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 General Mills
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(19,057 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
- Operational Efficiency
- Financial Reporting
- Strategic Marketing
- Corporate Finance
- Project Design
- Financial Accounting
- Human Capital
- Return On Investment
- Process Analysis
- People Management
- Finance
- Financial Statements
- Accrual Accounting
- Peer Review
- Operations Management
- Branding
- Process Management
- Marketing
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Capital Budgeting
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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: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Brand Strategy
Category: Marketing
Category: Marketing Strategy and Techniques
Category: Branding
Category: Customer Insights
Category: Market Opportunities
Category: Target Market
Category: Strategic Marketing
Category: Customer experience strategy (CX)
Category: Marketing Communications
Category: Marketing Analytics
Category: Go To Market Strategy
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Course 215 hours
What you'll learn
Skills you'll gain
Category: Cash Flows
Category: Depreciation
Category: Financial Statements
Category: Financial Statement Analysis
Category: Financial Accounting
Category: Accrual Accounting
Category: Bookkeeping
Category: Balance Sheet
Category: Business Metrics
Category: General Ledger
Category: Income Statement
Category: Return On Investment
Category: Financial Analysis
Category: Revenue Recognition
Category: Financial Reporting
Category: Accounting

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

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