Finance

An often overlooked topic in K-12 education, understanding finance is essential for getting along in the world. Browse this section to learn about investing, personal finance, real estate, and more. Many learning resources listed here are online classes, sites, and videos from respected companies and business schools, so you're sure to find something that matches your learning goals and budget.

What is Finance?

Finance is the study of money and how it is used in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. It is a field that is concerned with the allocation of resources and the management of risks. Finance is divided into three main areas: corporate finance, investment, and financial markets.

Corporate finance deals with the financial decisions of businesses, including the planning and management of a company's money. Investment focuses on the methods and strategies used to grow a company's money. Financial markets are the places where money is traded, such as the stock market and the bond market.

Finance is a critical component of any organization, and those who want to work in finance must have strong quantitative and analytical skills. In addition, finance professionals need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively.

PhD programs in finance typically take 4-5 years to complete and include coursework in mathematics, economics, and statistics. Students in finance programs can expect to take classes such as corporate finance, asset pricing, financial econometrics, and investment banking.

Finance Resources

Finance for Operations Managers

Finance for Operations Managers

Learn Finance for Operations Managers through practical video tutorials from award-winning presenter Ray Sheen with this personalized online course.

Finance for Operations Directors

Finance for Operations Directors

Learn Finance for Operations Directors through practical video tutorials from award-winning presenter Ray Sheen with this personalized online course.

Finance for Non-Financial Professionals

Finance for Non-Financial Professionals

Learn the fundamentals of Finance through practical video tutorials from award-winning presenter Ray Sheen with this personalized online course.

Financial Markets

Financial Markets

Professor Robert Shiller, 2013 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, explores the topic of Financial Markets in this eight module course....

Financial Evaluation and Strategy: Investments

Financial Evaluation and Strategy: Investments

Learn the fundamental principles of trading off risk and return, portfolio optimization, and security pricing—useful skills and concepts to have when making both corporate and personal financial decisions. Also explore market efficiency and firm valu...

Understand Financial Forces - Make a Difference

Understand Financial Forces - Make a Difference

Watch this intro video to learn more about the Specialization curriculum and Capstone Project! The Finance for Everyone Specialization will help you learn the language of finance and understand how the flow of money relates to the most important key...

Private Equity and Venture Capital

Private Equity and Venture Capital

About this Course The course deals with the analysis of the private equity and venture capital business. Over the course, students will be provided with a deep understanding of the mechanism underpinning the creation and/or development of a firm and...

Finance for Everyone: Markets

Finance for Everyone: Markets

Markets begins with one of the most common and important elements of the financial system – interest rates. You will learn why interest rates have always been a key barometer in determining the value of everything. You will explore the changing influ...

The Global Financial Crisis

The Global Financial Crisis

About this Course Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner and Professor Andrew Metrick survey the causes, events, policy responses, and aftermath of the recent global financial crisis. Subtitles available in English 11 weeks of s...

Business Math

Business Math

Business Math is a full-unit course with many practical applications to daily life in both personal and business settings. The first half of the course, in which students do 3 examinations, deepens the student’s understanding of concepts such as usin...

Finance: Building a Robust Business

Finance: Building a Robust Business

Finance: Building a Robust Business is course 2 of 5 in the Foundations of Management Specialization. Good management is equal parts knowing and doing. No matter what industry you work in or where you are in your career, a basic understanding of dec...

Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional

Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional

This MOOC identifies and explores a number of challenges to the finance professional arising from the ever changing business environment. Increasingly, financial decisions must take account of strategic consequences. The first module, Exploring Strat...