Course Description

Understanding financial management concepts is an important life skill. From credit to insurance to taxes, it is imperative that students understand the consequences of their choices. Wisely managing their money, students become citizens that are more responsible. A thorough understanding of financial concepts, with practical application through activities and projects, will enable students to leave this course with applicable, useful skills for life. This course surveys the basic personal financial needs of most individuals and emphasizes the basics of budgeting, saving, checking, investments, credit, the wise use of insurance, and paying and preparing income tax returns. After high school, students face a world filled with possibilities, and the more knowledge they can acquire, the higher the probability that their financial future will be secure. Students taking this course will learn to better prepare for their financial futures.

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Course Objectives

As a result of successfully completing this course, you will:

• Explain how saving and investing builds financial security.
• Explain how money-management skills benefit financial health.
• Create a budget that includes savings, expenses, and investments.
• Explain the dangers of poor financial habits.
• Discuss and determine principles of credit.
• Distinguish various ways of managing liquid assets including savings, checking, and money market accounts.
• Explain why insurance is purchased, who the various policy types protect and how they reduce risk.
• Discuss retirement savings, including social security, and prepare a plan for the future.

DoDEA Business and Personal Finance Standards may be viewed by clicking the link.

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Course Outline

Module I: Developing a Sound Financial Life

Section A: The Road to Financial Security

Section B: Today is Tomorrow’s Foundation

Module II: Understanding Credit

Section A: Debt, Online Banking & Identity Theft

Section B: Managing Credit & Short Term Debt

Section C: Long Term Debt

Module III: Spending Money

Section A: Fixed Expenses

Section B: Flexible Expenses

Module IV: Banking & Insurance

Section A: Banking

Section B: Insurance

Module V: Investing Money

Section A: Achieving Financial Goals

Section B: Retirement

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Required Textbook/ Materials

The textbook we use throughout the course is a digital textbook located in the online classroom.

Please note: this is our main text, however if you are provided with an additional textbook or workbook from your “home” school by all means use them to support your understanding of the concepts presented.     

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