Understanding Your Money

Understanding Your Money is a self-paced online program for high school students. Offering an introduction to fundamental economic concepts, including investing and basic money management skills, this program is designed to help students make smarter financial decisions. In addition to online video lessons delivered by Wharton faculty, the program also includes related readings, activities, glossary terms, and quizzes to test learning.

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Overview

Students in Understanding Your Money will access the program on the Wharton Online learning platform. The program is on-demand and self-paced, so you can move through the material as your schedule allows.

Student Benefits

  • Enhance your understanding of money-management concepts
  • Learn from world-class faculty
  • Engage at your own pace with the convenience of online learning and flexible start dates
  • Earn a Wharton Global Youth Program certificate of completion to document your learning

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to

  • Define and apply key economics concepts and principles in financial decision-making
  • Define money and how you interact with it in different ways
  • Identify earning and budgeting skills, and explain the impact of financial problems on a person’s well-being
  • Articulate why people invest and how to develop smart investing strategies

Introduction from Wharton Prof. Mauro Guillén

Details

Time Commitment

This program is designed with 4 modules of content, including 16 topic units and 55 lecture videos. It will take 13–15 hours to complete the program, but students move through at their own pace.

Program Modules

Module 1: Economics

  • What Is Economics
  • Supply and Demand
  • Utility and Cost
  • Compound Interest and Discounting
  • Decision Making: Opportunity Cost

Module 2: What Is Money?

  • Currency and International Markets
  • Money in Action
  • The Role of Banks

Module 3: Earning and Budgeting

  • Jobs and Money
  • Budgeting
  • Living within Your Means
  • The Impact of Financial Problems on a Person’s Well-being

Module 4: Investing

  • Retirement Planning
  • Introduction to Investing
  • Risk and Return
  • Asset Allocation

Cost

$329

Requirements

Technical Requirements

In order to access our programs, you must have a connection to the Internet. Videos are only available via online streaming — you will not be able to download videos for viewing offline. Please take note of your school’s restrictions for viewing content and/or firewall settings. Our programs work best with current versions of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, or with Internet Explorer version 9 and above. For the best possible experience, we recommend switching to an up-to-date version of Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed you can get it for free here.

At this time, our system does not fully support access with mobile devices. While many components of this course will function on a mobile device, some may not. If you experience any technical difficulties with the course site, including problems viewing videos or other features, please email wgyp-online@wharton.upenn.edu. For more information on the browser and computer requirements for Canvas, you can also visit here.

Admissions

Eligibility

High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–12. International applicants are welcome.

Admission

Understanding Your Money has no application process or prerequisites. Students can simply click the Enroll Now button and start learning.

FAQs

When does the course start? Do I need to apply?

Unlike our other online programs, Understanding Your Money is an asynchronous, self-paced course. Students in grades 9-12 can enroll immediately via the Understanding Your Money webpage and can begin the course when ready. Students set their own course completion schedules and work at their own pace. It takes approximately 13-15 hours to complete the entire course. Students are not required to submit an application to enroll in the course.

What language is this program offered in?

This program is offered in English with English captions. A high level of English fluency in reading, writing, and listening is required for successful completion.

How are students assessed on what they learn?

Each topic unit ends with a brief quiz to assess understanding. Students must complete all unit lessons/pages before taking the quiz. Students may take the quiz more than once; only the highest quiz score will be recorded. A score of 60% or higher must be achieved to advance to the next learning module.

Can I jump around to different modules?

Students must navigate through each module in the order they are offered. Once modules are complete and a successful quiz score is achieved, students are welcome to return to previous modules.

Will I earn some kind of certificate at the end?

Yes! Participants who successfully complete all program modules will earn a Wharton Global Youth Program Certificate of Completion.

Can I receive a letter of recommendation after completing the program?

As this program is offered in a self-paced, online format, unfortunately we cannot offer letters of recommendation.

What is your refund policy?

Cancellation requests must be submitted to wgyp-online@wharton.upenn.edu. If you submit a cancellation request after starting the program, you will not be eligible for a refund. To submit your request, please include your full name and order number in your email request. Refunds will be credited to the credit card used when you registered and may take up to two billing cycles to process. Wharton Global Youth Program has no obligation to issue a refund, but if you believe a refund is warranted, please email us at wgyp-online@wharton.upenn.edu.

Is financial assistance available for this program?

Financial assistance is not available at this time.

Location

Online

For more information, please contact . 

Please note that participation in Wharton Global Youth Programs does not guarantee admission to Penn.

"I found that the content was extremely relevant and helpful for my financial life….It began with a large picture of the economy as a whole and then narrowed down to how I as an individual investor can make money."

- Joseph S.