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The bachelor of science in personal finance looks at economics from a people perspective, developing financial experts who can help individuals and families live more secure lives. Graduates of personal finance are prepared to work in financial product development, financial technology, and consumer behavior. 

Personal Finance: Financial Planning

Within the personal finance program, students may choose to complete the financial planning option. This financial planning option is registered with the Certified Financial Planner® Board of Standards. The coursework is interdisciplinary with an emphasis on financial management and the economic well-being of individuals and families. The financial planning option is the more traditional personal finance program leading to careers in counseling, coaching, and wealth management. Graduates of the financial planning option leave fully prepared to sit for the prestigious Certified Financial Planner® exam, which SoHE students pass well above the national average.

All on-campus personal finance majors complete a required internship before graduating, allowing them to pursue their own personal interests and to develop a strong portfolio of skills and references that will propel them to launch successful careers.  

PROSPECTIVE UW–MADISON STUDENTS

All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Students who indicate interest in the personal finance major on their UW–Madison application will be admitted to the personal finance major upon admittance to the university. In addition, students may indicate interest in personal finance when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).

CURRENT UW–MADISON STUDENTS

Declaration 
  • Students in their first year of enrollment at UW-Madison (i.e. their first two fall/spring semesters) may declare the major, as long as they meet the following criteria:
    • Minimum 2.75 GPA
    • Not on academic probation
Application
  • All other students (who do not meet the declaration criteria above) must apply through a competitive application process

The best way for interested students to learn more about declaring or applying to a major is to visit SoHE’s advising webpage.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A & Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

School of Human Ecology Requirements

Math
MATH 112 Algebra3
Or higher (not MATH 141) unless exempt through placement exam
Statistics3-4
Introduction to Statistical Methods
Statistics for Sociologists I
Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
Basic Statistics for Psychology
Statistics: Measurement in Economics
Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis
Arts and Humanities
Literature3
Humanities6
Social Science
ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics4
ECON 102 Principles of Macroeconomics3-4
Choose any designated Social Science breadth courses to bring total credits to 93
Physical, Biological or Natural Science9
Human Ecology Breadth3
Select one Human Ecology course from CSCS, DS, HDFS, or INTER-HE.
Total Credits37-39

Personal Finance Requirements

A complete list of requirements is below. Students should follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time they entered the major. This requirement list should be used in combination with a DARS report.

Excel Proficiency
Select one course from the following:1-2
Foundational Skills for Business Analysis
Introduction to Data Analysis using Spreadsheets
Personal Finance Core
CNSR SCI 201 Consumer Insights3
CNSR SCI 275 Consumer Finance3
CNSR SCI 355 Financial Coaching3
or CNSR SCI 301 Consumer Analytics
ACCT I S 100 Introductory Financial Accounting3
or ACCT I S 300 Accounting Principles
Consumer Science Courses
CNSR SCI 477 The Consumer and the Market3
CNSR SCI 555 Consumer Design Strategies & Evaluation3
CNSR SCI 657 Consumer Behavior3
Consumer Science Depth
Select 6 credits from the course list below.6
(Not also used in the Personal Finance Core category)
Consuming Happiness
Consumer Financial Services Innovation
Finances & Families
Consumer Analytics
Building Financial Assets and Capability for Vulnerable Families
Financial Coaching
Sustainable and Socially Just Consumption
Families & Poverty
Consumer Spending and Saving Over the Lifecycle
Family Economics and Public Policy
Consumer Policy Analysis
Professional Development
CNSR SCI 251 Financial Services Leadership Symposium 11
INTER-HE 202 SoHE Career & Leadership Development1
CNSR SCI 601 Consumer Science Internship3
Electives
Select electives to bring degree credit total to 120
Total Credits33-34
1

CNSR SCI 251 Financial Services Leadership Symposium may be repeated for up to 2 credits. The additional credit will be counted as an elective. 

Personal Finance: Named Option

Students may elect to pursue a named option instead of the completing the Personal Finance major requirements listed above.

University Degree Requirements

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.
  1. Invoke interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to understand the interactions between individuals and their social and environmental contexts.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to harness, analyze and interpret relevant data for making real world decisions.
  3. Acquire professional and life skills related to workplace communication, teamwork, active listening and adapting to technology.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of consumer financial behavior and the role of income, savings, credit, planning and benefits.

This is a sample four-year plan for Personal Finance. We encourage all students to consult with their academic advisor to develop an individualized plan that meets their specific needs. 

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Communications A3Communications B3-4 
Ethnic Studies3ECON 101 (Quantitative Reasoning B)4 
MATH 1123Humanities3 
Science3Science3 
Elective2SoHE Breadth3 
 14 16-17 
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CNSR SCI 2511INTER-HE 2021 
CNSR SCI 2753Literature3 
ECON 1024Science3 
Humanities3Statistics 3 
GEN BUS 106 or A A E 335 (Excel proficiency)1-2Elective3 
Elective2  
 14-15 13 
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ACCT I S 1003CNSR SCI 2013CNSR SCI 6013
CNSR SCI 4773Elective3 
Social Science3-4Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 15-16 15 3
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
CNSR SCI 355 or 3013CNSR SCI 5553 
CNSR SCI 6573Consumer Science Depth3 
Consumer Science Depth3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 15 15 
Total Credits 120-123

Advising & Career Center

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

Career Development

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

For more information, visit the School of Human Ecology Consumer Science faculty and staff directory

internships

Internships are a vital part of student career development and a highly valued component of the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Human Ecology. High-quality internships foster student development by bringing theories and classroom-based learning to life in real-world settings. In addition, internships give students the opportunity to explore careers related to their major, gain relevant experience in their field(s) of interest, and develop a better understanding of what is expected in a workplace by performing the tasks of a professional in that field.

For SoHE majors, internships are a requirement of our undergraduate curriculum. Students must have at least a junior standing (54+ credits) in order to pursue a 3-credit internship and must complete a minimum of 150 hours at the internship site. To be eligible, an internship must be educational in nature, directly relate to a student’s major and career goals, and be approved by the Advising & Career Center.

For some SoHE majors, additional course prerequisites may be required. For more information, visit SoHE Internships

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

School of Human Ecology student organizations include:

  • Apparel and Textile Association (ATA)
  • Badger$ense Financial Life Skills
  • Community & Nonprofit Leaders (CNPL) of UW–Madison
  • Financial Occupations Club for University Students (FOCUS)
  • Interior Design Organization (IDO)
  • Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences)
  • Student Retail Association (SRA)

For more information about registering as a SoHE student organization, please visit SoHE Student Organizations

Learn more about UW–Madison registered student organizations through the Wisconsin Involvement Network

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE DISCLOSURE (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

The requirements of this program meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming District of Columbia; American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

The requirements of this program do not meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Not applicable

The requirements of this program have not been determined if they meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Not applicable

Advising & Career Center 

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The School of Human Ecology awards many merit and need-based scholarships each year. The deadline to apply for scholarships is typically late January. To be eligible for these awards, scholarship recipients must be registered as full-time SoHE students.

Students who experience emergency financial situations may inquire about the availability of short-term loans through the SoHE Advising & Career Center. In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (333 East Campus Mall; 608-262-3060).