Online Business Essential Courses

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Interpret data to inform business decisions, explore the economic foundations of strategy, and discover what’s behind the numbers in financial statements.

85%

Say taking a course bolstered their resume

10X

Return on investment with an average $17,000 salary increase

88%

Feel better prepared for getting their MBA

Source: 2018, 2022 surveys and course data

3 Courses

Credential of Readiness (CORe)

Designed to help you achieve fluency in the language of business, CORe is a business fundamentals program that combines Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting with a final exam.

10-17 weeks, 8-15 hrs/week
Apply by June 10$2,500Credential

Certificate Courses (3)

Business Analytics

Professor Janice Hammond

Apply fundamental data analysis to real business problems.

8 weeks, 5 hrs/week
Apply by July 29$1,850Certificate

Economics for Managers

Professor Bharat Anand

See the world through the lens of economics and gain the knowledge and skills to craft successful business strategy.

8 weeks, 6-8 hrs/week
Apply by September 9$1,850Certificate

Financial Accounting

Professor V.G. Narayanan

In this accounting fundamentals course, discover what's behind the numbers in financial statements, such as balance sheets and income statements.

8 weeks, 6–8 hrs/week
Apply by June 10$1,750Certificate

What You Earn

Certificate

Boost your resume by completing an HBS Online course.

Credential of Readiness

Prove your mastery of business fundamentals by completing the three-course CORe curriculum.

Learn More About What You Earn

What Learners are Saying

I feel like now I can speak more high-level about where we want to take the company and what strategic initiatives we want to put in place.

What sets HBS Online apart?

Our flexible, online programs are designed to bring the Harvard Business School classroom to you, and are built around three key characteristics:

Real-World Cases

Apply your learning through real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a path forward.

Active

Immerse yourself in a dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning. Exchange ideas with your classmates, broaden your perspective, and challenge your worldview.

Social

Join a global community of business professionals. Learn from and network with peers before, during, and after your course. Ask questions, collaborate, give feedback, and share experiences and expertise across industries to grow or transition your career. You’ll build lasting connections that support you wherever life takes you next.

Learn More about the HBS Online Learning Model

HBS Online vs. Other Top Business Schools with Online, Asynchronous Courses

	HBS OnlineHBSO	Others
Considered more impactful than other online programs by learners*	Yes	No
The preferred brand among prospective online learners*	Yes	No
Reimagined the case study method through a proprietary platform featuring courses created by renowned faculty	Yes	No
Collaboration with fellow online learners through unique simulations and interactive activities	Yes	Some
Discount for repeat participants	Yes	Some
Certificate awarded upon completion of program	Yes	Some
Invitation to a global professional network, including the HBS Online Connext conference, HBS faculty events, and HBS Online Community	Yes	No

*Considered more impactful than other online programs (From a 2023 survey of participants across all HBS Online programs, conducted by City Square Associates). Better overall experience (From a 2023 survey of prospective learners, conducted by City Square Associates).

You May Also Be Interested In

Strategy
Business in Society
Marketing

85% say taking a course bolstered their resume, 10x return on investment — From two 2022 surveys of past participants across all HBS Online programs, conducted by City Square Associates. 84% feel better prepared for getting their MBA — From a 2018 survey of past participants across all HBS Online programs, conducted by City Square Associates.

Online Business Essential Courses | HBS Online (2024)