The Introduction to Finance course offers a basic understanding of financial concepts and how they impact decision-making. The course focuses on the fundamentals of financial statements, the time value of money, and the risk-return tradeoff. It also explores how to allocate capital across time. After completion of this course, students will have the skills to apply their knowledge to various areas of finance.
Upon completing the Introduction to Finance course, students should be prepared to apply their newly acquired knowledge to various areas of finance, such as corporate finance and investment banking. The course will introduce students to the key theories and models of financial analysis, capital budgeting, and equity valuation. It will also include an introduction to derivative securities.
The course will focus on corporate finance, but it also covers public finance, which deals with financial activities of a nation. Public finance involves taxes, government spending, budgeting, and resource allocation. This course is a prerequisite to other courses and is graded on a Credit/Fail basis. It meets from August 30 to September 2 and concludes with an exam during the first week of classes on September 9, 2022.
The online modules for the course will be broken down into problem sets, which students will complete in teams. In addition, live class sessions will focus on how finance can be applied in a legal environment. During these sessions, students will hear from policymakers, investors, and lawyers who are in the field. They will also learn how to use spreadsheets in Excel. Finally, they will complete a final project in which they are required to value a company. This project will involve working in teams to solve complex financial problems.
