<p>what 3-4 upper div econ/math/ugba classes (not considering prereqs) will teach this kind of material? im a cs major so taking into consideration enrollment as a nonmajor would be helpful as well…</p>
<p>UGBA 196 (personal financial management) is a good class, teaches you how to manage your money overall. The class isn’t exclusively focused on investing, but it does have a section on it and teaches the basics that a regular person would want to know. Many non-business majors take this class.</p>
<p>If you really want to get into the mechanics of investing, UGBA 103 (intro to finance) teaches how to create a diversified portfolio and helps you understanding everything. Then UGBA 132 (financial institutions and markets) and UGBA 133 (investments) build upon that knowledge and get in-depth into investing. A non-business major would be able to enroll in UGBA 103 and UGBA 196, might have more trouble with the other classes though.</p>
<p>[Course</a> Information, Undergraduate Program, Berkeley-Haas](<a href=“Courses - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas”>Courses - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas)</p>
<p>UGBA 137 (derivatives) is usually mostly non-majors. The class is on derivative securities, which is nice, since you usually only talk about capital markets in ugba classes. Can’t vouch for the financial engineering version of UGBA 137, but from what I saw from some friends’ homeworks and notes, it gets more detailed than big-picture. At least in the derivatives class, you’ll learn a lot of different hedging strategies and portfolio creativity. </p>
<p>Can’t speak to the alternative investments side of things (PE, Real Estate), but feel free to check out the syllabi of some of the other courses taught (ugba 13X and ugba 18X series). I took ugba 131 a while ago now, and any banking alum will try to tell you that was their most ‘useful’ class. It definitely gets you through interviews, but it’d be dubious at best to try to apply it to your own portfolio. </p>
<p>That goes for any class, really. The only way to “learn” how to invest is to do it. If it was a pure science, everyone would be pro at it. Just remember, most (all?) investments are two-sided. If someone is winning, that means someone is losing. A transaction can’t be made unless there is a buyer AND a seller. One has the long position, one has the short position. There is only one position that comes out on top at the end of the day…</p>
<p>Anyway, ugba 133 is equivalent to econ 136 (i believe), and that can get deep down the rabbit hole with modern portfolio theory. But it’s all good to have under your belt, I guess. </p>
<p>I still don’t think any one class, or maybe even any group of classes, will teach you how to invest. The closest class is maybe ugba 196 which actually walks you through the steps of how to get started (how much $ to dish out, finding a broker, how to make transactions and orders, basic diversification tips, intro to actively and passively managed funds, ‘investment disciplines’, very superficial equity analysis, etc.)</p>
<p>If you’re really serious about being a good investor, mix academics with some field work. Get an internship doing some equity research, or go work with a small HF or PE firm parttime or something. Idk how CS majors network, but ask any of your Haas friends and I’m sure you can find something proactive to do. Heck, might as well try paper trading with a virtual account. You can try whatever crazy investment strategy you want – you may be a prodigy, but you just don’t know it yet cuz you’ve never gotten your hands dirty. Joining a trading / investing club on campus can be an experience as well: a good place where you’re all learning and exploring together. After any of the above, if you’ve got some play money in your bank account after saving for a while, why not put your money where your mouth is and try making some side $$$? (fiscal cliff days ahead may have a lot of good returns if you’re on the right side of the crystal ball tidal wave)</p>
<p>What I’m saying is: take it upon yourself to learn. You’re a CS major, you should know more than anyone that the classes are only the skeleton of learning. You won’t learn the language/program/whatever unless you practice and do a lot of your own research and A LOT of self-teaching. have fun i guess</p>
<p>They’re all useless. Don’t waste your time with those annoying curved classes unless you want to get a career in finance. </p>
<p>Just go on investopedia.com and read. Finance is really easy to learn.</p>