Online Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate
Master Core Business Principles
At a Glance
The online Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Business takes you deep into the core principles of business. Designed for students in fields outside of business, you’ll build fluency across the functional areas of business, equipping you with frameworks to analyze and apply business practices in your own field.
Backed by the AACSB-accredited OU Price College of Business, the Foundations of Business certificate is built for ambitious professionals ready to integrate business insight into their fields and take their careers to the next level.
To learn more about this certificate, contact the Price Graduate Programs office at Price.Graduate.Programs@ou.edu.
100% Online
Time to Complete:
9+ months
Credit Hours:
12
Time Commitment:
10 to 20 Hours Weekly
start dates
Fall, Spring, Summer
cost
The online Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Business delivers strategic knowledge and practical tools you can apply immediately.
Tuition and fees for the program are $12,180 ($1,015 per credit hour). Books and materials are not included. There is no application fee or deposit for this certificate.
About the Online Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Business
Professionals who can think strategically, apply business principles, and bridge their expertise with broader organizational insight are in demand across every industry.
The University of Oklahoma’s Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate is a fully online program designed for students outside the business world who want to build a strong foundation of business knowledge.
Delivered through OU’s AACSB-accredited Price College of Business, this certificate equips you with practical frameworks to analyze and improve processes in your own field, and broadens your perspective by connecting your expertise with business insight.
This flexible, 100% online certificate offers a both flexible asynchronous courses as well as course options with interactive synchronous evening sessions to prepare you to accelerate your career, whether you’re growing within your current field, applying business thinking to new challenges, or building the expertise needed to move into leadership.
In addition, the 12 credit hours you earn through the Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate are fully transferable (subject to time limits) as electives into OU’s online MBA, or other graduate degree programs within business or across OU, allowing you to build momentum now and potentially shorten the time required to complete your master’s degree if you choose to continue.
To learn more about this certificate, contact the Price Graduate Programs office at Price.Graduate.Programs@ou.edu.
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Course Details
The Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate provides a strong base in business fundamentals, including accounting, management, finance, and economics. Whether you're advancing in your current field or taking on new responsibilities that call for business acumen, this curriculum delivers the strategic knowledge and practical tools to navigate cross-functional challenges and lead with confidence.
Core Courses
- Managerial Economics (2 credit hours)
Elective Courses (Choose 5)
- Financial Accounting (2)
- Managerial Accounting (2)
- Quantitative Analysis I (2)
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (2)
- Financial Management (2)
- Investments (2)
- Business Ethics/Legal (2)
- Organizational Behavior (2)
- Management Information Systems (2)
- Marketing Management (2)
- Planning and Operations Management (2)
Expand each course below to view more about the topics covered and how they prepare you to bring business acumen to any career.
Course Structure
You’ll earn 12 credit hours across six courses with each semester divided into two modules. Courses in the Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate are offered in a mix of flexible asynchronous format and interactive synchronous format to suit your needs as you gain the knowledge needed to compete in a growing industry.
CORE COURSE (2 HOURS)
Managerial Economics
Credit Hours: 2
Microeconomic concepts and analysis as used in managerial decision-making with emphasis on marginal analysis, comparative advantage, resource allocation, opportunity cost, demand and supply, elasticity, economic efficiency, price discrimination, welfare analysis, production and cost functions, productivity, market structures, externalities and public goods, game theory, information asymmetry, market signaling, and government regulation of anti-competitive behavior.
Choose 10 hours from the following list:
Financial Accounting
Credit Hours: 2
Students will learn to construct and analyze financial statements of for-profit corporate enterprises. The basic accounting model including financial statement recording and preparation will be covered. A major emphasis will be placed on using financial statements for decision making by investors, creditors, and other users. Basic ratio analysis and valuation concepts will be introduced
Managerial Accounting
Credit Hours: 2
This course emphasizes the use of accounting information for internal planning and control. Introduces students to types of managerial information used to effectively and efficiently run businesses. Covers basic issues in costing (activity based and product); generation and interpretation of information for planning and strategic decision-making (pricing, make-or-buy analysis, cost-volume-profit analysis); production and use of information related to performance measurement.
