In this Specialization, you’ll develop basic literacy in the language of business, which you can use to transition to a new career, start or improve your own small business, or apply to business school to continue your education. In five courses, you’ll learn the fundamentals of marketing, accounting, operations, and finance. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills learned by developing a go-to-market strategy to address a real business challenge.

Business Foundations Specialization


Business Foundations Specialization
Solve Real Business Problems. Build a foundation of core business skills in marketing, finance, accounting and operations.



Instructors: Michael R Roberts
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Beginner level
No prior experience required
2 months to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
- Understand branding and go-to-market strategies 
- Read income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements 
- Manage people through motivation and reward systems 
- Analyze and improve business processes in services or manufacturing 
Skills you'll gain
- Return On Investment
- Process Management
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Peer Review
- Operational Efficiency
- Accrual Accounting
- Operations Management
- Corporate Finance
- People Management
- Process Analysis
- Finance
- Project Design
- Financial Accounting
- Strategic Marketing
- Capital Budgeting
- Financial Reporting
- Marketing
- Human Capital
- Branding
- Financial Statements
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Taught in English
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- Earn a career certificate from University of Pennsylvania

Specialization - 6 course series

Introduction to Marketing
Course 112 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Brand Strategy
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Marketing
Category: Go To Market Strategy
Category: Marketing Communications
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Strategic Marketing
Category: Target Market
Category: Marketing Analytics
Category: Branding
Category: Customer experience strategy (CX)
Category: Marketing Strategy and Techniques

Introduction to Financial Accounting
Course 215 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Financial Statements
Category: Depreciation
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Bookkeeping
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Accrual Accounting
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Income Statement
Category: Accounting
Category: General Ledger
Category: Revenue Recognition
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Business Metrics

Managing Social and Human Capital
Course 39 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Decision Making
Category: Organizational Structure
Category: Job Analysis
Category: Employee Performance Management
Category: Human Capital
Category: People Management
Category: Team Motivation
Category: Recruitment
Category: Constructive Feedback
Category: Compensation Management
Category: Organizational Leadership
Category: Leadership and Management
Category: Change Management
Category: Organizational Effectiveness

Introduction to Corporate Finance
Course 49 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Corporate Finance
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Capital Budgeting
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Financial Modeling
Category: Depreciation
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Finance
Category: Loans
Category: Forecasting
Category: Risk Analysis
Category: Working Capital
Category: Cash Flow Forecasting
Category: Cost Benefit Analysis
Category: Capital Expenditure
Category: Business Valuation
Category: Financial Management

Introduction to Operations Management
Course 516 hours
What you'll learn
- You will learn to analyze processes, optimize flow, and manage variability, driving improvements and achieving excellence in operations management. 
Skills you'll gain
Category: Operations Management
Category: Root Cause Analysis
Category: Capacity Planning
Category: Process Improvement
Category: Statistical Process Controls
Category: Process Analysis
Category: Supply Chain Management
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Workflow Management
Category: Quality Management
Category: Lean Methodologies
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Process Management
Category: Inventory Management System
Category: Process Flow Diagrams

Wharton Business Foundations Capstone
Course 615 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Business Planning
Category: Report Writing
Category: Constructive Feedback
Category: Marketing Strategy and Techniques
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Analysis
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Peer Review
Category: Finance
Category: Project Design
Category: Marketing
Category: Business
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Accounting
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