Course Syllabus

Syllabus: Financial Literacy for Life

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Download Syllabus for HDFS 183 -UPDATED 12.1.2025

Course Description

This course introduces basic financial well-being concepts and practices for the management of resources and prevention of financial problems commonly associated with college, including credit and student loans. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

  • Course Name: HDFS 183: Financial Literacy for Life
  • Department: Human Development and Family Studies
  • Current Semester and Year: Fall 2025
  • Credit Hours and Expectations: 1 credit. A student enrolled in a one-credit class is expected to have one hour of classroom instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work each week. This means you can expect a minimum of 3 hours of work for the course each week.
  • Course Prerequisites: None
  • Course Format: This course will be delivered entirely online through Canvas, ISU’s course learning management system. Use your ISU Net-ID account to login to the course from the Canvas login page (http://canvas.iastate.edu/).

    In Canvas, you will access course materials and resources.

  • The materials are a blend of progressive activities using Canvas and alternative Internet-based technologies. Activities will consist of readings, videos, exercises, assignments, quizzes, email, and discussion forums.

  • The course content and material, along with activities and assignments, are constructed in 8 modules.

  • The Module activities and assignments are due on Mondays at 11:59 PM Central Time Zone.

  • The course is designed progressively, meaning all module activities need to be completed in order and the next module will open up only when the previous module requirements are complete.

  • For a module to count as complete there needs to be interaction with each module page, each discussion forum question answered, each assignment submitted according to instructions provided, and each quiz completed. Assignment details are provided within each module.

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. Suzanne Bartholomae;  Associate Professor, Email: suzanneb@iastate.edu

Student hours: Virtual or In-Person Meetings Arranged by Request

You can contact your instructor in the following ways:

Course Objectives (COs)

Upon completing this course, students will be able to do the following:

CO 1: Explain basic components of financial wellness

CO 2: Recognize the importance of savings

CO 3: Develop and maintain tools for tracking spending, income, and expenses

CO 4: Identify terminology, actions, and policies that impact consumer credit

CO 5: Select an appropriate risk management strategy when considering cost and loss

Course Materials

Required materials

  • The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated by Harold Pollack and Helaine Olen (digitally available through ISU Immediate Access Program, please see the details about the program at the end of the syllabus)
  • Your Spending, Your Savings, Your Future. A Beginner’s Guide to Financial Readiness. Developed by the National Endowment for Financial Education. 2017 (free download, linked in multiple Modules on Canvas course site)
  • Other readings (free download) will be made available in weekly units within Canvas.

Learning Activities

To successfully complete this course, you will do the following:

  • View readings and instructional videos.
  • Complete reflections, knowledge checks, and exercises.
  • Participate in discussions.
  • Reach out to the instructor with course-related questions.

Assessment & Grading

Assessments

The course is designed and organized to allow ample time to complete the required coursework. Based on feedback from 100s of students who took the course previously, the amount of coursework required is reasonable and manageable.

This is not a self-paced course. Modules with assignments and activities will be opened for a limited time. Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines.

Points or a Check Mark will be given for completing each course assignment and/or exercise, and it will be posted to the Canvas Grade Book. Click on the Grades link on the left-hand side of the navigation pane to view your progress toward a satisfactory grade. 

Grade Distribution

This course does not assign a letter grade; it is offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. Consequently, coursework is evaluated as satisfactory or not satisfactory, and activities and assignments must be completed to a satisfactory level in order to earn a Pass in the course. A description of the requirements of ‘satisfactory’ is provided below and in the Canvas modules.

Letter Grade

Performance

Satisfactory/Pass (S)

Students must participate in all 8 Modules. All discussions, reflections, knowledge checks, exercises, and term assignments (Tracking Your Spending and Financial Independence Budget) must be satisfactorily completed and submitted. A student’s final course grade is satisfactory/pass when all coursework submitted is awarded a total of 75% or higher. Do not rely on the “Total’ provided in Canvas’ gradebook; each set of course activities must be 75% or greater.

Fail (F)

Final grade earned in the course is less than 75%. Did not participate in all 8 Modules. Did not submit all discussions, reflections, knowledge checks, exercises, and term assignments (Tracking Your Spending and Financial Independence Budget) in a satisfactory manner.

 Course Requirements: You can accumulate points by participating in the following ways:

Course Activities

Estimated Number

Overall Grade Calculation (Percent)

Description

Discussions

8  (5 points each discussion post; 2 points each Reply)

10

 

 

Discussion prompts will be posted for each module; a response is expected by Friday to earn participation credit. Students are expected to write a discussion of at least 150 words by Friday of the week’s Module. Five (5) additional points are earned by posting a reply to a classmate’s discussion post for Discussions 2-8 (1 point per reply). One point will be added to your Discussion points when you Reply with a Comment for that Module. These points add up!

Knowledge Checks

8 (10 points each)

25

Each module has one knowledge check exercise based on readings, resources and videos. The knowledge checks are open-book and open notes, and may be re-taken an unlimited number of times. A mastery of the content (scoring 7 out 10 or greater) is considered satisfactory.

Reflections

8 (5 points each)

 

 

20

 

 

Reflections allow students with an opportunity to consider various aspects of their personal finances. Credit is awarded for completing the reflections, regardless of the score or content of the reflection. Therefore, the actual score on a reflection does not impact your overall course grade.

