Principles of Finance covers the basics of financial management and decision-making. You'll learn about time value of money, risk and return, capital budgeting, and financial markets. The course also dives into stock and bond valuation, capital structure, and dividend policy. It's all about understanding how companies make financial choices and how investors evaluate opportunities.

Is Principles of Finance hard?

Principles of Finance can be challenging, especially if you're not a numbers person. The concepts aren't rocket science, but they can get pretty abstract. You'll need to wrap your head around formulas and financial models, which can be tricky at first. But don't worry, with practice and some real-world examples, it starts to click. The math isn't too advanced, but you'll definitely be using your calculator a lot.

Tips for taking Principles of Finance in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Practice, practice, practice! Do as many problem sets as you can
Stay on top of financial news - it helps connect concepts to real life
Form a study group to tackle tough problems together
Master your financial calculator early on - it'll save you tons of time
Watch "The Big Short" for a fun look at financial markets
Read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" for personal finance insights
Don't just memorize formulas - understand the logic behind them

Common pre-requisites for Principles of Finance

Introductory Accounting: Learn the basics of financial statements and how to record business transactions. You'll get familiar with balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
Microeconomics: Study how individuals and firms make decisions in markets. You'll explore concepts like supply and demand, market equilibrium, and consumer behavior.
Statistics: Dive into data analysis and probability theory. This course will give you tools to interpret financial data and make predictions based on past trends.

Classes similar to Principles of Finance

Corporate Finance: Focuses on how companies make financial decisions. You'll learn about capital structure, dividend policy, and mergers and acquisitions.
Investments: Covers portfolio theory, asset pricing models, and securities analysis. It's all about understanding how to build and manage investment portfolios.
Financial Markets and Institutions: Explores the structure and functions of various financial markets. You'll learn about banks, insurance companies, and other financial intermediaries.
Financial Risk Management: Teaches you how to identify, measure, and manage financial risks. You'll learn about derivatives, hedging strategies, and risk assessment techniques.

Finance: Focuses on managing money, investments, and financial systems. Students learn about financial markets, corporate finance, and investment strategies.
Economics: Studies how societies allocate resources and make economic decisions. It covers topics like market behavior, economic policy, and international trade.
Accounting: Deals with recording, analyzing, and reporting financial information. Students learn how to prepare financial statements and understand tax regulations.
Business Administration: Provides a broad overview of business operations. It covers finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship.

What can you do with a degree in Principles of Finance?

Financial Analyst: Evaluates investment opportunities and provides recommendations to businesses or individuals. They analyze financial data, study economic trends, and create financial models.
Investment Banker: Helps companies and governments raise capital by issuing and selling securities. They also provide advice on mergers and acquisitions and other financial transactions.
Financial Planner: Assists individuals in managing their personal finances and achieving financial goals. They create comprehensive plans covering investments, insurance, taxes, and retirement.
Risk Manager: Identifies and assesses financial risks faced by organizations. They develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure the company's financial stability.