Personal Finance & Accounting

Master Teacher: Amy Raybould Derstine
Duration: Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (34 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 1 credit.
Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade level and up.
Tuition: Early registration tuition (ends 6/19): $475 $525 for HSLDA Members/$525 $575 for non-members.

Description: In Personal Finance & Accounting, students will learn how to manage their own personal finances while learning basic accounting principles and practices. Practical applications include creating a personal budget and filing taxes.

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Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session.

Frequently Asked Questions about
Personal Finance & Accounting

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• What topics will I learn about in Personal Finance & Accounting?

  The goal of Personal Finance & Accounting is to help students understand the vital importance of financial management as well as obtain a fundamental understanding of standard accounting practices and principles from a biblical worldview. Students will learn about:

  • Personal financial planning
  • Banking and the banking industry
  • Accounting methods
  • Financial statements
  • Business structures
  • Biblical perspectives on finances

  The course will employ readings, lectures, book review, online and group discussions, projects and other web-based learning resources to enhance understanding of these topics.

• How much homework is in Personal Finance & Accounting?

  We estimate that the course workload will take 5-7 hours per week.

  During a typical week in this course, students will complete the following coursework:

  • 60–90 minutes of live class instruction
  • Video lecture (10 - 20 minutes)
  • 1 chapter textbook reading (~30 pages per chapter)
  • 1 chapter non-textbook reading (~20 pages per chapter)
  • Discussion forum (one post and one reply)
  • Homework Assignment
  • Quiz

  Throughout the year, students will also complete the following tasks:

  • Personal Finance Application Project
  • Accounting Application Project

• What books will I use in Personal Finance & Accounting?

  The official booklist for Personal Finance & Accounting is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and ISBN numbers.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through our Christian Book Distributors bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christian Book Distributors, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Am I ready to take Personal Finance & Accounting?

  Students are ready to take Personal Finance & Accounting once they have completed Algebra 1 or an equivalent course and are able to read at a 10th grade level. It is also recommended that students have some experience using Microsoft Excel as they will be using this program to prepare budgets and learn accounting principles. To learn the basics of Microsoft Excel, students can take our one-semester Computer Skills course.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Personal Finance & Accounting?

  In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

  Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

  When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

• What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Personal Finance & Accounting class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts. 

• What is the tuition for Personal Finance & Accounting?

  Please visit our tuition and discounts page for a full summary about course costs.

  HSLDA members save $50 on yearlong high school courses!