With the rise of alternative investments like private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and real estate in recent years, more and more investors are looking to gain knowledge in this area. Harvard University, known for its prestigious business school, offers several online courses focusing on alternative investments that investors around the world can take. These courses provide a great opportunity to learn from Harvard professors and industry experts about different alternative asset classes, portfolio allocation, risk management, and more. By taking these online courses, investors can enhance their financial knowledge and make more informed investment decisions when allocating capital. This article will provide an overview of Harvard’s main online course offerings in alternative investments and the key learning objectives covered.
Harvard Online Course: Private Equity and Venture Capital
Harvard Business School’s online course called Private Equity and Venture Capital introduces participants to core concepts and business models of the private capital industry. It is taught by Harvard faculty members Josh Lerner, Ann Leamon, and Felda Hardymon. Key topics covered include an overview of private equity, understanding fund structure, portfolio company value creation, venture capital, growth equity, secondary markets, and more. Participants will come away with strong foundational knowledge about how firms operating in these alternative asset classes generate returns and add value for institutional investors. Case studies are used to illustrate concepts. According to alumni reviews, this is one of the most useful Harvard online courses for anyone interested in learning about the basics of private markets.
Harvard Online Course: Hedge Funds
For investors looking to understand hedge funds, Harvard Business School offers an online course called Hedge Funds: Quantitative Methods and Closed-End Funds. Taught by professor John Geanakoplos, this course covers important topics including leverage, funding, and how hedge funds use derivatives. Participants will learn analytical frameworks for thinking about hedge fund strategies and portfolio construction. Geanakoplos discusses how hedge funds performed during the 2008 financial crisis and how leverage impacted returns. This course helps investors understand hedge fund strategies at a deeper level beyond just concepts. Reviews mention that Geanakoplos explains complex derivative strategies well with simple examples.
Harvard Online Course: Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment
Real estate is a major component of many institutional investors’ alternative investment portfolios. Harvard’s online course called Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment provides an excellent introduction to commercial real estate investing. It covers key concepts such as lease math, debt and equity financing, valuation techniques, and managing risk. Participants will learn how to evaluate potential real estate deals using Excel modeling. The course also discusses different commercial property types and asset classes. It is taught by David Geltner, a renowned real estate professor. According to students, this course effectively bridges academic theory with real world practice. Anyone interested in commercial real estate investment will gain very useful knowledge from this online course.
How These Courses Help Investors
By taking Harvard’s online courses in alternative investments, investors can quickly build their financial knowledge in these asset classes without going back to school full time. The courses teach specialized concepts and frameworks beyond general investing principles. Learners can apply the skills to evaluate potential investment opportunities. For example, being able to analyze a venture capital deal, hedge fund strategy, or commercial real estate acquisition. Harvard’s courses also help investors better manage alternative investment portfolios and understand risks. The expertise gained can lead to better informed capital allocation decisions aligned with investment goals.
Harvard University offers online courses in private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and other alternative asset classes that investors around the world can take. These courses teach specialized knowledge and analytical skills to evaluate deals and manage portfolios. By taking courses like Private Equity and Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, and Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment, participants can enhance their investment expertise in these growing alternative asset classes.