Retail Financial Analysis covers planning and analyzing retail performance via financial statements, pricing, merchandise planning, and inventory control.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026← Consumer Science (CNSRSCI)
Hardest courses in Consumer Science
Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
Find your fit
23 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
The Consumer and the Market analyzes the consumer's market, behavior, and government policies affecting consumers in the American economy.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lydia Ashton
Exams were described as very long and impossible to finish within the class period, with one student noting the course felt harder than introductory economics classes.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Estate Planning for Financial Planners analyzes estate accumulation, conservation, and distribution to accomplish personal tax and non-tax objectives.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lisa Andrews
The course prioritized understanding material over over-the-top exams.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Consumer Financial Services Innovation explores the financial services market from a family perspective, focusing on designing and evaluating solutions for unmet needs.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#5 ·CNSRSCI 301
Consumer Analytics
3 creditsConsumer Analytics teaches students to leverage data analysis to drive consumer business decisions through compelling, evidence-based storytelling.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Yiwei Zhang
Exams were reported as challenging but educational, and the course involved three group projects with iterative feedback. Some students noted early morning start times.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Advanced Consumer Finance studies financial markets and instruments from the perspective of individual consumers and their portfolio decisions over their lifetime.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Cliff Robb
The investment project was particularly tough, with questions on untaught topics that took hours to solve, requiring hard study.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores sustainable and socially just consumption, examining how consumer purchases influence sustainability and social justice, and how policy and globalization shape those choices.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lydia Zepeda
The course was described as significantly more work than higher-level classes, with tough grading that required exact wording for tests.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2026#8 ·CNSRSCI 562
The Global Consumer
3 creditsThe Global Consumer examines key issues in international retailing with consideration of the global consumer.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Personal Financial Planning covers consumer finance topics including cash flow, asset/liability management, life cycle planning, investments, taxes, retirement, and estates.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Melody Harvey
Quizzes were open note and not too difficult, but the course relied on posted slides and older videos rather than live instruction.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Family Financial Counseling uses a systems approach to teach interpersonal techniques for helping individuals and families manage finances responsibly.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Consumer Strategy Consulting Practicum applies design thinking and strategic planning to consumer challenges with an outside client, developing and evaluating evidence-based solutions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ron Katanick
One student said the class could be very difficult but doable, especially if they got a bad group.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026#12 ·CNSRSCI 201
Consumer Insights
3 creditsConsumer Insights provides basic training in quantitative data analysis, focusing on descriptive and inferential statistics applied to consumer research.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Consuming Happiness explores how consumption, money, and the experience economy intersect with the pursuit of a fulfilling life, covering positive psychology and prosocial spending.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Christine Whelan
Readings felt endless, and students were required to buy the instructor's book, though they only really needed it for papers. Attendance was required for discussion and lecture.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2024Advanced analysis of household financial risk, covering family structure impacts, private/social insurance, and financial planning software use.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Financial Services Leadership Symposium provides a detailed examination of careers in the financial services industry with participation from high-level industry experts.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Retail covers foundational knowledge of the retail industry, including the retail process, industry evolution, key drivers, trends, and concepts supporting retail study.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026#17 ·CNSRSCI 355
Financial Coaching
3 creditsExplores financial coaching using positive psychology and behavioral economics to build financial capability, preparing students for financial, social work, and asset building services.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Amanda Kozlowski
The workload was described as manageable, with lectures and lessons made meaningful by connecting them to personal lives. Outside work was considered helpful rather than burdensome.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A symposium examining careers in the consumer marketplace industry featuring guest speakers and panels with high-level industry experts from leading companies.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Merchandise product development planning through market trend analysis, assortment planning sourcing production.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ron Katanick
The first half project was initially confusing, but the instructor was available to answer questions and clarify expectations to help students complete work on time.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory course examining research at the intersection of family and poverty, focusing on socioeconomic influences on family behaviors, childrearing, and the role of policy.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to consumer finance covering budgeting, credit, investing, insurance, taxes, retirement, estate planning, mortgages, and behavioral finance.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2024–Spring 2026Consumer Engagement Strategies explores consumer behavior insights to develop engagement strategies, covering experiential marketing, CX implementation, and cultural innovation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Financial Life Skills covers applied personal finance in college and after graduation, including debt, credit, housing, transportation, retirement planning, investing, and spending/saving plans.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026