CORe Course
Online
DURATION
10 up to 17 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 2,500 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* $2,500 non-credit / $3,960 for credit
Introduction
Gain the skills and confidence needed for your next chapter with CORe
The Credential of Readiness (CORe) is our primer on the fundamentals of business thinking—a three-course online program designed to prepare you to participate fully in the business world. CORe was developed by HBS faculty members to instill a deep understanding of essential business concepts and problem-solving skills. Mastering the three CORe courses—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting—will give you fluency in the language of business.
This is the program that Harvard Business School offers to incoming students to prepare for the MBA classroom, and it will equip you to contribute to business discussions and decision making, whether you’re looking to advance your current career, considering graduate school, or exploring new career paths.
You will learn alongside a global cohort of peers—sharing perspectives and surfacing insights as you progress through the program. You will also have an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the material by passing the required, in-person final exam.
Participating in CORe will allow you to:
- Analyze and interpret data to inform business decisions
- Apply economic principles to real business situations
- Discover what’s behind the numbers in financial statements
- Master concepts as you tackle multimedia case studies of diverse organizations
- Develop business intuition through cold calls and interactive features
- Join global cohort of peers with diverse experiences on our course platform
- Engage online as your schedule allows
CORe Courses
Business Analytics
with Professor Jan Hammond
Business Analytics introduces quantitative methods used to analyze data and make better management decisions. You will hone your understanding of key concepts, your managerial judgment, and your ability to apply course concepts to real business problems.
Economics for Managers
with Professor Bharat Anand
Economics for Managers dives into fundamental economic principles like supply and demand, cost, markets, competition, and differentiation. You will gain the knowledge and skills needed to craft successful business strategy.
Financial Accounting
with Professor V.G. Narayanan
This course will teach you the fundamentals of financial accounting. Starting with the basics of recording transactions as journal entries and posting them to T accounts, you will learn how to prepare a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
The HBS Online Advantage
- World-class faculty
- Edge-of-your-seat online learning
- Global peer collaboration and networking
- Real-world, case-based learning
Harvard Business School Online offers a unique and highly engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by a diverse group of finance experts, including Rick Childs, Managing Member of 625 Ground Lessor LLC; Mike Even, former Global CIO for Citigroup Asset Management; Chris Hohn, founder of the Children’s Investment Fund; Henrik Poulsen, Chief Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of PFA Asset Management; Dwight Scott, President of GSO Capital; Nikos Stathopoulos, Partner at BC Partners and Member of the BC Partners Executive Committee; and Matt Wilson, Co-Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of Oaktree Capital Management. Step into their shoes and wrestle with the same issues they faced, while engaging with fellow learners from around the world.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Who would benefit
Individuals from many different educational and professional backgrounds have benefited from CORe. There are no prerequisites for the program. We’ve found that most participants fall into one of the following three categories:
- College students and recent graduates looking to stand out from the crowd and impress during interviews
- Those considering an MBA or other graduate programs who would like to strengthen their application and be prepared on day one
- Professionals looking to deepen their understanding of essential business concepts, add value to their organizations, and advance their careers
If you are hungry for an immersive learning experience that could change the way you think about the world and prepare you for your next chapter, CORe may be just what you’re looking for.
Note: By enrolling in the CORe program, participants will be ineligible to enroll in Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, or Financial Accounting as individual certificate programs. By enrolling in Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, or Financial Accounting as individual certificate programs, participants will be ineligible to enroll in the CORe program.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We have financial aid and scholarship opportunities for U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, as well as income-based scholarships for select courses. For more information, please visit our Payment & Financial Aid page for more information.
Curriculum
Program Structure
CORe is delivered on our innovative online platform which puts you, the student, at the center of the learning process. You will complete the coursework on your own schedule while meeting regular weekly deadlines. With us, learning is active, social, and case-based. We ask you to step into the role of a business leader and engage with your peers to work through real-world business challenges. By doing so, you learn more. You walk away from CORe with a new perspective on the world and how businesses work.
CORe’s program structure is distinct in several ways:
1. Credential program
As a credential program, CORe consists of three courses, features a final exam, and is graded based on quiz and final exam performance, quality and timeliness of work, and contributions to the learning community. Learn more about CORe grading.
The three-hour, multiple-choice final exam is a closed book, a computer-based assessment that has been created by HBS faculty and is administered at one of 4,800 Pearson VUE test centers worldwide. Learn more about how the final exam is administered and where you can sit for the final exam on our Frequently Asked Questions page. A passing exam score on all three courses is required in order to earn the CORe credential.
2. Fit CORe into your schedule
We offer CORe throughout the year with multiple durations of study—ranging from standard 10-week or 12-week cohorts to extended 17-week cohorts. However, the course content and program requirements are identical regardless of the program length. Our goal in offering different program lengths is to give you options to balance the program’s rigors with your lifestyle and other responsibilities.
The median time required to complete the program is approximately 150 hours, though this learning time varies widely. Some participants spend more time on the platform to enhance their understanding of course concepts and engage with their peers. This time does not include review work outside the platform or preparing for and taking the three-hour CORe final exam.
Extended Cohorts
Program Length: 17 Weeks
Time Commitment: 8-10 hours per week
Standard Cohorts
Program Length: 10-12 Weeks
Time Commitment: 10-15 hours per week
3. Undergraduate credit option
It is possible to earn academic credit for CORe by electing the Undergraduate Credit Option, in the January, May, or September CORe cohorts. Participants can earn 8 undergraduate credits through Harvard Extension School. The course content, deadlines, and grading process are identical for those who elect the undergraduate credit option ($3,680). When you start your application, you can select whether you are seeking admission for the undergraduate credit option.
Syllabus
The Credential of Readiness (CORe) is a rigorous online program consisting of three courses—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting—designed to help you achieve fluency in the language of business. You will develop deep-seated problem-solving skills and the confidence to contribute to business discussions and decision-making.
Learning requirements: In order to earn the Credential of Readiness, participants must do the following:
- Thoughtfully complete all modules by stated deadlines
- Satisfactorily participate in courses through reflections and cold calls, for example
- Demonstrate content mastery through satisfactory completion of module quizzes
- Earn a passing score on the final exam of all three component courses
Final Exam: The CORe final exam is a three-hour, multiple-choice, closed book assessment created by HBS faculty and delivered via the HBS Online course platform. The exam is offered to participants after successful completion of the program during defined time periods following the last module deadline.
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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