CONS 2500 - Families as Consumers in Global Communities

• Students will be able to describe cultural rules and biases that affect their own consumption habits and the consumption habits of others as related to context, values, communications, and beliefs/practices.
• Students will be able to interpret, discuss, and ask complex questions about consumption habits of other cultures without making value judgements.
• Students will be able to demonstrate empathy, curiosity, and openness when communicating with others about consumption habits different than their own.
• Students will be able to develop personal goals for their different life stages.
• Students will be able to track expenditures and classify those expenditures as needs or wants, goods or services and impulse or planned purchases.
• Students will be able to compose a formal letter of complaint.
• Students will be able to analyze issues that arise for consumers that pertain to civil liberties and privacy protection.
• Students will be able to recognize the business practices of companies that strive to operate in a socially responsible manner.
• Students will be able to estimate FICA, federal, and state income taxes to calculate net income.
• Students will be able to analyze reasons for student loan default and potential legislation designed to help reduce college loan debt.
• Students will be able to identify examples of poor financial management and steps to prevent a personal financial crisis.
• Students will be able to construct and evaluate a budget that incorporates goals which reflect their wants and needs.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast 15-year and 30-year fixed rate mortgages with respect to monthly payment, total payment, total interest and down payment amount..
• Students will be able to characterize themselves as a consumer based on consumer economics terminology.