Investing & Personal Finance
Description: Investing and Personal Finance is a course designed to help students prepare to make decisions they will face, both as students and as adults functioning in a dynamic global economy. It is the study of limited resources trying to satisfy unlimited wants. The course stresses the importance of preparing for the future by starting a financial plan now. A broad number of topics educate the student on how to be a wise consumer, with stress on life and health insurance. Other important topics will include the power and methods of saving, as well as investing in a variety of ways such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. A virtual stock market game simulation gives students a hands on look at what it's like to invest in real companies.
Expectations: Students will be required to complete various reading assignments from textbooks, newspapers, magazines, and handouts, as well as materials generated by the staff; to understand the problem of scarcity, the importance of the individual citizen consumer/ producer in the American economic system, and apply sound economic reasoning to personal financial decisions. Chapter quizzes and tests will determine comprehension of material and daily work assignments.
What is this class
Type: Elective
Prerequisite: None
Course Objectives:
1. To make students aware of the use and abuse of credit, in order to make wise credit decisions.
2. To make students aware of the factors to consider when making major purchases such as a first house, car, etc.
3. To help students become able to set lifetime financial goals and develop possible ways to achieve them.
4. To help students understand investing in the American and Global Economy.
5. To help students become able to understand the importance of being a wise consumer of goods and services.
6. To raise the level of economic literacy for all students.
7. To further the students’ understanding of the evolutionary nature of the economy to aid in future financial planning.
8. To develop a feeling for economic cause and effect in explaining trends, cycles, and forecasting the future.
9. To relate economics to the reality of social science problem solving in a complex world.
Resources/ Content
Student Work Examples