Exercises

8 (10 points each)

30

Various exercises will help students apply the course material. Specific instructions for each exercise are provided in Canvas modules.

Term Project: Tracking Your Spending for 30 Days

1

 

5

Track your personal spending for 30 days. The assignment helps you become more aware of your consumer habits and where you might adjust your spending to stick to a monthly budget and reach your financial goals.

Term Project: Developing Your Financial Independence Budget

1

 

10

The purpose of this assignment is to help you imagine your financially independent life. You’ll research your likely profession and provide estimate monthly living expenses. Using this information, you’ll complete a zero-based budget.

Total

 

100%

 

 

Grading Scheme

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

There are course components that must be completed at a satisfactory level to earn a final grade of “satisfactory” in the class. Missing any one (or more) of these element(s) will result in a final grade of “Fail.”  The Canvas course website provides details on each assigned item along with announcements and reminders on due dates. Final grades assigned for this course will be based on these criteria:

Table 2. Grading Scheme
Letter grade Performance
Satisfactory/Pass (S)

Students must participate in all 8 Modules. All discussions, reflections, knowledge checks, exercises and term assignments (Tracking Your Spending and Financial Independence Budget) must be submitted. A student’s final course grade is a satisfactory/pass when all coursework submitted is awarded a total of 75% or higher.
Fail (F)

Final grade earned in the course is less than 75%. Did not participate in all 8 Modules. Did not submit all discussions, reflections, knowledge checks, exercises and term assignments (Tracking Your Spending and Financial Independence Budget).
Important note: For more information about grading at Iowa State, visit the academic policies and grading section of the university catalog.

Course Policies

Participation

Students are expected to participate in all online activities as listed on the course calendar and in the weekly modules. New items, discussion postings, and occasional revisions will be posted continuously on our Canvas course site and you will need to visit the site regularly to obtain announcements and assignments, read online materials, and participate in discussions.

Student-Instructor Communications

I want you to succeed in this course and I will support you. I will treat you with respect and our communications will be courteous, I expect the same from you. While an online class is available 24 hours a day and offers greater flexibility for the student and instructor, keep in mind that your instructors will not be available 24 hours a day. I will check the Canvas email and voicemail messages on a regular basis, but there may be times when we are unavailable due to other commitments and job responsibilities. I will respond to email and voicemail as time allows. Generally, you can expect your direct question to be answered within 24 -48 hours during weekdays. To maintain and respect a work-life balance, we typically do not respond to email messages during the weekend.

Build Rapport

If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let us know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing us when and if difficulties arise during the semester so that we can help you find a solution.

Complete Assignments

All assignments for this course will be submitted electronically through Canvas unless otherwise instructed. Assignments must be submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances.  All discussion assignments must be completed by the assignment due date and time. Missing assignments will affect the student’s grade.

Understand When You May Drop This Course

It is the student’s responsibility to understand when they need to consider disenrolling from a course. Refer to Iowa State’s Course Schedule for dates and deadlines for registration.

Accessibility Statement

Iowa State University is committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Promoting these values entails providing reasonable accommodations where barriers exist to students’ full participation in higher education. Students in need of accommodations or who experience accessibility-related barriers to learning should work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to identify resources and support available to them. Staff at SAS collaborate with students and campus partners to coordinate accommodations and to further the academic excellence of students with disabilities. Information about SAS is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by phone at 515-294-7220.

 Grievances and Solving Problems

 If you have a problem with this class, you should seek to resolve a grievance concerning a grade or academic practice by speaking first with the instructor or professor: then, if necessary, with the department chairperson, and college dean, in that order. Specific procedures are outlined here http://www.dso.iastate.edu/sa/issuesconcerns/academicgrievances.

Required ISU Syllabus Statement

Free Expression

Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.

Recommended ISU Syllabus Statements

Academic Dishonesty

The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic misconduct (5.1 in the Student Code of Conduct). Students are responsible for adhering to university policy and the expectations in the course syllabus and on coursework and exams, and for following directions given by faculty, instructors, and Testing Center regulations related to coursework, assessments, and exams. Anyone suspected of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office. Information about academic integrity and the value of completing academic work honestly can be found in the Iowa State University Academic Integrity Tutorial.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612,  Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu

Prep Week

This class follows the Iowa State University Prep Week policy as noted in section 10.6.4 of the Faculty Handbook.

Religious Accommodation

Iowa State University welcomes diversity of religious beliefs and practices, recognizing the contributions differing experiences and viewpoints can bring to the community. There may be times when an academic requirement conflicts with religious observances and practices. If that happens, students may request the reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In all cases, you must put your request in writing. The instructor will review the situation in an effort to provide a reasonable accommodation when possible to do so without fundamentally altering a course. For students, you should first discuss the conflict and your requested accommodation with your professor at the earliest possible time. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office at 515-294-1020 or the Office of Equal Opportunity at 515-294-7612.

Contact Information For Academic Issues

If you are experiencing, or have experienced, a problem with any of the above statements, email academicissues@iastate.edu

(Important note to faculty: The email address for contact information is monitored and answered through the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost)

Disclaimer: The information in this syllabus is subject to change. Changes to the course syllabus will be provided in writing and announced via course-wide announcements.