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
Access provided by Fractal
300,492 already enrolled
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.7
(19,027 reviews)
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
- Accrual Accounting
- Process Management
- Peer Review
- Financial Statements
- Process Analysis
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Finance
- Human Capital
- Corporate Finance
- Marketing
- Branding
- Capital Budgeting
- Project Design
- Financial Accounting
- People Management
- Operational Efficiency
- Operations Management
- Strategic Marketing
Details to know

Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Advance your subject-matter expertise
- Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
- Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
- Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
- 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: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Brand Strategy
Category: Marketing
Category: Marketing Analytics
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Target Market
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Branding
Category: Strategic Marketing
Category: Marketing Strategy and Techniques
Category: Go To Market Strategy
Category: Customer experience strategy (CX)
Category: Marketing Communications
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Course 215 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Financial Statements
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Depreciation
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Bookkeeping
Category: Accrual Accounting
Category: Income Statement
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Accounting
Category: Business Metrics
Category: General Ledger
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Revenue Recognition

Managing Social and Human Capital
Course 39 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: People Management
Category: Decision Making
Category: Employee Performance Management
Category: Job Analysis
Category: Human Capital
Category: Organizational Structure
Category: Organizational Leadership
Category: Constructive Feedback
Category: Recruitment
Category: Leadership and Management
Category: Compensation Management
Category: Team Motivation
Category: Organizational Effectiveness
Category: Change Management
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Course 49 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Corporate Finance
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Financial Modeling
Category: Capital Budgeting
Category: Cost Benefit Analysis
Category: Working Capital
Category: Financial Management
Category: Depreciation
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Risk Analysis
Category: Forecasting
Category: Loans
Category: Cash Flow Forecasting
Category: Business Valuation
Category: Capital Expenditure
Category: Finance
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: Process Improvement
Category: Process Analysis
Category: Continuous Improvement Process
Category: Capacity Planning
Category: Supply Chain Management
Category: Root Cause Analysis
Category: Statistical Process Controls
Category: Lean Methodologies
Category: Operational Efficiency
Category: Workflow Management
Category: Quality Management
Category: Inventory Management System
Category: Process Flow Diagrams
Category: Process Management

Wharton Business Foundations Capstone
Course 615 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Peer Review
Category: Project Design
Category: Competitive Analysis
Category: Accounting
Category: Business
Category: Marketing
Category: Business Planning
Category: Finance
Category: Analysis
Category: Strategic Thinking
Category: Business Analysis
Category: Business Strategy
Category: Constructive Feedback
Category: Report Writing
Category: Marketing Strategy and Techniques
Category: Financial Accounting
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructors



Offered by
Industry partners


Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."





