Study business administration for managing organizations effectively. Learn about management principles, operations, and strategic planning.
The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

University of Glasgow
Skills you'll gain: Business Administration, Leadership Studies, Supply Chain, Marketing Strategies, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Financial Data, Innovation, Corporate Sustainability, Accounting, Business Modeling, Change Management, Business Economics, Project Management, Business Strategies, Global Marketing, B2B Sales
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Operations Management, Operational Efficiency, Financial Statement Analysis, Return On Investment, Accrual Accounting, Human Capital, Process Analysis, Branding, Financial Accounting, Marketing, Process Management, People Management, Strategic Marketing, Capital Budgeting, Financial Reporting, Finance, Peer Review, Project Design, Corporate Finance
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

IESE Business School
Skills you'll gain: Value Propositions, Financial Statements, Marketing, Financial Statement Analysis, Branding, Leadership Development, Business Analytics, Marketing Strategies, Income Statement, Business Analysis, Strategic Marketing, Intercultural Competence, Financial Analysis, Accounting, Conflict Management, Financial Management, Financial Acumen, Financial Data, Leadership, Finance
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of California, Irvine
Skills you'll gain: Search Engine Marketing, Business Strategy, Keyword Research, Digital Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Online Advertising, Search Engine Optimization, Business Planning, Content Marketing, Accountability, Cash Flow Forecasting, Business Management, Leadership and Management, Management Training And Development, Social Media Strategy, Social Media, Team Leadership, Strategic Planning, Banking, Storytelling
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Process Analysis, Business Process, Business Analysis, Workflow Management, Process Management, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Computer Literacy
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

University of London
Skills you'll gain: Organizational Change, Leadership and Management, Business Management, Innovation, Coordination, People Management, Organizational Structure, Leadership, Personal Development, Goal Setting
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Relationship Management, Rapport Building, Business Development, Customer Retention, Communication, Business Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Market Opportunities, Organizational Development, Upselling, Active Listening
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Colorado Boulder
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Conflict Management, Teamwork, Constructive Feedback, Business Correspondence, Team Building, Decision Making, Cooperation, Business Communication, Collaboration, Recognizing Others, Mediation, Writing, Organizational Skills, Interpersonal Communications, Team Motivation, Tactfulness, Performance Management, Staff Management, Grammar
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Business Modeling, Business Analysis, Resource Allocation, Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Predictive Analytics, Transportation Operations, Linear Algebra
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of London
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Process Design, Operational Excellence, Business Operations, Operational Efficiency, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Planning, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Strategy and Techniques, Strategic Marketing, Competitive Analysis, Business Ethics, Marketing Psychology, Marketing, Global Marketing, Social Sciences, International Relations, Culture, Business Management, Sustainable Business
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Risk Mitigation, Business Analysis, Business Process Modeling, Risk Analysis, Data Presentation, Interactive Data Visualization, Project Scoping, Data Visualization, Process Flow Diagrams, Stakeholder Analysis, Process Optimization, Prompt Engineering, Stakeholder Management, Digital Transformation, Responsible AI, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Business Requirements
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

University of New Mexico
Skills you'll gain: Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, Economic Development, Global Marketing, Socioeconomics, Cultural Diversity, World History, Business Economics, Economics, Business, Financial Market
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Business administration is the integrated supervision and administration of all areas of an organization. This requires understanding business areas ranging from accounting to marketing to Human Resources (HR) and beyond, while also understanding how all these pieces fit together. The ability to see the big picture, set organizational goals, and align its people and resources accordingly is critically important to the success of any company.
Today’s business administrators and managers must be adept at combining traditional leadership skills with a fluency in business analytics. The digital era has created a wealth of opportunities for data analysis of a wide range of business areas, including customer behavior, operations research, and employee performance, and executives must not only understand these analytics but also be able to prioritize their relevance to decision-making.
Like business leaders of previous eras, however, they must also have the strong interpersonal skills needed to connect with their teams and motivate them to achieve company goals.
An education in business administration, and particularly a masters in business administration (MBA), can be a gateway to a wide range of careers in the world of business and finance. Understanding how organizational structures and operations impact with bottom-line business results is essential whether you have a managerial role within a company or are working as a financial analyst deciding whether or not to invest in a company.
MBAs are a particularly important credential for chief executive officers (CEOs) in the corporate world, who are ultimately responsible for decision-making across all business activities. The willingness to make these often-difficult choices and guide companies successfully is one of the most highly valued skills in the job market; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for chief executives was $206,420 in May 2024.
Absolutely. Coursera enables you to take courses and Specializations covering all areas of business, including business administration and related topics in management and leadership. These courses are offered by top-ranked schools such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Irvine, so you can learn remotely while still getting a high-quality education. You can even apply for a full MBA program from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or Macquarie University, allowing you to get a degree from prestigious business schools at a significantly lower cost than on-campus students.
A Masters of Business Administration, or MBA degree, is a graduate-level business and management degree with a focus on leadership and managerial skills. By earning this degree, you can equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to accelerate your career, transition to new industries, or even launch your own businesses.
It’s the most common and one of the most versatile graduate degrees available. Read our article about an MBA degree to learn more.
The skills and experience that would be helpful to already have before starting to learn business administration will likely include a passion for business, knowledge about business processes, and education experience toward an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree. Other skills and experience might be the ability to work in business situations, handle pressure well, be a good listener, and be likable and agreeable. It may also help to have prior experience in project management or operations management.
The kinds of people best suited for roles in business administration are usually those with a financial focus and an understanding of strategic operations and business analysis. Those who work in business administration are often people who have leadership capabilities, have a good grasp of accounting principles, and possess a calm, even-keeled temperament. People who are best suited for roles in business administration might be new graduates with a strong technology background as well. As more businesses shift their work practices toward digital efficiencies, someone who works in this area should likely have a capable technology background, with exposure to data sciences and internet operations.
You might know if learning business administration is right for you if you're a person who likes to use your knowledge about business processes and procedures to develop efficiencies for companies and organizations. You might have interest in helping companies and organizations on ways to improve management practices, lift employee morale, and increase your company’s communications. Learning business administration may be right for you if you are focused and disciplined to create a long-lasting business career. Learning the fundamentals of business administration will eventually produce a clear understanding of the financial fundamentals of any type of company.
Online Business Administration courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Business Administration skills. With a wide range of Business Administration classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Business Administration career skills.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Administration, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.