Quantitative Analysis I
Credit Hours: 2
This course examines key probability and applied statistical concepts. General course objectives are: 1) enhanced Excel modeling skills; 2) understanding and use of descriptive statistics; 3) basics of probability theory; 4) use and interpretation of various probability models; 5) ANOVA; and 6) regression analysis. Microsoft Excel will be used to illustrate many of these topics.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Credit Hours: 2
Innovation & Entrepreneurship offers candidates the opportunity to understand how starting your own business can alter your life's path. The course offers an overview of the concepts and tools of entrepreneurship involving 1) finding or creating opportunities 2) critical success factors in the creation of new ventures and 3) the significance of entrepreneurship for economic development
Financial Management
Credit Hours: 2
The goal of this course is to provide a working knowledge of fundamental concepts in financial management and the ability to apply these concepts to real-world problems. The student should learn the following subjects: time value of money, interest rates, risk and return, stock and bond valuation, cash flow analysis, and capital budgeting.
Investments
Credit Hours: 2
The purpose of this course is to provide the fundamentals of investment analysis. This course will place an emphasis on topics such as risk and return, asset pricing models, portfolio theory, hedge funds, behavioral finance, bond valuation, introduction to futures markets and options, and basics on financial instruments and trading of securities.
Business Ethics/Legal
Credit Hours: 2
Review of the American legal process and ethical frameworks for gauging business decisions.
Organizational Behavior
Credit Hours: 2
Concepts and theories of organizational behavior and human resources management for MBAs.
Management Information Systems
Credit Hours: 2
This course examines the role of information technology, and its management, in supporting an organization's (internally- and externally-focused) operations and strategies. Particular attention is given to issues associated with the funding and building of business and technology architectures to enable efficient, effective, and adaptable operational, tactical and strategic actions.
Marketing Management
Credit Hours: 2
Covers marketing concepts of use to MBAs. Topics include the use of management information systems, pricing, product offerings, promotion, distribution and consumer behavior, as well as marketing segmentation and strategic marketing.
Planning and Operations Management
Credit Hours: 2
In this course, we will discuss advanced concepts of operations planning, operations functions, current operations management practices, analytical techniques related to operations management problems, and applying these concepts and techniques in practice.
Why Choose OU Online for a Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Business
OU Online delivers high-quality, affordable undergraduate and graduate programs designed for working professionals. With flexible, fully online formats and instruction from a top-tier public university, you’ll gain the skills and credentials to advance your career without putting it on hold.
Explore how you can thrive in your field with a foundation in business, where core principles, analytical thinking, and strategic decision-making are essential skills for professionals ready to lead across today’s complex and fast-moving organizations.
Faculty Expertise
Learn from Price College faculty and seasoned business professionals who combine academic rigor with real-world experience and cutting-edge insight into business strategy, cross-functional thinking, and organizational leadership.
Robust Student Support
OU Online offers robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center. The program accommodates the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your skills while maintaining full-time employment.
Global Alumni Network
With more than 250,000 alumni across the world, becoming a Sooner means you’ll have access to a strong network of business professionals to accelerate your career. As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful network of leaders working in organizations across the world, helping you expand your career with a foundation in business.
Flexible Format
The online Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate offers a flexible format built for working professionals across the globe. Earn your certificate in as few as 9 months while maintaining full-time employment and managing personal commitments. Study from anywhere and gain specialized expertise in business that sets you apart in a competitive industry.
Tailored Experience
Move through the program with a small, focused cohort of professionals who share your passion for business. Engage in dynamic online discussions with faculty and peers while building a powerful network within the industry. Learn to lead, collaborate, and thrive in in any organization.
Cost and Financial Aid
Earning your Foundations of Business Graduate Certificate is an investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment as accessible and transparent as possible.
Tuition and fees for the program are $12,180 ($1,015 per credit hour). Books and materials are not included. There is no application fee for this degree.
*Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
