Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

It is recommended that the courses in the Specialization be taken in the order outlined. Some courses do list other courses as prerequisites. In the Capstone Project, you will have the opportunity to synthesize your learning in all six courses and apply your combined skills in a final project.

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.

Where can I learn more and ask questions about earning credit or a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Please find more information at https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/graduate-hub/online or email your questions to giesonline@illinois.edu

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. 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. 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.

Financial Management Specialization

Financial Management Specialization

Become a Strategic Financial Manager. Develop an integrated financial management framework.

Gies College of Business, University of Illinois

Instructors: Oktay Urcan

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

6 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.7

(4,670 reviews)

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

3 months at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

6 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.7

(4,670 reviews)

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

3 months at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

What you'll learn

Evaluating financial statements and the financial information they provide.
Describing the evaluation and management of portfolios along with firm valuation techniques.
Incorporating risk and uncertainty into investment decisions and understanding how companies make financing and investment decisions.

Overview

This Specialization covers the fundamentals of strategic financial management, including financial accounting, investments, and corporate finance. You will learn to evaluate major strategic corporate and investment decisions and to understand capital markets and institutions from a financial perspective, and you will develop an integrated framework for value-based financial management and individual financial decision-making.

The Financial Management Specialization is part of the University of Illinois iMBA Program. Each course in this Specialization also fulfills a portion of the requirements for a University of Illinois course that can earn you college credit.

What’s included

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

93 practice exercises

Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Specialization - 6 course series

Courses in this specialization include a mix of practice quizzes to self-assess understanding, graded quizzes to validate knowledge of the lecture materials, and peer review assignment to apply course concepts into real-word scenarios. These learning experiences build towards a cumulative learning outcome of developing the skills to utilize an integrated framework for value-based financial management and individual financial decision-making.

Financial Accounting: Foundations

Course 112 hours4.7 (4,594 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

Accounting information and how it is used by different capital market participants
Record financial information and produce the main financial statements
Fundamental accounting concepts and revenue recognition criteria in preparing financial statements,
Conduct the accounting for short-term assets, with a particular focus on accounts receivables and inventories.

Skills you'll gain

Balance Sheet, Financial Accounting, Cash Flows, Income Statement, Accrual Accounting, Inventory Accounting, Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable, Financial Statements, Accounting Records, Financial Reporting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Accounting

Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics

Course 211 hours4.7 (1,755 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

To account for fixed assets
Understand accounting for liabilities
Evaluate shareholders’ equity section of a balance sheet, and
Understand preparation and information provided by cash flows statement.

Skills you'll gain

Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Equities, Accounting, Cash Flows, Depreciation, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Fixed Asset, and Balance Sheet

Investments I: Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation

Course 326 hours4.7 (923 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

Explain the tradeoffs between risk and return.
Form a portfolio of securities and calculate the expected return and standard deviation of that portfolio.
Describe what is meant by market efficiency and what it implies for patterns in stock returns and for the asset-management industry.
Conduct specific examples of a market multiples valuation.

Skills you'll gain

Portfolio Management, Cash Flows, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Modeling, Regression Analysis, Investments, Estimation, Finance, Return On Investment, Performance Analysis, Equities, Asset Management, Risk Analysis, and Microsoft Excel

Investments II: Lessons and Applications for Investors

Course 419 hours4.8 (879 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

Interpret and use the CAPM and the 3-Factor Model to evaluate the performance of investments.
Compare returns in the form of dividends and capital gains and their tax consequences.
Describe evidence regarding the performance of individuals’ stock investments and the performance of actively-managed mutual funds.
Evaluate strategies designed to “earn alpha”.

Skills you'll gain

Portfolio Management, Behavioral Economics, Decision Making, Investments, Tax Management, Equities, Finance, Asset Management, Income Tax, Financial Market, Benchmarking, Investment Management, Return On Investment, Performance Analysis, and Financial Trading

Corporate Finance I: Measuring and Promoting Value Creation

Course 524 hours4.7 (1,160 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

Forecast and manage a company's short- and long-term liquidity needs
Measure the contribution of a new project or acquisition to shareholder value
Incorporate risk into investment decisions using the appropriate discount rates
Evaluate the performance of a company or divisions of a company

Skills you'll gain

Corporate Finance, Capital Budgeting, Risk Analysis, Financial Analysis, Cash Flow Forecasting, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Forecasting, Performance Measurement, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Business Valuation, Finance, Working Capital, Return On Investment, and Cash Management

Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk

Course 620 hours4.8 (878 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

Evaluate the benefits and costs of different types of debt such as bonds and bank debt.
Manage risks that cannot be hedged with derivatives using liquidity and other tools.
Use the NPV concept to identify situations of unfairness and injustice.
Identify potential conflicts between equity holders and debtholders in firms that are close to bankruptcy.

Skills you'll gain

Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Derivatives, Capital Budgeting, Business Ethics, Financial Analysis, Credit Risk, Equities, Financial Management, International Finance, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Loans, and Governance

Earn a career certificate

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

Build toward a degree

This Specialization is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructors

Oktay Urcan

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

5 Courses196,633 learners

Stefan Zeume

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 Courses64,043 learners

Gies College of Business, University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

19 Courses129,063 learners

Heitor Almeida

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

5 Courses111,701 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Frequently asked questions

Time to completion can vary widely based on your schedule, most learners are able to complete the Specialization in 3-6 months.

Background and knowledge in statistical concepts is recommended.

Each course in the Specialization offers regular and open enrollment. You can begin and complete the course on your own schedule.

· You will have a solid foundation in developing an integrated framework for strategic financial decision making.

· You will have a thorough understanding of financial statements and the financial information they provide and develop the ability to critically evaluate and analyze cash flows statement.

· You will learn about the management and evaluation of portfolios and firm valuation techniques.

· Finally, you will learn how to incorporate risk and uncertainty into investment decisions and understand how companies make financing and investment decisions.

Courses on Coursera do not carry University of Illinois credit on their own. Each iDegree course has an enhanced for-credit component. You can earn academic credit if you combine an open online course with the enhanced for-credit component offered on the University of Illinois platform. To learn more visit https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/graduate-hub/online. Some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.

Financial Management Specialization

What you'll learn

Overview

Skills you'll gain

What’s included

Advance your subject-matter expertise