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SYLLABUS Fall 2016

Personal Finance for Fiscal Wellness (FIN101)

Instructor: Olga McAtee Class Location: Whitinger 144 (WB 144)

Office: Whitinger WB 356 Class Time: Fridays 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 & 2:00 pm
E-mail: osmcatee@bsu.edu Office Hours: MWF 8:30-10:00 am; MWF 12:30-1:00 pm
Telephone: 765.285.5214 Sections: 03, 06, 09 & 12

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A structured collection of personal finance topics relevant to the needs of young
adults: personal budgets and financial plans, services available to meet savings goals, borrowing and insurance;
and taxes. The importance of being fiscally informed in making the transition from college to the workplace
and planning for the future financial goals are emphasized.
REQUIRED TEXT: Personal Finance at Your Fingertips, Ken Little, Alpha Books, 2007.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: i<Clicker

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course is a required Foundation course (Personal Finance) in the UCC-21
Framework. The objective of this course is to present information and tools necessary to formulate and act on a
plan for personal financial well-being. After completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Observe, measure, and quantify components of one’s personal financial position.

2. Describe how context influences personal financial decisions.
3. Identify various sources of information related to personal financial literacy
4. Explain strategies for making good financial choices.
5. Analyze data to reveal information patterns.
6. Identify pertinent information necessary for financial planning.
7. Use pertinent information available from multiple sources.
8. Synthesize financial information available from multiple sources.
9. Formulate and defend personal financial decisions.
10. Communicate information/knowledge in an oral, written or visual manner.

ACADEMIC CONDUCT: All university policies pertaining to make-up tests, cheating/plagiarism, as well as
withdrawal, incomplete, and final examinations will be in effect for the duration of this course. Honesty, trust
and personal responsibility are fundamental attributes of the University community. Academic dishonesty
threatens credibility, reputation and the equitable evaluation of scholastic performance. Ball State University is
committed to maintaining a climate that upholds and values the highest standards of academic integrity.
Academic dishonesty will result in an automatic grade of F in the course and will also be reported for
appropriate administrative action. If you are unsure of what constitutes scholastic dishonesty, see your
academic advisor.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is mandatory and students are expected to attend every class.
Absences will fall into two areas excused and unexcused. A student is expected to supply proper
documentation PRIOR to the event for an excused absence. Only absences that fit university guidelines are
excused including a letter from an athletic team, academic department, bereavement, or a doctor’s office.
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Unexcused absences will include everything not covered (including but not limited to: not feeling well,
oversleeping, work, late from another class, transportation issues or needed to go home).
Students are responsible for obtaining class notes from a classmate in the event of a missed class. All
makeup work for an excused absence must be completed within one week of the due date.

Attendance may be taken in class via participation by responding to the questions during each class period using
i>clicker. If you respond to all in-class participation questions via i>clicker, you will receive full credit for that
class period regardless of if your answers are correct or not. You must register your clicker by Sept 2nd, 2016
via Blackboard.

The purpose of the polling in class is to gage your grasp of the material (lecture, text, articles, and videos) that
has been discussed as well as determine your level of preparedness for the material that is going to be discussed
that day. Missed i>clicker participation cannot be taken at a later date. It is the responsibility of the student to
remember to bring his/her i>clicker to class and to maintain its functionality. Participation and polling missed
due to lost, misplaced or nonfunctional i>clickers are not eligible for make-ups. Participation with i>clicker will
account for 120 points of your final grade.

GRADING:
Letter grades will be assigned based on the percentage of total points achieved according to the following scale:
90% - 100% A
80% - <89% B
70% - <79% C
60% - <69% D
Below 60% F

Please note that the use of laptops, mobile phone and other electronic devices are NOT permitted.

***NOTICE: Preferred contact method is an e-mail. When you send me an e-mail, please put FIN 101 Friday
and/or your section number in the subject line of your e-mail. All emails to the instructor should be from a Ball
State email account. The instructor will make every attempt to reply within 48 hours. If for some reason a
student has an emergency or missed class they are expected to immediately contact the instructor via email.

Grade Composition: Weight

Exam 1 150 points 15%

Exam 2 150 points 15%
Exam 3 150 points 15%
Exam 4 Final 130 points 13%
Quizzes 300 points 30%
Participation/Attendance 120 points 12%
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Total 1000 points 100%
The final grade will be based on the aggregate total points you accumulate in the semester. There may be a
possibility for extra credit.

