Welcome to StratCamp
The #1 Intro to Coding Program for Finance Professionals!
- Weekly drip-course with topics in computer science focused on the finance industry taught by Mark Ross, former VP Strat on Morgan Stanley's Trading Desk.
- Languages Covered: Python, SQL, Excel, VBA, Data Engineering, Linux, and much more!
- At the completion of each module there is both a special finance lecture as well as a homework assignment dedicated towards the content of that module. Homework solutions will be provided in the following week.
- Once-a-month live Q&A session with Mark Ross where you can ask anything regarding homeworks, the program, or even career coaching related questions.
- Access to our private Slack channel where you can post concerns / questions you have and other students can/will engage with you. There will also be a dedicated TA to engage in this forum.
- The TA will also host weekly sessions where he will answer any questions you might have regarding the course material or your homework
- The TA will also prepare a financial application for each module for you to gain valuable real-world experience
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StratCamp Course Syllabus
Objective: Introductory comprehensive training in programming, database management, data analysis, and technological tools as applied in finance for banks and hedge funds.
Module 1: Introduction to Python for Finance
Duration: 6 Weeks
- Week 1-2: Python Basics
- Environment Setup (Jupyter Notebook, Linux, VS Code, Git)
- Introduction to Python
- Variables, Data Types, and Operations
- Control Flow: Conditions and Loops
- Basic Data Structures: Lists, Tuples, Sets, Dictionaries
- String Manipulation
- Week 3-4: Intermediate Python
- User Defined Functions
- Using Visual Studios
- Modules
- List Comprehensions
- Handling Exceptions
- Working with Files
- Linux 101
- Week 5-6: Applied Python in Finance
- Introduction to NumPy and Pandas
- Basic Financial Analysis
- Time Series Data Handling
- Introduction to APIs and Data Acquisition
Tools Covered: Jupyter Notebook, VS Code, Linux
Bonus Financial Model: Intro to Pricing Financial Derivatives
Module 2: SQL for Financial Data Management
Duration: 6 Weeks
- Week 1-2: SQL Basics
- MySQL Setup
- Table Design Protocol
- Database Fundamentals
- Basic SQL Syntax
- Queries, Sorting, and Filtering Data
- IfNull & Coalesce
- Case When
- Functions & Group By
- Week 3-4: Intermediate SQL
- Database Schema
- Keys & Table Creation
- Indices and Performance Tuning
- Data Management
- Views
- Aggregation and Summarization
- Joins
- Unions
- Week 5-6: Advanced SQL for Finance
- Subqueries
- Common Table Expressions
- Temp Tables
- Windows Functions
- Advanced Syntax
- Stored Procedures and Automation
Tools Covered: MySQL Workbench, Autosys Jobs
Bonus Financial Model: Exchange-Transform-Load Trading Data
Module 3: Excel for Financial Modeling
Duration: 2 Weeks
- Week 1: Basics of Excel in Finance
- Spreadsheet Management
- Formulas and Functions
- Compounding Interest Rates
- Discount Factors
- Bond Pricing
- Week 2: Advanced Excel Techniques
- Advanced Lookups
- Text Manipulation
- Data Validation and What-If Analysis
- PivotTables and Advanced Graphing
- Filter Formulas
Tools Covered: Microsoft Excel
Bonus Financial Model: Historical Value at Risk
Module 4: Automation with VBA
Duration: 4 Weeks
- Week 1-2: Introduction to VBA
- Basics of VBA Programming
- Data Structures
- Loops & Conditional Statements
- Working with Excel Objects & Ranges
- Error Handling
- Debugging Techniques
- Week 3-4: Advanced VBA
- Automating Repetitive Tasks
- Events
- UserForms and Controls
- Dictionaries
- File Handling
- Object Oriented Programming
- Portfolio of Derivatives
Tools Covered: Microsoft Excel VBA Editor
Bonus Financial Model: Black Scholes & Binomial Asset Pricing Model
Module 5: Advanced Python for Finance
Duration: 2 Weeks
- Week 1: Code Efficiency
- Logging
- Generator Expressions
- Concurrency
- Multi-Threading
- Multi-Processing
- Week 2: Object-Oriented Programming
- Core Principles & Introduction
- Stock Portfolio with Encapsulation
- Decorators
- Advanced OOP Techniques
- Best Practices & Code Organization
Tools Covered: VS Code, Jupyter Notebook, Various Python Libraries
Bonus Financial Model: Sending Price Updates via Email
Module 6: Data Visualization in Finance
Duration: 3 Weeks
- Week 1: Python
- Connecting to MySQL
- Plotly
- MatPlotLib
- Week 2: Excel VBA
- Connecting to MySQL
- How to Handle Raw Data
- Parameters
- VBA Macros
- Automating Report Generation & Exporting to PDF
- Week 3: Tableau
- Connecting to MySQL
- Joining Tables
- Creating Basic Visualizations
Tools Covered: Python, Excel VBA, Tableau
StratCamp Case Study:
Building a Mock Trading Dataset in Python
Additional Tools and Skills:
Throughout the program, participants will gain familiarity with Linux, Virtual Machines, Jupyter Notebook, and various Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) essential for a successful career in finance technology.
Enforced Learning:
The program will include weekly assignments, module-end projects, and a case study to apply all the learned skills in a comprehensive financial analysis or trading strategy.
Certification:
Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program, demonstrating their proficiency in coding and technology as applied in the finance sector.
This syllabus is designed to be both rigorous and practical, with a strong emphasis on the applications of each skill in the financial industry, preparing participants for immediate and impactful contributions in their future roles.
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