Finance for Non-Finance Professionals Coursera

Overview

The goal of this course is to provide a roadmap and framework for how financial professionals make decisions.

The course covers the fundamentals of financial valuation, including the time value of money, compounding returns, and discounting future cash flows. It introduces discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation and compares it with other valuation methods. It also explores the role of a corporate financial manager and develops core capital budgeting tools, examining how, when, and where to allocate resources, make investment tradeoffs, manage growth and dividends, and maintain fiscal discipline.

The course then shifts to a capital markets perspective, focusing on the fundamental tradeoff between risk and return. This understanding of risk is integrated with valuation frameworks and applied in practical scenarios.

Key features

No prior background in finance is required. The course is designed as an introductory step for those interested in stock markets, valuation, or corporate finance, guiding learners through key tools and quantitative concepts used in financial decision-making.

By the end of the Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course offered by Coursera in partnership with Rice University, learners develop an understanding of the main drivers of financial decision-making and how they connect to other areas of business. The course also serves as a foundation for further study in finance and is particularly relevant for those considering an MBA or a finance specialization.