Investment and Portfolio Management Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This specialization provides a comprehensive foundation in investment strategies and portfolio management, designed for beginners seeking real-world financial expertise. The program spans approximately 88–93 hours of learning, combining theory, behavioral insights, and practical tools. You'll explore global financial markets, master portfolio theory, analyze investor behavior, and apply investment strategies through simulations and a capstone project. With lifetime access and a certificate from Rice University, this course prepares learners for careers in asset management, financial analysis, and wealth advisory roles.

Module 1: Global Financial Markets and Instruments

Estimated time: 15 hours

• Structure and function of financial markets
• Equity, debt, and derivative instruments
• Algorithmic trading and dark pools
• Margin trading and short selling mechanisms
• Valuation methods and institutional features of securities

Module 2: Portfolio Selection and Risk Management

Estimated time: 20 hours

• Modern portfolio theory and the efficient frontier
• Diversification and risk-return tradeoffs
• Optimal asset allocation strategies
• Quantitative tools for risk evaluation
• Performance measurement techniques

Module 3: Behavioral Investing

Estimated time: 18 hours

• Psychological biases in investor behavior
• Irrational decision-making and market anomalies
• Impact of behavioral finance on investment outcomes
• Strategies to mitigate behavioral errors
• Applying behavioral insights to portfolio decisions

Module 4: Investment Strategies and Portfolio Analysis

Estimated time: 20 hours

• Active vs. passive investing approaches
• Hedge fund strategies and performance
• Smart beta and factor-based investing
• Portfolio performance evaluation methods
• Aligning investment goals with risk profiles

Module 5: Capstone Project

Estimated time: 15–20 hours

• Create and test a real-world investment portfolio
• Analyze asset allocation, risk exposure, and expected returns
• Present a professional-grade portfolio strategy

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of financial concepts
• Familiarity with simple quantitative analysis
• Willingness to engage with financial math and data

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Analyze stocks, bonds, derivatives, and alternative investments
• Construct diversified portfolios using modern portfolio theory
• Recognize and correct for behavioral biases in investing
• Evaluate portfolio performance using industry-standard metrics
• Design investment strategies tailored to risk tolerance and goals