10 Business Communications Courses & Certificates 2025

Effective communication is foundational to professional success, no matter your industry or career level. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the fundamentals of business communications skills, or a leader looking to hone your public speaking proficiency, the wide variety of business communication courses online ensures there is an online course to support your goals.

From free communications courses online to specialty certification programs, read on to learn how you can further your education journey.

10 Online Courses in Business Communications

The following business communications courses inform a broad range of skills, from conflict management to public speaking to interpersonal communication. Each course is outlined by its focus, pricing (and financial aid if applicable), and any certificates offered upon completion.

1. Modern Business Writing

Offered through the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine)'s Division of Continuing Education, this online course is designed to develop effective writing practices in the business environment. Students learn how to articulate ideas clearly and concisely, from simple memos to more complex proposals.

The course is eight weeks long and costs $665. You can take Modern Business Writing as a standalone course, or apply it to the more comprehensive Business Administration certificate program from UC Irvine.

2. Active Listening

This introductory level course, run by Coursera, teaches the fundamental skills of a great listener. In the business world, this includes important topics like conflict resolution, recognizing nonverbal cues in person, and building emotional intelligence. This is a single, four-hour-long course. Students can enroll in this course for free and receive a certificate recognizing successful completion.

3. Business Communication

The online Business Communication program, a partnership of Duke University and MindEdge (ME), includes six separate courses designed to enhance learners' public speaking and written communication skills. Courses can be taken modularly to improve specific skill sets.

The cost is $145 per course; each is four to six hours long, and students study at their own pace. Courses include Effective Business Writing, Effective Presentations, and Communicating Collaboratively. When taken together, the first two of these comprise the Business Communication Certificate.

4. Project Management

The Progress Management program at Liberty University is for students looking to hone their leadership skills in a business setting. Students earn a professional certificate after completing six courses, including Foundations of Project Management and Organizational Behavior and Management. Each three-hour course is $390 per credit. Liberty University provides financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, and military discounts.

5. Managing People With Power Skills

This communication skills course is provided in collaboration with the University of Maryland, with an emphasis on relationship building between business professionals. Learners develop teamwork skills, identify stakeholders in various projects, and study key elements of successful communication plans.

The course is four weeks long, with roughly one to two hours of coursework per week. The course costs $119 and students receive a certificate upon completion; it is also available free at the audit level.

6. Business Communications

Offered by Emory University in partnership with MindEdge (ME), this certificate program is designed to enhance both written and oral communication skills, with an emphasis on presentation. The program costs $595 and takes approximately 25 hours in total. There are five self-paced courses, including Effective Public Speaking and Effective Emails, Memos, and Letters. Students receive a certificate once all five courses are successfully completed.

7. Teamwork Skills: Communicating Effectively in Groups

This free business communications course is run through Coursera in conjunction with the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). Many business communications jobs are vastly improved with great teamwork skills, like those covered here: positive decision-making practices, utilizing technology for group work, and fostering creativity in teams. This beginner course is broken down into four self-paced modules and can be included as part of a larger specialization program (Business Communications Specialization).

8. Persuasion in Business Communications

Udemy offers this $15 online course in business communications with an emphasis on persuasion. Learners gain insight on how to effectively deliver persuasive presentations, inspire action in teams, and sign more prospective clients. The self-paced course is relatively short (composed of a 1.5-hour video and five downloadable articles) and awards a certificate upon completion.

9. Durable Skills for Professional Success

The Louisiana State University (LU)'s department of Online and Continuing Education runs an online professional certificate program, which costs $995 and consists of three courses. Students cultivate skills to help them adapt within a variety of business environments, like creative problem solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. When they've successfully finished, students receive an official LSU certificate.

10. Business Writing Techniques

Offered by edX in conjunction with DoaneX, this online course outlines the fundamentals of modern professional communication. You'll learn best practices of real-world business communication, from PowerPoint presentations to the etiquette of using emojis in email. The $149 course is four weeks long, with about five to eight hours of coursework per week. At the end of the coursework, you'll receive a certificate showcasing completion.

FAQs About Business Communication Courses

There is much to consider as you decide which course is right for your professional goals. Here, we address a few of the most frequently asked questions about business communications courses.

What Skills Can I Learn From Business Communication Courses on Coursera?

Coursera offers an extensive collection of business communication courses. You can learn about delivering effective presentations, active listening, and the fundamentals of project management, among other elements of corporate communication.

Will I Earn University Credit for Completing a Business Course?

Typically, students do not earn university credit for completing a business course. Courses run by educational platforms like Coursera and edX partner with universities to deliver quality education, but the courses do not transfer as college credits. Some colleges do award credit for specific certificate programs, so it's important to check your school's policy when transferring.

What Topics Are Typically Covered in a Business Communications Course?

The umbrella for business communications is quite wide, and as such, covers a multitude of topics. Popular business communication courses include topics like conflict management, written communications, public speaking, and building teamwork.

Find Business Communications Certificates Online

Enhancing your communications skills will help you succeed in your career, no matter where you are in the business world. For more information on certificate courses, from a business context and beyond, check out the educational institutions featured on Learn.org.