFP 540: Estate Planning for Families (Cr. 3, Spring)
Fundamentals of the estate planning process will be studied, including estate settlement, estate and gift taxes, property ownership and transfer, and powers of appointment. Tools and techniques used in implementing an effective estate plan, ethical considerations in providing estate planning services and new and emerging issues in the field will be explored. Case studies will provide experience in developing estate plans suitable for varied family forms.
FFP 541: Housing and Real Estate in Family Financial Planning (Cr. 3, Summer)
The role of housing and real estate in the family financial planning process, including taxation, mortgages, financial calculations, legal concerns, and ethical issues related to home ownership and real estate investments. Emphasis on emerging issues in the context of housing and real estate.
FFP 545: Families, Employment Benefits, and Retirement Planning (Cr. 3, Summer)
Study of micro and macro considerations for retirement planning. Survey of various types of retirement plans, ethical considerations in providing retirement planning services, assessing and forecasting financial needs in retirement, and integration of retirement plans with government benefits.
FFP 555: Insurance Planning for Families (Cr. 3, Spring)
An in-depth study of risk management concepts, tools, and strategies for individuals and families, including life insurance; property and casualty insurance; liability insurance; accident, disability, health, and long-term care insurance; and government-subsidized programs. Current and emerging issues, as well as ethical considerations, relative to risk management will be discussed. Case studies will provide experience in selecting insurance products suitable for individuals and families.
FFP 565: Personal Income Taxation (Cr. 3, Fall)
This course provides in-depth information of income tax practices and procedures including tax regulations, tax return preparation, the tax audit processes, the appeals process, preparation for an administrative or judicial forum, and ethical considerations of taxation. New and emerging issues related to taxation will be covered. Family/individual case studies provide practice in applying and analyzing tax information and recommending appropriate tax strategies.
FFP 570: Professional Practices in Financial Planning (Cr. 3, Spring)
Challenges of managing financial planning practices including, but not limited to: business valuation, personnel, marketing, client services, ethics and technological applications. Relying both on a theoretical as well as an applied approach, students will analyze case studies that provide relevant, practical exposure to practice management issues, with a strong emphasis on current research findings.
FFP 583: Investing for the Family's Future (Cr. 3, Fall)
An in-depth study of investment options for clients, this course will include common stocks, fixed income securities, convertible securities, and related choices. Relationships between investment options and employee/employer benefit plan choices will be studied. Current and emerging issues, and ethics will be an integral part of the course.
FFP 591: Practicum (Cr. 3-6, Any semester)
Arranged with the degree granting institution. Supervised experience in family financial planning. Must be enrolled in MFCS-Family Financial Planning graduate program.
FFP 595: Financial Planning Case Studies (Cr. 3, Fall and Summer)
This course examines professional issues in financial planning, including ethical considerations, regulation and certification requirements, communication skills, and professional responsibility. Students are expected to utilize skills obtained in other courses and work experiences in the completion of personal finance case studies, the development of a targeted investment policy, and other related financial planning assignments.
