4.7

stars

1,503 ratings

Robert Dittmar +1 more instructor

Offered By

Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

What you will learn

Explain the difference between legacy payment systems and new innovations in payments.

Describe blockchain technology and critique its application in various contexts.

Interpret a credit score and identify its determinants.

Implement “smart” investing techniques.

Skills you will gain

Credit TechnologyCryptocurrencySmart InvestingBlockchainPayment Systemsprocessing paymentsPayment Processingpayment technologyValue Propositionsdecentralization algorithmsconsensus algorithmsblockchain as a business solution

About this Specialization

This specialization is intended to familiarize learners with a broad range of financial technologies. While finance has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, the financial industry is changing rapidly in the face of new technology. In the past, at the forefront of innovation in finance were central governments and financial institutions. Today, information technology firms and professionals are leading innovation in the financial industry. Our goal is to show learners the genesis and use cases of the technology. We hope to familiarize professionals sufficiently with the technology that they can utilize and adapt the technologies in their careers.

Applied Learning Project

Stories are a part of the human experience. We all have our own stories to tell, but they are also excellent tools for learning. These courses will utilize a storytelling approach that will invite you into the role of a character embedded in a context directly related to the content with which you'll be engaging. This approach will help you relate to the information presented, push you to apply your knowledge and skills to a novel context, and give you and other learners a shared experience on which to reflect.

Learner Career Outcomes

25%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

No prior experience required.

Approximately 4 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, Spanish

Learner Career Outcomes

25%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

No prior experience required.

Approximately 4 months to complete

Suggested pace of 2 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, Spanish

There are 4 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

The Future of Payment Technologies

4.7

stars

757 ratings

•

180 reviews

Discover the future of payment technology, from mobile payments to tokenization.

In this course, you will learn new ways of making payments from consumer-to-business (C2B), from consumer-to-consumer (C2C), and from business-to-business (B2B). You will explore current payment system technologies to examine their strengths and weaknesses, and understand the ways technological innovation is changing these traditional systems. You’ll learn about new front-end innovations like digital wallets and mobile payments and also discover back-end innovations like tokenization, mobile money, and new payment infrastructure.

Course2

Course 2

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Explained

4.6

stars

371 ratings

•

81 reviews

The sudden rise in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and its subsequent decline, focused the world’s attention on cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. Blockchain technology powers Bitcoin and has been hyped as the next new, transformative technology.

Course3

Course 3

Raising Capital: Credit Tech, Coin Offerings, and Crowdfunding

4.7

stars

159 ratings

•

33 reviews

Consider the benefits and challenges of disruptive capital-raising technology.

Advances in technology have both systematized and democratized consumers’ and business’ access to capital. In this course, you will explore the ways in which technology has transformed access to consumer credit and access to seed capital for business projects. You will examine disruptive technologies in credit scoring, raising capital through tokenization, and the evolution of crowdfunding for both debt and equity financing. You will also learn how to differentiate between crypto-based capital-raising models.

Course4

Course 4

Innovations in Investment Technology: Artificial Intelligence

4.7

stars

216 ratings

•

34 reviews

Explore the evolution of AI investing and online wealth management.

Investing and managing your wealth online has never been easier, but how does AI investing work and what are the challenges? On this course, you’ll explore how technology has changed the way we invest money. You’ll consider the evolution of AI-driven online wealth management platforms, robo-advisors, and learn how they work and why they’re successful. Moving from human-based data-driven investing strategies to neural networks, you’ll assess the ability of artificial intelligence to make investment decisions and discover the role of AI and machine learning in making trading decisions.

Instructors

Robert Dittmar

Professor of Finance

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

28,435 Learners

4 Courses

Andrew Wu

Michael R. and Mary Kay Hallman Fellow, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations and Finance

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

28,435 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Can I take the course for free?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
This Specialization doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
Each course has 3-4 weeks of core content, with about 2-4 hours of work expected per week. It is estimated that it would take a learner 4-6 months to complete the entire specialization, though faster progress is possible with more time available per week.
What background knowledge is necessary?
We have two audiences in mind, though any learner could benefit from this material.
The first group is professionals, particularly in the financial industry, who may have limited background in technology, but are interested in deeper understanding of the mechanics and implications of the changes in financial technology.
The second group is the technology professional who has a more limited exposure to finance.
Some statistics knowledge will aid in understanding the course material.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
No, you can take these courses in any order, though it may feel more logical to follow the sequence we've suggested.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.