When will I get access to the course?

Once your payment is successfully processed, you’ll receive an email granting you access to the course content within two hours. To maximize your 90-day access period, we strongly recommend logging into the course platform as soon as you receive this notification. If you plan to pay online using a credit card, you may do so at any time. If you’ve selected an alternative payment method, please allow additional time for processing: Western Union - 3 business days Domestic Wire - 5 business days International Wire - 14 business days Loans - 12 business days

What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete the course, and how are grades assigned?

Participants in Alternative Investments are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online. Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely manner. This means completing each course module and fully answering questions posed therein by the required deadline. In addition to module assignment completion, we expect participation in the social learning elements of the course by offering feedback on others’ reflections and contributing to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements won’t receive a certificate or be eligible to retake the course. More detailed information on course requirements will be communicated at the start of the program. No grades are assigned for Alternative Investments. Participants will be evaluated as complete or not complete.

What materials will I have access to after completing Alternative Investments?

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the content. Access to course materials and the course platform ends with your on-demand access end date. At the end of each course module, you will be able to download a PDF summary highlighting key concepts and formulas used throughout the course. At the end of the program, you will receive a PDF compilation of all of the module summary documents. We hope the module summary documents will serve as a helpful resource after you finish the course.

How should I list my certificate on my resume?

Once you've earned your Certificate of Completion, list it on your resume along with the date of completion: Harvard Business School Online Certificate in Alternative Investments [Start Month and Year] List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page: School: Harvard Business School Online Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program] Degree: Other; Certificate in Alternative Investments Field of Study: Leave blank Grade: "Complete" Activities and Societies: Leave blank Description: Alternative Investments is a 5-module, 30-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Alternative Investments teaches students how to speak the language of alternative investments, identity the defining elements of private equity, private debt, hedge funds, and real estate, assess potential investment opportunities, and understand the skills and strategies necessary for investing in alternatives. The program was developed by leading Harvard Business School faculty and is delivered in an active learning environment based on the HBS signature case-based learning model.

Finance & Accounting

Alternative Investments

Take your finance knowledge to the next level by learning how to maximize investment portfolio value with alternative investments, including private equity and real estate.

Format
On-Demand
Time
30-35 hrs, 6-7 hrs/module
Price
$1,949

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Key Concepts

Speak the language of alternative investments so that you can better communicate and collaborate with your colleagues and customers
Evaluate alternative investments—including private equity, private debt, hedge funds, and real estate—and identify their defining elements, such as size, risk, and liquidity
Develop the confidence and ability to assess potential investment opportunities and maximize the value of investment portfolios
Gain the skills and strategies to choose the right alternatives manager or become that future manager yourself

Who Will Benefit

Gain a competitive edge by developing actionable skills in the alternative investments field you can leverage to advance your career.

Alternative Investments provided more substantial coverage than what I previously had from school versus on the job.
Emily Stebbins; External Vendor Data Relationship Manager, Index & Data Solutions at BlackRock

What You'll Earn

Learn More

**Certificate of Completion**
Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online
Earn by: completing this course

**Certificate of Specialization**
Prove your mastery of finance and accounting
Earn by: completing any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization

92%

Developed increased confidence after completing their course

11x

Return on investment with an average $20,466 salary increase

82%

Felt more confident leading initiatives at work

Course Syllabus

5 Modules, 35 Hours

Download full syllabus (pdf)

Prerequisite

Participants should have completed an undergraduate-level introductory finance course or equivalent at some point during their education and possess a basic understanding of capital markets, portfolio theory, and risk and return.

Module 1

Private Equity

6-7 Hours

Learn what private equity is and its different segments: growth equity, buyouts, and venture capital. Explore the sources of risk and value and how private equity is funded.

Highlights

Pie chart showing GP ownership split among pension funds, endowments, sovereign investments, family offices, retail investors, and others. — How Is Private Equity Funded?

0:35

Should BC Partners Exist?

Module 2

Private Debt, Distress Investing, and Secondaries

6-7 Hours

Compare and contrast private equity, private debt, and distress investing, and explore the skills needed to succeed in these investing segments.

Highlights

0:48

Structuring the Pierre Foods Deal

0:51

GSO/Crosstex: The Outcome Deal

Module 3

Hedge Funds

6-7 Hours

Learn key elements of hedge funds, including fee structure and sources of risk and value, and understand and assess types of arbitrage and strategies.

Highlights

0:14

The Pitfalls of TCI's Approach

0:23

Fundamental vs. Technical vs. Quant

Module 4

Real Estate

6-7 Hours

Understand how real estate differs from the rest of the alternatives space and the types of real estate investments.

Highlights

0:23

Rick's Dilemma

Module 5

Portfolio Construction

6-7 Hours

Describe the “money journey” and key players involved, interpret metrics to analyze performance, and discuss trends in alternatives.

Highlights

0:35

Complementarity - Alternative Investments

0:57

PFA Pension: Strategy 2020

Interested in using this course for CFA Institute credit?

CFA Institute (including the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement programs) allows its members the ability to self-determine and self-report continuing education credits earned from external sources. CFA Institute members are encouraged to self-document such credits in their online Professional Learning tracker.

Led by World-Renowned HBS Faculty

HBS Online courses are taught by Harvard Business School faculty, bringing the renowned HBS classroom experience directly to you.

Experience

Immersive Learning

Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes.

HBS Online courses allow you to immerse yourself in a
dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every
three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and
problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning.

Real-World Connections

Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.

See how the HBS Online course platform engages you in social learning. You exchange ideas, offer input, and seek out viewpoints from a community of learners gathered from around the globe. In the process, you learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives, and leave the program with a broader outlook on the world.

Real-World Cases

Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like GSO Capital, the Children's Investment Fund, PFA Asset Management, and Oaktree Capital Management.

Our courses allow you to apply your learning through
real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case
method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story
unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the
diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a
path forward.

Real-World Outcomes

The ROI I've had from taking these classes is amazingly impressive. The beauty is that you learn something the night before and, the next day, you magically find a situation where you can apply it.
Richard Pitts
Chief Medical Officer, CalOptima Health