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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Finance for Non-Finance Professionals by Rice University

4.8
stars
2,678 ratings

About the Course

This short course surveys all the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course, but with a more intuitive approach on a very high conceptual level. The goal here is give you a roadmap and framework for how financial professional make decisions. We will cover the basics of financial valuation, the time value of money, compounding returns, and discounting the future. You will understand discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation and how it compares to other methods. We also step inside the mind of a corporate financial manager and develop the basic tools of capital budgeting. We will survey the how, when, and where to spend money, make tradeoffs about investment, growth, dividends, and how to ensure sound fiscal discipline. Our journey then turns to a Wall Street or capital markets perspective of investments as we discuss the fundamental tradeoff between risk and return. We then synthesize our discussion of risk with our valuation framework and incorporate it into series of direct applications to practice. This course requires no prior familiarity with finance. Rather, it is intended to be a first step for anyone who is curious about understanding stock markets, valuation, or corporate finance. We will walk through all of the tools and quantitative analysis together and develop a guide for understanding the seemingly complex decisions that finance professionals make. By the end of the course, you will develop an understanding of the major conceptual levers that push and pull on financial decision making and how they relate to other areas of business. The course should also serve as a roadmap for where to further your finance education and it would be an excellent introduction of any students contemplating an MBA or Finance concentration, but who has little background in the area....

Top reviews

RM

Aug 16, 2020

This is a very well designed course. Taking you through basics and in the end puts you in a real business scenario where you are expected to take a decision based on the tools and concepts you learnt.

KH

Mar 27, 2020

Great Course, Very solid start for those who are trying to enter Finance world.

It makes you love this field if you are not familiar with it and have no previous experience.

Great Job Professor.

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176 - 200 of 596 Reviews for Finance for Non-Finance Professionals

By Roberto R

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Mar 2, 2019

the best course on finance for the ones who wants to understand and get better on their skills, I recommended 100%.

By Kazi A 1

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Aug 11, 2020

Very well structured course. The instructor explained complicated topics in a very simplistic and interesting way.

By VAIBHAV T

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Apr 14, 2020

Excellent course. The professor was very clear and to the point and always tried to make it easy for the learners.

By Gianfranco G

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Aug 11, 2021

Super clear. Concise. To the point. Professor is great. Got me excited to continue learning more Finance courses.

By Toni

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Feb 6, 2022

the instructor is one of the best I've seen in my whole life, absolutely great!! he brings this course to life!!

By Vaibhav S

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Mar 30, 2021

I am an engineering student but absolutely loved this course, a must do for all finance enthusiasts (beginners)

By Russell M S M

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Jan 23, 2017

It's cool to do classes from prestigious universities, especially when learning how to be financially literate!

By KIRRI C

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Aug 2, 2023

An exceptionally insightful course which brings many diverse elements together. Great focus on teh Essentials.

By Sourabh S N

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Jun 14, 2021

Really helped to sail through the basics of Finance. Absolutely helpful for those without finance background.

By Yujie D

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Mar 9, 2021

well-organized course! experienced teacher! great insights from the practitioner within the finance industry!

By Elie A

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Jan 20, 2017

I really enjoyed this course as it simplifies the subjects and we build some excel sheets.

Thank you professor

By Nicolò R

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Dec 28, 2018

I have found this course very interesting with easy to understand lessons. Great job and recommended course!

By Prashant S P 2 B

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May 29, 2023

Loved the course and special thanks to the professor, the way he taught the course, made everything smooth.

By Iwan S

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Nov 1, 2019

This course is adding my knowledge regarding cash flow and basic finance for non finance department. Thanks

By Gautam S

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Jun 18, 2019

The professor was excellent and the content was great too. Loved the course. Waiting to get more from RICE.

By Martin E

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Nov 21, 2017

Very good video lessons and the general outline of the course was "just right" in both timeline and content

By Mounir S

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Jan 26, 2021

I'm very proud and Happy, and I'm very grateful for Mr. James Weston and for RICE university and COURSERA

By Gauri S

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Jun 28, 2020

This course is really good for the one's like me who are new to finance and want gain knowledge about it.

By JESSY W

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May 30, 2020

Very useful knowledge for finance sector. Really a great exposure and expanding in the career milestone.

By rounak s

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May 14, 2020

Amazing course ! Prof. James is having immense knowledge of Finance.

His delivery of speech is excellent.

By Jiayu Z

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Nov 4, 2024

very good. it includes a lot of calculations about the discounting or NPV, it is useful and practical

By Alishan C

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Nov 5, 2020

The instructor did a fantastic job of explaining technical concepts and made the course very enjoyable!

By Dr. R S

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May 20, 2020

A lot of Learning and analyzing about the basic of Finance to enhance my knowledge and understanding.

By Jordan T

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Dec 16, 2020

It was great, I think some answers on final exam might be wrong but the lessons themselves were great

By Sawan S

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Mar 20, 2019

Excellent course, gives a basic understand of the financial parameters used in day to day operations.