FIN 321: Money & Capital Markets
Course description
This course explores the relationships between financial systems, institutions, central banks, and monetary policy, with a focus on financial stability. Students will gain an overview of the U.S. financial system while also examining international cases, including Europe and Argentina, to understand inflation and currency devaluation. The 2008 financial crisis serves as a key reference point for analyzing core concepts and policy tools. The course also introduces topics such as green finance and sustainable business practices. Through a stock market simulator, students will apply their knowledge by building and tracking an investment portfolio.
Learning objectives
By the end of this, students will be able to:
Identify the key components of the financial system
Understand how the stock market works and the main factors in building an investment portfolio
Use different models to explain changes in interest rates
Understand the basic concepts of behavioral finance and the structure of the U.S. financial system
Explain what financial crises are and what causes them
Compare financial systems around the world (U.S., Italy, the EU, Argentina, etc.)
Learn about emerging trends in green finance and decentralized finance (DeFi), including blockchain and cryptocurrency