Business development courses can help you learn how to identify growth opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and drive long-term value for organizations.

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 Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Competitive Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Ethics, Peer Review, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Business Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Governance, Stakeholder Management, New Business Development, Business Research, Analysis, Project Management
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Strategy, New Business Development, Innovation, Organizational Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Market Dynamics, Competitive Analysis, Market Opportunities, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Valuation, Risk Management
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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: Quality Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Project Scoping, Project Closure, Project Management, Project Planning, Agile Project Management, Continuous Improvement Process, Project Controls, Backlogs, Milestones (Project Management), Project Risk Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Quality Assessment, Team Management, Agile Methodology, Change Management, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 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 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

Michigan State University
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Intellectual Property, Value Propositions, Business Planning, Design Thinking, Ideation, Innovation, Income Statement, Entrepreneurship, Customer Acquisition Management, Business Modeling, Product Development, Balance Sheet, Market Opportunities, Verification And Validation, Creative Thinking, Lean Methodologies, Resource Management, Financial Modeling, Leadership
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Copenhagen Business School
Skills you'll gain: Business Strategy, Business Planning, Case Studies, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Plan Execution, Goal Setting, Resource Management, Organizational Strategy, Peer Review, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Leadership, Innovation, Organizational Structure, Strategic Planning, Market Analysis, Culture Transformation, Change Management, Business Strategies, Business Management
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

University of London
Skills you'll gain: Brand Management, Branding, Brand Marketing, Brand Strategy, Brand Awareness, Employee Engagement, Marketing Management, Global Marketing, Internal Communications, Customer experience strategy (CX), Human Resources, Organizational Change, Consumer Behaviour, Cross-Functional Collaboration
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Harvard Business Review
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Generative AI, Critical Thinking, Business Modeling, Plan Execution, Financial Acumen, Prompt Engineering, Business Acumen, Financial Management, Budgeting, Business Strategy, Responsible AI, Strategic Decision-Making, Financial Data, Financial Analysis, Strategic Leadership, Income Statement, Decision Making, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Digital Transformation
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Salesforce
Skills you'll gain: Overcoming Objections, Prospecting and Qualification, Customer Relationship Management, Lead Generation, Sales Development, Time Management, Business Writing, Salesforce, Writing, Productivity, Cold Calling, Sales Prospecting, Growth Mindedness, Verbal Communication Skills, Cultural Diversity, Sales Enablement, Empathy, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development, Sales
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Browse the business development courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.
Yes. You can start learning business development on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in business development, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.
You’ll learn how to identify market trends, manage relationships with partners and clients, and create strategies to drive growth. Some courses also cover negotiation, data analysis for decision-making, and digital tools for managing leads and customer pipelines.
No prior business experience is required for most beginner-level courses. They start with the basics and provide step-by-step instruction. For learners with experience, there are also advanced courses on strategic partnerships and scaling operations.
Yes. Business development is a critical function in any growing organization. Coursera courses can help you build practical skills, understand market dynamics, and develop a mindset for identifying and executing growth opportunities—whether you’re starting your career or looking to expand your expertise.