Online learning is a convenient, easy and simple way to learn new skills from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you have a connected device. You can even study on a mobile phone or tablet on the go.
Taking an online course can help you advance your current career, get a job in a field you’re interested in or switch careers and move to a new industry. According to the 2019 Coursera Learner Outcomes Survey, 87% of people who learn for professional development report their studies have led to career benefits like starting a new career, getting a raise or being promoted.
Now is a great time to invest in your skillset through online learning. Expanding your knowledge can give you a competitive advantage when you return back to the office and help prepare you to stay ahead during this uncertain time.
Wharton Online has plenty of online learning options to choose from in business specializations. All courses are 100% online and take between 6-8 hours to complete. Each course has flexible deadlines and all are taught by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania professors.
Upon the completion of each course, you’ll get a shareable digital credential you can feature on your LinkedIn profile and add to your resume.
Take a look at these top 10 most in-demand online courses from Wharton Online to see where you can gain a competitive edge.
1. Customer Analytics
The Customer Analytics course is a business strategy course that provides an overview of four key areas of customer analytics: predictive analytics, descriptive analytics, prescriptive analytics and how these analytics types relate to real-world business applications. Students will examine analytics case studies from notable brands like Starbucks, Amazon and Google. Upon completion, students will have been introduced to the theory of customer analytics and understand how data collection informs business decisions.
2. Introduction to Financial Accounting
In Introduction to Financial Accounting, students learn how to read the three most common financial statements: the balance sheet, the income statement and the statement of cash flows. Students in this course learn how to analyze financial statements and learn how accounting standards affect financial reporting.
3. Introduction to Corporate Finance
The Introduction to Corporate Finance course teaches finance fundamentals, including concepts like the time value of money, cost of capital, interest rates, risk-return tradeoff, capital budgeting, asset valuation, net present value, cash flow analysis and other key applications. Students also learn about corporate decision-making, personal finance and financial intermediation.
4. People Analytics
The People Analytics course teaches students how data can drive successful decisions regarding talent management. Students learn how to use data-based techniques for people-related issues like recruiting, hiring, promotion, job design, performance evaluation, leadership, collaboration and compensation.
5. Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity
The Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity course is an introduction to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Students learn what entrepreneurship means, what makes an entrepreneur and why entrepreneurship is important for society. Students will learn how to take an idea and test, validate and prototype it as a viable business opportunity. Students will also learn how to create an elevator pitch and use discovery-driven planning.
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6. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content
The Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content course is a marketing strategy course that teaches students how to make products, ideas and brands go viral through strategic marketing. Students will learn how to increase influence, generate word of mouth and use social networks to increase awareness.
7. Business and Financial Modeling Specialization
The Business and Financial Modeling Specialization is a 5-course specialization that takes about 6 months to complete at a pace of 3 hours per week. Upon completion, students will understand how to create quantitative models, how to use spreadsheets to map and predict data, how to measure and manage risk, and how to structure decision-making. The specialization includes the following courses: Fundamentals of Quantitative Modeling, Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models, Modeling Risk and Realities, Decision-Making and Scenarios and the Wharton Business and Financial Modeling Capstone. Students learn skills including simulation, company valuation, forecasting, investment analysis, linear programming (LP), linear regression, regression analysis and cash flow.
8. Business Strategies for Social Impact
In the Business Strategies for Social Impact course, students learn how to make business decisions that positively contribute to society. Students will learn about impact investing, how to create a business strategy that drives social impact and how to develop leadership skills related to social impact. Students will also discover how to measure societal impact through evidence-based models.
9. Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts Specialization
The Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts Specialization is a 4 course-specialization that takes around 4 months to complete at a pace of 3 hours per week. Students will learn how to create quantitative models, how to use spreadsheets for data mapping and prediction, and how to read cash flow and income statements. They’ll also learn finance fundamentals and skills related to corporate finance and financial modeling. The courses included in the specialization are: Fundamentals of Quantitative Modeling, Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models, Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers and Introduction to Corporate Finance.
10. Leading the Life You Want
Leading the Life You Want is a leadership-based course that helps students learn how to lead at work, at home, in the community and personally, through mind, body and spirit. Students learn key leadership principles and how to integrate them in all facets of life. The course examines case studies of real-world leaders, including political figures (Michelle Obama and Eric Greitens), corporate leaders (Sheryl Sandberg and Tom Tierney), an athlete (Julie Foudy) and a musician (Bruce Springsteen). Students will learn exercises to practice their leadership and will learn how to develop their leadership skills in all areas of life.
Grow Your Knowledge, Evolve Your Career, Enrich Your Life
Online courses from Wharton Online, like the ones listed here, can inspire you, teach you and help you develop your professional (and personal) lives. Wharton Online has designed these courses to give students the skills they need to advance in the workplace, become more effective leaders and find fulfillment in their careers and beyond.
You can take these courses on your own time, on your own device. With each course, get a certificate of completion that can boost your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your next job interview and your reputation in your industry.
Learn about all of Wharton Online’s industry-leading programs and certificates.
