ECON 3A

Introduction to Investments

Economics · 2 units · Undergraduate lower division (0-99)

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Broad introduction to investments. No previous financial, economic, or math background needed. Students learn organizing framework with which to understand investing landscape with highlight on key concepts and functionality related to business and personal investments. Topics include why financial markets exist and how they work, efficient market hypothesis, risk versus reward, investment styles, valuation techniques, simple quantitative analysis, power of compound interest, financial crises, and role private equity, venture capital, innovation and start-ups, and personal financial advisers. Serves as excellent introduction to career paths in finance and for those who want to increase their financial literacy.

P/NP grading.

When it runs

Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.

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Requisites

UCLA lists no requisites for this course.

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Unlocks

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ECON 3A

ECON 3BIntroduction to Investments

1 course lists this as a requisite. The whole downstream is here — 1 course over 1 level. Every course here opens its own tree.