Foundational Finance for Strategic Decision Making Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This specialization provides a comprehensive introduction to foundational finance concepts and their application in strategic decision-making. Designed for beginners, it spans approximately 47 hours of content across five core modules and a final project. Learners will build financial acumen through interactive exercises, real-world case studies, and practical applications relevant to both personal and professional contexts. Ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their financial decision-making skills, the course emphasizes time value of money, investment analysis, and financial modeling.

Module 1: Introduction to Time Value of Money (TVM)

Estimated time: 12 hours

• Understanding the concept of time value of money
• Calculating present and future values
• Evaluating financial alternatives using TVM
• Applying TVM principles to personal and business decisions

Module 2: Advanced Concepts in Time Value of Money (TVM)

Estimated time: 14 hours

• Advanced TVM applications in financial planning
• Saving for college using TVM models
• Understanding loans and amortization schedules
• Applying TVM to borrowing and lending scenarios

Module 3: Stocks and Bonds

Estimated time: 9 hours

• Understanding bond pricing and trading
• Learning stock pricing fundamentals
• Exploring how companies are financed
• Introduction to financial markets and instruments

Module 4: Advanced Understanding of Stocks and Bonds

Estimated time: 12 hours

• Stock valuation and growth models
• Types of growth: constant, variable, and multi-stage
• Identifying risks associated with bonds
• Applying stock and bond concepts in practice assignments

Module 5: Financial Analysis and Decision Making

Estimated time: 10 hours

• Developing financial models
• Creating financial forecasts
• Enhancing problem-solving with financial data
• Integrating TVM and investment concepts into strategic decisions

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 10 hours

• Develop a financial model applying TVM principles
• Analyze a real-world investment scenario involving stocks and bonds
• Submit a strategic financial decision report with justification

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of mathematics
• No prior finance knowledge required
• Familiarity with business concepts helpful but not required

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Understand and apply the time value of money in financial decisions
• Evaluate investment opportunities in stocks and bonds
• Create financial forecasts and models for personal or business use
• Make informed, data-driven financial decisions
• Apply financial analysis techniques to strategic planning