EXAMS (4): 580 points or 58 % of total grade in the class. There will be 4 multiple choice question exams.
Make-up exams are given at the instructor’s discretion. To qualify for a make-up exam you must contact the
instructor prior to the scheduled exam time and for valid documentation of an acceptable reason as to the
students inability to take the exam at the scheduled time. Exams are to be taken in one of the testing labs
(RB134 or SC119) during times determined in class using the Lockdown Browser.
Tests are: No book, No notes, No Phone, No Calculator, and No Translator
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QUIZZES (10) taken at home 300 points (10 x 30 points each) 30% of total grade in the class. All
homework quizzes should be taken via Blackboard at home or computer labs/library by the due date. Each quiz
will be open for a week and could be taken anytime during that week. The homework quizzes are timed and are
not going to have the Lockdown Browser. Extra credit quizzes could be offered.

NONDISCRIMINATION: In its employment practices, selection of students, and administration of all

programs, Ball State University maintains a policy of non-discrimination regarding age, race, gender, disability,
religion, and national origin.

SPECIAL NEEDS:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please contact me as soon as possible.
Ball State's Disability Services office coordinates services for students with disabilities; documentation of a disability
needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided. Disability Services can be contacted
at 765-285-5293 or dsd@bsu.edu.

Class Schedule for FIN 101, Fall 2016

Date Schedule Homework and Assignments due Reading
Introductions and Course Overview Homework: Quiz #1 via Blackboard
26-Aug Read Chapter 1
Chapter 1 –Personal Financial Planning due Sept 1st by 11:59 pm
Chapter 2 – Budgeting Homework: Quiz #2 via Blackboard Read Chapters 2
2-Sept
Chapter 3 – Banking due Sep 8th by 11:59 pm and 3
Homework: Quiz #3 via Blackboard
9-Sep Chapter 4 – Credit and Debt due Sep 15th by 11:59 pm. Read Chapter 4
Study Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4
Exam 1 Chapters 1-4
16-Sep Class location altered as needed
Testing labs (RB134 or SC119)

Homework: Quiz #4 via Blackboard

23-Sep Chapter 5 – Housing Read Chapter 5
due Sept 29th by 11:59 pm

Homework: Quiz #5 via Blackboard

30- Sept Chapter 6 – Automobiles Read Chapter 6
due Oct 6th by 11:59 pm
Homework: Quiz #6 via Blackboard
Chapter 7 – Insurance Read Chapters 7
7-Oct due Oct 13th by 11:59 pm
Chapter 8 – Taxes and 8
Study Chapter 5, 6, 7 and 8
Exam 2 Chapters 5-8
14-Oct Class Location altered as needed Testing
labs (RB 134 or SC 119)
Chapter 9 –College Financing
Homework: Quiz #7 via Blackboard Read Chapters 9
21-Oct Chapter 10 – Investment Planning and
due Oct 27th by 11:59 pm and 10
Management
Chapter 11 –Investing in Mutual Funds and Homework: Quiz #8 via Blackboard Read Chapter
28 -Oct
Exchange Traded Funds due Nov 3rd by 11:59 pm 11
Homework: Quiz #9 via Blackboard
Read Chapter
4-Nov Chapter 12 – Investing in Stocks due Nov 10th by 11:59 pm
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Study Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12
Exam 3 Chapters 9-12
11-Nov Class Location altered as needed Testing
labs (RB 134 or SC 119)
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Homework: Quiz #10 via Blackboard Read Chapter

18-Nov Chapter 14 – Retirement Planning
Due Nov 27th by 11:59 pm 14

25-Nov No class- Thanksgiving break Happy Thanksgiving!

Homework: Extra Quiz via Blackboard Read Chapter

2-Dec Chapter 15 - Retirement Accounts
due Dec 8th by 11:59 pm 13

Homework: Extra Quiz Read Chapters

9-Dec Chapter 13 Investing in Bonds
Study Chapters 13, 14, and 15 13, 14 and 15

Exam 4 (over Chapters 13-15) Completed in

the Testing Center. Opens Tuesday at 8:00
Finals Final Exam (Exam 4 Chapters 13-15) as
am and closes Thursday (Dec 15th) at noon.
Week scheduled by University
Test will auto submit at time due
Congratulations to the Graduates!

Syllabus and Schedule of Classes is subject to change at the Instructor's Discretion to accommodate the needs
and goals of the course, including content and scheduling changes.