What background knowledge is necessary?

No previous knowledge is required. It is recommended that learners have basic mathematics knowledge.

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.

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.

Finance for Everyone: Decisions

Finance for Everyone: Decisions

This course is part of Finance for Everyone Specialization

Instructor: Arshad Ahmad

65,098 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

10 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Finance for Everyone Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in 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.

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 doing 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.

What's included

4 videos5 readings2 assignments3 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 29 minutes

Introduction to the Specialization6 minutes
Introduction to Finance for Everyone: Decisions9 minutes
What is Finance?5 minutes
3 Important Aspects of Financial Decisions10 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

Specialization Outline10 minutes
Where are Our Learners From?10 minutes
Keeping a Learning Portfolio10 minutes
Course Outline10 minutes
Thinking Ahead to the Op-Ed Assignment10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Learner Interest Survey30 minutes
Making a Difference 130 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Introduce Yourself!10 minutes
Aligning Stakeholder Interests with Your Own10 minutes
Ideas that Matter to You10 minutes

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!

What's included

7 videos3 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 67 minutes

Decisions in Market Systems10 minutes
Market Types10 minutes
Time Value of Money I24 minutes
The Dutch Auction4 minutes
Dutch Auction - give it a try!2 minutes
The 3-Step Procedure to Improve Problem-Solving9 minutes
Financial Calculator Tutorial8 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

LearnSmart: What it is and how to use it10 minutes
LearnSmart: Introduction to Corporate Finance (Optional)10 minutes
Financial Calculator Options10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Using Your Financial Calculator30 minutes
Time Value of Money I30 minutes
Making a Difference 230 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Our Most Valuable Things10 minutes

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.

What's included

8 videos1 reading3 assignments2 discussion prompts

8 videosTotal 68 minutes

Repercussions of the Free Market2 minutes
Income Inequality6 minutes
Social and Environmental Consequences5 minutes
Overextended Debt7 minutes
Introduction to Annuities & Perpetuities5 minutes
Future Value of an Annuity12 minutes
Present Value of an Annuity16 minutes
Perpetuities14 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

LearnSmart: Introduction to Valuation: Time Value of Money (Optional)10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Money Flows30 minutes
Making a Difference 330 minutes
Time Value of Money II30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Images of Inequity10 minutes
Unconventional Lenders and Rates10 minutes

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!

What's included

4 videos1 reading2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

4 videosTotal 78 minutes

Time Value of Money I Quiz Solutions28 minutes
Time Value of Money II Quiz Solutions20 minutes
Solutions to Final Quiz22 minutes
Course 1 Epilogue8 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Solutions to Final Quiz using a Financial Calculator10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

End of Course Feedback30 minutes
Final Quiz - Graded30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

"Op-Ed" Assignment120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Beyond Decisions10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Arshad Ahmad

McMaster University

5 Courses92,793 learners

Offered by

McMaster University

Explore more from Finance

Status: Free Trial
McMaster University
Finance For Everyone: Value
Course
Status: Free Trial
McMaster University
Finance for Everyone: Markets
Course
Status: Free Trial
McMaster University
Finance for Everyone
Specialization
Status: Preview
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
Finance for Decision-Making
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Unlock access to 10,000+ courses with a subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 4,700 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Familiarize yourself with the broader context of finance.

2. Explain how financial decisions may have positive and negative social impact.

3. Describe time value of money.

4. Perform financial calculations with accuracy.

5. Build confidence in your ability to make informed financial decisions.

6. Relate important financial concepts and issues to experiences in your daily life and the real world.

7. (Optional) Execute common financial calculations with a financial calculator.

This course is structured to be 4 weeks in length.

This course will be offered every month.

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.