Pardee Management Library

Bloomberg Essentials Online Training Program

The Frederick S. Pardee Management Library currently provides students access to the Bloomberg Essentials Program at Boston University.  This program replaces the previous Bloomberg Certification Program.  For users that are currently enrolled in the Bloomberg Certification Program, they will have until November 1, 2009 to complete the old program: http://www.bu.edu/library/guides/pml/bloombergcertification.html.    

The Bloomberg Essentials Online Training program is designed to provide users with an introduction to the Bloomberg Professional Service.  Four Core videos will provide users with the basic Bloomberg functionality and supplemental Market Sector videos will provide users with an introduction to the major market fundamentals. 

General

• Program enrollment: To sign up for the program you must register with Pardee Library at pardstf@bu.edu.
• Prerequisite/requirements:  Participation or enrollment in Portfolio Finance, MSIM, EMBA, Humphrey Fellowship or doctoral program, MBA students, Mathematical Finance students, faculty, and qualified Finance major undergraduates.
• Charge:  This program is free of charge to BU students.
• Program Contact:  Kathleen Berger (bergerkm@bu.edu), Monday - Friday 9-5 or Farha Hasan (fhasan@bu.edu), Tuesday 11-8, Wednesday 11-8 and Sunday 12-8 phone: 617.353.4312/4313/4303.   If you need immediate assistance contact Mary Monaco (memonaco@bu.edu) or Basilio Serna (bserna@bu.edu) phone: 617.353.4303.
• Time: Students can work on the program at their own pace. Program participants must sign up to book the Bloomberg terminal and can do so up to one week in advance by e-mailing pardstf@bu.edu or at the Pardee Reference Desk. Program participants can book one 1 hour session per day.
• Library Hours: Be sure to check library hours before you drop in. If you come in before or after the Reference Desk hours, remember to consult the sign up sheet for the Bloomberg terminal located at the Reference Desk.    

Bloomberg User ID & Equipment

• Bloomberg User ID: You must create your own Bloomberg user ID and login. To do so from the Bloomberg terminal type in UREG <GO>.  You will need to speak with Bloomberg Customer service during this process to validate your user name and id, so please have a cell phone with you.
• Equipment: We have a head set at the Pardee Library Reference Desk, but you are also welcome to use your own head set.

Classes

• This is an eight course program in which five courses must be completed in order to receive the Acknowledgement of Completion (4 Core Courses and 1 course in any one of the four asset class designations).  There are four Bloomberg Core Videos (Getting Started, Bloomberg News, Market Monitors and Launch Pad and API - Bloomberg Data in Excel) and four Bloomberg Market Sector Videos (Equity Essentials, Fixed Income Essentials, FX Essentials and Commodity Essentials).  In order to earn an Acknowledgement of Completion, users must take the Core Exam along with any one of the Market Sector Exams and earn a grade of 75% or better on each of the exams.  Users can complete all 5 (1 Core and 4 Market Sector) exams if they would like to receive an acknowledgement document for each of the four Market Sectors.
• Class videos are viewed from the Bloomberg terminal located in the Pardee Library through the function BESS <GO>. 

Downloading Video and Documents

• Before you start a class video, download the document for the class by typing CHEAT <GO>.  The course documents are under this function (CHEAT <GO>).  To download the document for the first Core course:  Click on 1) Getting Started.  Click on 1) Getting Started (On the next screen).  Click on 2) A Booklet: Getting Started on Bloomberg.  This booklet provides an introduction to the Bloomberg terminal's navigation and functionality.  Download the PDF to the Bloomberg document folder.  Then print the document to the printer attached to the Bloomberg terminal.
  

• Type in BESS <GO> and choose the class that you want to view.  Courses are progressive and should be taken in order.  Clicking on the course name will start the video.
• To start the first core video click on:
  • (2) Getting Started (Under Bloomberg Core Videos)
    
    
• To access the FAQs on the Bloomberg Essentials Program, click on 1)Questions, at the top of the Bloomberg Essentials Home Page.  The FAQs provide information on the videos and on the exams.

Bloomberg Courses

 

Exams

• After completing the four Core courses (Getting Started, Bloomberg News, Market Monitors and Launch Pad and API - Bloomberg Data in Excel), users will need to take an exam.  Users will also need to take an exam after completing one of the Market Sector courses (Equity Essentials, Fixed Income Essentials, FX Essentials or Commodity Essentials).  You will need to pass each exam with a 75% passing grade in order to receive the Acknowledgement of Completion. You may complete each of the Market Sector courses and take an exam for each Market Sector course to receive an Acknowledgment of Completion for each asset class. 
• Each exam contains about 30 questions.
• In order to access the exams, type 6<GO> off of the Bloomberg Essentials Home Page and request that you get enabled for the Core, Equity, Fixed Income, Commodity or FX exam.  Once enabled, go back to the Bloomberg Essentials Home Page and type 7<GO> to access the exams.
• Your exam grade will immediately appear upon completion of the exam.
• Exam retakes will not be offered.
  
• Bloomberg will not authorized access to exams unless you view the class.
• If you start an exam and are unable to finish it during your session, the exam will be saved under your login, but it is recommended that you complete it within 24 hours.

Acknowledgement Documents

• To request the Acknowledgment Document, type 6<GO> off of the Bloomberg Essentials menu and provide your name and your email address and specify the Market Sector course that you completed.
• An Acknowledgment Document will be issued upon completion of the four Course courses and one of  the Market Sector courses.
• Acknowledgement Documents will be emailed within 2 weeks of the request.