Gain the knowledge and confidence to participate in and drive financial decision-making.
6 weeks,
excluding orientation
7–9 hours per week,
self-paced learning online
Weekly modules,
flexible learning
No existing financial expertise required
1
The ability to help make strategic financial decisions and the confidence to participate in financial conversations.
2
Insight into the foundations of corporate finance, including financial statements and the three fundamental financial decisions.
3
An understanding of the risk versus return trade-offs to consider when assessing an investment opportunity.
4
Knowledge of the multiple valuation techniques and mechanics behind merger and acquisition decisions.
Over the duration of this online program, you’ll work through the following modules:
Module 1 Introduction to Corporate Finance and Financial Statements
Learn how to identify financial decisions based on the fundamental principles of corporate finance.
Module 2 Measuring Risk: Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
Discover how investors measure and consider risk when exploring new investment opportunities.
Module 3 Investment Decision: Discount Rate — Cost of Capital
Explore how firms determine their cost of capital to make investment decisions.
Module 4 Investment Decision: Cash Flow Forecasting and Financial Modeling
Explore the assumptions when forecasting cash flows to determine the net present value (NPV).
Module 5 Funding Decision: Capital Structure
Discover the six reasons that capital structure affects the value of the firm.
Module 6 Multiples Valuation in the Context of Mergers and Acquisitions
Discover the uses of the multiples valuation technique in the context of mergers and acquisitions.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during program development.
Mitchell A. Petersen
Glen Vasel Professor of Finance and Director of the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Petersen has a PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research is in the area of empirical corporate finance: the questions of how firms evaluate potential investment projects and how they fund such projects. His writing has won several prizes throughout his career — with his most recent pieces focusing on how the cost of information, technology, competition, and taxes affect how firms raise capital and fund their projects.
He has been a member of the editorial board of various journals, including the Journal of Finance, Financial Management, Review of Financial Studies, and the Journal of Financial Intermediation. Peterson is also a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), serves on the board of the American Finance Associations, and was a member of the Moody's Academic Advisory and Research Committee. He’s also a much-awarded teacher and professor, winning the Sidney J. Levy Teaching Award eight times and has been voted the Executive MBA Outstanding Professor ten times.
This Northwestern University online program is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities, entirely online and in your own time
Enjoy a personalized, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones