This course is part of the Data Science for Investment Professionals Specialization

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stars
13 ratings

Neil Govier, CFA

2,077 already enrolled

Offered By

Data Science for Investment Professionals SpecializationCFA Institute

About this Course

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Aimed at investment professionals or those with investment industry knowledge, this course offers an introduction to the basic data and statistical techniques that underpin data analysis and lays an essential foundation in the techniques that are used in big data and machine learning. It introduces the topics and gives practical examples of how they are used by investment professionals, including the importance of presenting the “data story" by using appropriate visualizations and report writing. 
In this course you will learn how to: 
- Explain basic statistical measures and their application to real-life data sets 
- Calculate and interpret measures of dispersion and explain deviations from a normal distribution 
- Understand the use and appropriateness of different distributions 
- Compare and contrast ways of visualizing data and create them using Python (no prior knowledge of Python necessary)
- Explain sampling theory and draw inferences about population parameters from sample statistics 
- Formulate hypotheses on investment problems

This course is part of the Data Science for Investment Professionals Specialization offered by CFA Institute.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 3 in the

Data Science for Investment Professionals Specialization

Beginner Level

Background in investment products and firms

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

What you will learn

Demonstrate the importance of and techniques for presenting data and the “data story”

Understand data distributions and the importance and use of statistical measures

Use statistical sampling and hypothesis testing to gain insight into population parameters

Calculate data statistics and produce visualizations using Python

Skills you will gain

Data Science
Python Programming
Communication
General Statistics
Statistical Hypothesis Testing

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 3 in the

Data Science for Investment Professionals Specialization

Beginner Level

Background in investment products and firms

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructor

Neil Govier, CFA

Regional Director, APAC

Professional Learning

2,077 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

CFA Institute

CFA Institute is a global association of investment professionals. The mission of CFA Institute is served by generating value for core investment management professionals and engaging with the core investment management industry to advance ethics, market integrity, and professional standards of practice, which collectively contributes value to society.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

27 minutes to complete

Welcome to Data and Statistics Foundation for Investment Professionals

27 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 7 min), 1 reading

4 hours to complete

Measures of Central Tendency

4 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 24 min)

6 videos

Explain Basic Statistical Measures and Their Application to Real-Life Datasets1m

Data Types5m

Frequency and Contingency Tables3m

Measures of Central Tendency: Arithmetic Mean5m

Measures of Central Tendency: Median and Mode2m

Intro to Measures of Central Tendency: Weighted, Geometric, and Harmonic Mean5m

7 practice exercises

Data Types15m

Frequency and Contingency Tables15m

Measures of Central Tendency: Arithmetic Mean15m

Measures of Central Tendency: Median and Mode15m

How Mean Will You Be?15m

Measures of Central Tendency: Weighted, Geometric, and Harmonic Means 15m

Measures of Central Tendency Graded Assessment30m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Measures of Dispersion

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 12 min)

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Distributions

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 21 min)

5 videos

Understand the Use and Appropriateness of Different Distributions1m

Discrete and Continuous Uniform Distributions and Basic Probabilities4m

Binomial Distribution5m

Binomial Distribution - Decision Trees3m

Normal and Lognormal Distributions5m

7 practice exercises

Fancy a Gamble?15m

Discrete and Continuous Uniform Distributions and Basic Probabilities15m

Portfolio Manager Evaluation15m

Binomial Distribution15m

Binomial Distribution - Decision Trees15m

Normal and Lognormal Distributions15m

Distributions Graded Assessment30m

Week

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Data Visualization Techniques

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 29 min), 2 readings, 9 quizzes

5 videos

Compare and Contrast Different Ways of Visualizing Data and then Create Them Using Python2m

Histograms and Bar Charts5m

Pie Charts, Donuts, and Tree Maps4m

Clouds, Plots, Maps, and Ways to Mislead7m

Storytelling and Narrative Techniques8m

2 readings

Telling Stories with Data in 3 Steps 10m

How to Write a Good Research Report10m

5 practice exercises

Histograms and Bar Charts15m

Pie Charts, Donuts, and Tree Maps15m

Clouds, Plots, Maps, and Ways to Mislead 15m

Storytelling and Narrative Techniques15m

Data Visualization Techniques Graded Assessment30m

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TOP REVIEWS FROM DATA AND STATISTICS FOUNDATION FOR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS

by AMar 5, 2022

good way to start with statistical basis in finance

View all reviews

About the Data Science for Investment Professionals Specialization

This Specialization is uniquely tailored to the needs of investment professionals or those with investment industry knowledge who want to develop a basic, practical understanding of machine learning techniques and how they are used in the investment process. Through the three courses, you will learn techniques for presenting data and importance of the “data story”, produce data visualizations using Python, assess and apply probability concepts to investing scenarios, compare simple time-series models and understand their limitations, discover how machine learning applications can address investment problems, and understand how to apply the CFA Institute Ethical Decision-Making Framework to machine learning dilemmas. All that you learn in this Specialization will give you the knowledge and confidence to explain clearly and “translate” machine learning concepts and their application to real-world investment problems to a non-expert audience and clients. Check out this short video overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Does completing this course give me credit in any CFA Institute Programs?
No. Completing this course or any other courses offered by CFA Institute on Coursera does not count as credit in the CFA Program, CIPM Program, or any other professional certificate or credential offered by CFA Institute.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Data and Statistics Foundation for Investment Professionals