About this course: Finance for Everyone: Decisions will introduce you to the workings of the free markets and the foundations of finance. You will learn how free markets and their “creative destruction” provide the architecture for the global economy and how those same markets move money in ways that create and destroy wealth. Your financial toolkit will include timeless concepts like compounding, discounting, annuities, effective interest rates, and more. You will also learn how to simplify important financial calculations and apply that knowledge to real-life decisions that can influence everything from how you pay for your car to where you live. Through peer review you will publish your view on an issue important to you. You will also discover how your applied decisions connect to bigger questions relating to changing market conditions as you prepare for the second course in F4E: Markets.
Who is this class for: Whether you work in the financial industry or are a novice, this course is aimed at anyone wanting to develop financial literacy, understand the social impact of financial decisions, and gain confidence in forming opinions and making financial choices.
Created by: McMaster University
Taught by: Arshad Ahmad, Professor
DeGroote School of Business
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 5 in the Finance for Everyone Specialization |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
An Introduction to (Corporate) Finance
Welcome! This first week will give you a bit of background on the specialization and help set you up to make the most of your experience with us in Finance for Everyone: Decisions. You will also engage with introductory concepts about finance, communicate with your fellow learners, and familiarize yourself with the course culminating project.
4 videos, 5 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Introduction to the Specialization
- Reading: Specialization Outline
- Reading: Where are Our Learners From?
- Reading: Keeping a Learning Portfolio
- Video: Introduction to Finance for Everyone: Decisions
- Reading: Course Outline
- Practice Quiz: Learner Interest Survey
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself!
- Video: What is Finance?
- Video: 3 Important Aspects of Financial Decisions
- Discussion Prompt: Aligning Stakeholder Interests with Your Own
- Reading: Thinking Ahead to the Op-Ed Assignment
- Discussion Prompt: Ideas that Matter to You
Graded: Making a Difference 1
WEEK 2
Ideas & Time Value of Money I
In Week 2, you will continue to explore money flows and consider the time value of money. You can also optionally use a financial calculator, view a tutorial, and practice these new skills. Don't forget to continue brainstorming ideas for your course culminating project!
7 videos, 3 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Decisions in Market Systems
- Video: Market Types
- Discussion Prompt: Our Most Valuable Things
- Video: Time Value of Money I
- Video: The Dutch Auction
- Video: Dutch Auction - give it a try!
- Video: The 3-Step Procedure to Improve Problem-Solving
- Reading: LearnSmart: What it is and how to use it
- Reading: LearnSmart: Introduction to Corporate Finance (Optional)
- Reading: Financial Calculator Options
- Video: Financial Calculator Tutorial
- Practice Quiz: Using Your Financial Calculator
Graded: Time Value of Money I
Graded: Making a Difference 2
WEEK 3
Debt & Time Value of Money II
In Week 3, you will delve deeper into money flows and time value of money. As these concepts wrap up for the course, you will continue to prepare your course culminating assignment.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Repercussions of the Free Market
- Video: Income Inequality
- Video: Social and Environmental Consequences
- Video: Overextended Debt
- Discussion Prompt: Images of Inequity
- Video: Introduction to Annuities & Perpetuities
- Video: Future Value of an Annuity
- Video: Present Value of an Annuity
- Video: Perpetuities
- Discussion Prompt: Unconventional Lenders and Rates
- Reading: LearnSmart: Introduction to Valuation: Time Value of Money (Optional)
Graded: Money Flows
Graded: Making a Difference 3
Graded: Time Value of Money II
WEEK 4
Decisions Synthesis
In Week 4, you will synthesize your learnings for Finance for Everyone: Decisions. You will participate in a peer review of Op-Eds written by your classmates, complete a final quiz, and look ahead to Finance for Everyone: Markets!
4 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Time Value of Money I Quiz Solutions
- Video: Time Value of Money II Quiz Solutions
- Video: Solutions to Final Quiz
- Reading: Solutions to Final Quiz using a Financial Calculator
- Video: Course 1 Epilogue
- Discussion Prompt: Beyond Decisions
- Practice Quiz: End of Course Feedback
Graded: "Op-Ed" Assignment
Graded: Final Quiz - Graded
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
McMaster University
Founded in 1887, McMaster University is committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence by inspiring critical thinking, personal growth, and a passion for learning. Ranked amongst the Top 100 universities in the world, McMaster pioneered a learner-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning that is now known worldwide as the “McMaster Model”.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
This course is great. I learned very much. Thank you very much!
good
Clear simple language well presented. Keeps audience interested.
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Wonderful introduction to finance - including global context and basic formulas.