ECON 23
Investing With Purpose: The planning and practice of endowment investing Winter 2024

This is not the current course catalog

Are you eager to learn about investing? Or perhaps you are interested in non-profits and want to understand how endowments support their mission? Maybe you’ve thought about a potential career in finance, but want to know the difference between asset management and investment banking? ECON 23 is open to students of all majors and backgrounds; students with no prior experience are welcome and encouraged to apply. ECON 23 is designed to introduce students to investing and equip students with key industry knowledge and skills. The course is taught by members of the Williams College Investment Office, which oversee the college’s $3.5 billion endowment. We’ll start with an introduction to the role that the endowment plays in supporting the college’s mission. Next, the course will cover different investment assets including equity, hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, fixed income, and impact investing. Students will receive a brief overview of accounting and will have the opportunity to learn about different career paths in finance. Through discussions, readings, and a group case study, students will apply skills learned. Students will learn from practicing investment professionals through guest speakers and will gain practical skills in Microsoft Excel through training and project work. The course will conclude with a required trip to Boston, where the class will spend the day with the Investment Office team and network with Williams alumni working in endowment management, private equity, consulting, and more. The course is open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors. To apply, please email [email protected] by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, October 22, 2023 your resume and a brief personal statement discussing how your background and curiosity inform your interest in this course and what you hope to gain from it. For students without a resume prepared, ensure your personal statement contains relevant information you wish to convey.