Build the skills you need to advance along any career path. You can earn a free certificate of completion for any of these online Professional Development courses.

In our Professional Development courses, you will learn to:

  • manage your time wisely and develop healthy work habits;
  • develop "soft skills" like interviewing, office etiquette, communication, and customer service; and
  • anticipate, prevent, and solve problems in the workplace.

  • Time: 12 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to perfect your professional writing skills to promote clear, organized, and engaging messages for print, social media, and digital environments.

  • Time: 4 hours
  • Free Certificate
Get an introduction to word processing using Microsoft Word and Google Docs in this course for people with little or no word processing experience. Explore word processing skills by creating common business documents.

  • Time: 4 hours
  • Free Certificate
Get a comprehensive introduction to spreadsheets in this course that covers everything  first-time users need to know.

  • Time: 12 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to use several time management tools and techniques that can be applied to most work and life situations.

  • Time: 6 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to format spreadsheets with formulas and functions, build multi-page spreadsheets, chart data, create tables with database features, and create pivot tables.

  • Time: 5 hours
  • Free Certificate
Present data using charts, plots, graphics, and tables. Learn how to create and format charts and scatterplots, and how to add graphics to communicate and organize information better.

  • Time: 22 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to prepare and deliver a presentation on any topic that demonstrates an organizational pattern, with supporting materials and appropriate references that support or establish credibility and authority. Explore how to use proper tone, volume, rate, and modulation of voice, body language, eye contact, and other forms of nonverbal communication. Discover how to present online, and strategies for managing public speaking anxiety and planning for the unexpected.

  • Time: 12 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore how to write a coherent, persuasive grant proposal to obtain funding for a project or initiative by focusing on topics like the basics of nonprofit organizations, how to interpret RFPs, the elements of a grant proposal, and how to find funding sources and build relationships with funders.

  • Time: 6 hours
  • Free Certificate
Develop a criteria framework for evaluating, analyzing, and rating sources and references for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

  • Time: 5 hours
  • Free Certificate
Develop the application materials you need for today's job market by honing your résumé writing skills, learning how to create an impressive résumé or improve the one you already have, and get suggestions for writing an effective cover letter.

  • Time: 4 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to showcase your personality, strengths, interests, and abilities to potential employers through the interview process.

  • Time: 6 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn about typical workplace etiquette protocols, communication standards, and cultural awareness strategies in order to navigate common workplace obstacles as smoothly as possible.

  • Time: 12 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore the fundamental concepts behind Bitcoin and how everyone can use this open-source, strictly limited digital money that operates on a peer-to-peer network.

  • Time: 8 hours
  • Free Certificate
Get a competitive edge in the marketplace by understanding data visualization, performing quantitative and qualitative data analysis, crafting data visualizations, and presenting results.

  • Time: 19 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn basic communication theories and practice the necessary skills for becoming a critical consumer and producer of messages by focusing on the concepts of messages, audience, medium, and cultural context.

  • Time: 14 hours
  • Free Certificate
Investigate interpersonal communication in formal and informal settings by building and managing personal and professional relationships through effective communication.

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  • Time: 7 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn the principles of small group communication that will help you function more effectively in groups, both in your personal life and in the workplace.

  • Time: 22 hours
  • Free Certificate
Examine the importance of creating honest and ethical sales relationships, communicating with customers, making a sales presentation, and using your leadership skills to motivate your sales team.

  • Time: 13 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore management by investigating what management is and the role managers play in fulfilling an organization's objectives.

  • Time: 12 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore historical theories of management, the effect of globalization on management, and how firms conduct international business.

  • Time: 20 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore aspects that are important to the climate of a company – organizational culture, diversity, and business ethics – and why they are important.

  • Time: 7 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore topics including the leadership and management skills necessary in the different stages of group development, how to create an effective team, and how to harness a team's strengths.

  • Time: 5 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore the important aspects of employee job satisfaction and well-being, including conflict management and resolution.

  • Time: 18 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore the broad field of Human Resource Management and learn about the importance of strategic employee recruitment, selection, and retention.

  • Time: 5 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore the planning functions of managers, including management strategy frameworks, components of business strategy, and setting and achieving goals and objectives.

  • Time: 4 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn about the decision-making process, including basic decision types, tools, methods, and the insights that help you realize how decision-making involves both logic and emotion.

  • Time: 4 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore organizational structures and how traditional management practices are making way for more modern approaches.

  • Time: 13 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to identify appropriate workplace strategies for discouraging dysfunctional conflict (often based on misunderstanding, personalities that clash, negative stereotypes, and bias), and promote respectful functional conflict to foster creative thinking, problem-solving techniques, and innovation. Explore different methods of conflict resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, litigation, and other remedies.

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  • Time: 8 hours
  • Free Certificate
Study how our culture views and values the ideas, qualities, and ideals of ethical leadership. Consider the essential qualities of good leadership: honesty, moral courage and moral vision, compassion, fairness, intellectual excellence and willingness to listen to others, creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, good timing, and selflessness.

  • Time: 3 hours
  • Free Certificate
Explore how raw materials are selected, obtained, and then distributed to the customer as a finished product – the supply chain. Learn how every step in the process can be affected by changes in distribution, resource availability, and other external factors.

  • Time: 17 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn fundamental programming concepts using JavaScript to produce code for browser-based interactive experiences using conditions and events.

  • Time: 6 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn the basics of object-oriented (OO) programming, a paradigm that uses objects that contain data in the form of instance variables and methods that control the behavior of the objects. This course is suitable for anyone and uses Java to demonstrate key OO concepts.

  • Time: 13 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn the basics of data manipulation and visualization in R – the world’s most popular language for statistical computing – even if you do not have prior programming experience.

  • Time: 18 hours
  • Free Certificate
Learn how to apply crisis communication principles to protect and defend a company or organization facing a problem or challenge that threatens to harm its brand or reputation.