What are the best business development courses on Coursera?

Top courses include Business Strategy from the University of Virginia , Relationship Management and Business Development from Starweaver , and Business and Marketing Strategies from the University of London . These courses teach how to identify growth opportunities, build relationships, and develop strategic plans.

Can I learn business development for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many business development courses offer a free audit option, which allows learners to access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a business development course?

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.

Do I need a business background to start learning about business development?

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.

Can Coursera’s business development courses help me in my career?

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.

Top Business Development Courses - Learn Business Development Online

Find the Best Business Development Course for Your Goals

Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Image Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Matlab, Machine Learning Methods, Algorithms, User Interface (UI), Applied Machine Learning, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Statistical Methods, Mathematical Software, Engineering Calculations, Data Analysis, Data Processing, Engineering Analysis, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, UI Components, Software Design, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
The Full Stack
Skills you'll gain: Full-Stack Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Django (Web Framework), Scalability, Responsive Web Design, Web Applications, Back-End Web Development, MySQL, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cloud Computing, Application Programming Interface (API), Virtual Environment, Javascript
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
220 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Data for Business Analysts Using Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Pivot Tables And Charts, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Business Metrics, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
201 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Coding for Everyone: C and C++
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Code Review, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Programming Principles, Program Development, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Integrated Development Environments, Graph Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Software Technical Review, File Systems, Game Design
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Data Warehouse Engineer
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Store, IBM DB2, Dashboard, Relational Databases, File Management, Star Schema
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.1K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
C, Go, and C++: A Comprehensive Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Object Oriented Design, Code Review, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Testing, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Graph Theory
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Epic Games Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Game Design, Video Game Development, Animation and Game Design, Ideation, 3D Modeling, Prototyping, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Software Documentation, Software Design Documents, User Experience Design, Computer Graphics, Usability, Interactive Design, Virtual Environment, Version Control, User Interface (UI) Design, Conceptual Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, UI Components
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
368 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Database Engineer
Skills you'll gain: MySQL, Database Design, Version Control, Database Management Systems, Database Management, MySQL Workbench, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Modeling, Data Structures, SQL, Unix Commands, Relational Databases, Databases, Git (Version Control System), Database Systems, Stored Procedure, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Algorithms, Django (Web Framework)
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.1K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Introduction to Generative AI
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Application Development, Artificial Intelligence, Google Cloud Platform, Machine Learning Methods
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Business Analysis Using Spreadsheets: Basics
Skills you'll gain: Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Data Presentation, Statistical Visualization, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Business Analytics, Productivity Software, Business Analysis, Data Manipulation, Descriptive Statistics, Analysis, Excel Formulas, Data Cleansing, Mathematical Software
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
999 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Global Challenges in Business
Skills you'll gain: Global Marketing, Virtual Teams, Diversity Marketing, Cultural Sensitivity, Cultural Diversity, Intercultural Competence, Consumer Behaviour, Business Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion, Marketing Planning, Culture, Team Management, Marketing, Strategic Marketing, International Relations, Advertising, Negotiation, Leadership and Management, Diversity Awareness, Strategic Decision-Making
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
508 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Tools for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Data Visualization Software, Data Science, GitHub, Big Data, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Application Programming Interface (API), Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Git (Version Control System), Version Control, Other Programming Languages, Query Languages
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
30K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months