What are the best political science courses on Coursera?

Top options include Political Economy of Institutions and Development from Universiteit Leiden , Moral Foundations of Politics from Yale University , and Understanding Political Concepts from the Università di Napoli Federico II . These courses explore political theory, governance , global politics, and public institutions.

Can I study political science for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many political science courses offer a free audit option, which allows you to access video lectures and readings at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a political science course?

You’ll learn how governments function, how political systems are structured, and how public policy is created and implemented. Topics may also include political ideologies, international relations , comparative politics, and the role of institutions and citizens in shaping political outcomes.

Do I need a background in history or law to take a political science course?

No prior background is required for most introductory courses . Many are designed for general learners and start with foundational concepts. More advanced or specialized courses may build on prior knowledge in law , economics , or history .

Can Coursera’s political science courses help with academic or career goals?

Yes. These courses are valuable for learners preparing for university study, professionals in public service, educators, or anyone interested in policy , governance , or international affairs. Earning a certificate can support applications for academic programs or enhance your understanding of current global issues.

Top Political Science Courses - Learn Political Science Online

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Find the Best Political Science Course for Your Goals

Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Climate Resilience and Urban Sustainability
Skills you'll gain: Systems Thinking, Environmental Laws, Land Development, Community Development, Environmental Policy, Civil Engineering, Social Justice, Environment, Socioeconomics, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Public Policies, Economics
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics
Skills you'll gain: Code Review, GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Version Control, Docker (Software), Software Development Tools, Containerization, Bioinformatics, Health Informatics, Science and Research, Automation, Medical Science and Research, Technical Communication
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Instructor Network
Evaluating Large Language Model Outputs: A Practical Guide
Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Program Evaluation, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Google Cloud Platform, Natural Language Processing, Quality Assessment, Verification And Validation, Analysis, Applied Machine Learning, User Feedback, Image Analysis, Human Factors, Performance Metric
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Edureka
Getting Started with Angular
Skills you'll gain: Angular, TypeScript, Application Frameworks, Web Applications, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), JavaScript Frameworks, UI Components, Web Development Tools, Software Architecture, Network Routing, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Command-Line Interface
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Duke University
Understand Big O Notation in Python
Skills you'll gain: Scalability, Performance Analysis, Simulations, Algorithms, Complex Problem Solving, Business Metrics, Theoretical Computer Science, Operational Efficiency, Python Programming, Data Structures, Software Architecture, Computational Thinking
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Social Determinants of Health: Planetary Health
Skills you'll gain: Scatter Plots, Health Policy, Environmental Science, Data Analysis, Community Health, Environmental Issue, Regression Analysis, Systems Thinking, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Forecasting, Social Justice
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Meta
Software Development Practices
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Course
Status: New
Coursera Project Network
Data Structures with C: Upgrade a Rocket Display Module
Skills you'll gain: Embedded Systems, C (Programming Language), Embedded Software, Data Structures, Program Development, Data Management, Data Storage Technologies
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
H2O.ai
H2O ai Large Language Models (LLMs) - Level 2
Skills you'll gain: Collaborative Software, Large Language Modeling, Data Validation, Data Cleansing, Natural Language Processing, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Data Processing, Data Transformation, Verification And Validation, Data Quality, Feature Engineering, Performance Tuning, User Interface (UI)
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
American Council on Exercise
Personal Training: Sales and Client Retention
Skills you'll gain: Selling Techniques, Sales, Customer Retention, Sales Prospecting, Consultative Selling, Customer Acquisition Management, Performance Measurement, Customer Relationship Building, Professional Development, Customer Engagement, Business Metrics, Coaching, Goal Setting
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
파이썬의 응용 소셜 네트워크 분석
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Graph Theory, Predictive Analytics, Telecommunications, Pandas (Python Package), Matplotlib, Algorithms, Probability & Statistics, Data Manipulation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Foundations of Distributed Database Systems
Skills you'll gain: Distributed Computing, Scalability, Database Systems, Database Architecture and Administration, Databases, Relational Databases, SQL, Query Languages, Performance Tuning, Data Integrity
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular political science courses

Climate Resilience and Urban Sustainability: University of Colorado Boulder
Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics: Johns Hopkins University
Evaluating Large Language Model Outputs: A Practical Guide: Coursera Instructor Network
Getting Started with Angular: Edureka
Understand Big O Notation in Python: Duke University
Social Determinants of Health: Planetary Health: University of Minnesota
Software Development Practices: Meta
Data Structures with C: Upgrade a Rocket Display Module: Coursera Project Network
H2O ai Large Language Models (LLMs) - Level 2: H2O.ai
Personal Training: Sales and Client Retention: American Council on Exercise

Political Science Courses