Free Social Science Courses & Certifications

Society can only ensure economic development by improving the quality of life for the underprivileged. To do that, intervention in various sectors, including education, health, transport, agriculture, microfinance, etc., is required. The Impact Evaluation Methods with Applications in Low and Middle-Income Countries programme by edX will equip you with the statistical and experimental tools necessary to measure the impact of such interventions. 

The Impact Evaluation Methods with Applications course will teach you how to design and conduct a Randomised Control Trial, how to use regression techniques, and other quasi-experimental methods to collect and evaluate data. That way, you will be able to determine which policies and innovations work, and which do not. 

International development practitioners and policy-makers, when equipped with this information, can accelerate the development process and improve the quality of life for those who are deprived. The Impact Evaluation Methods with Applications Programme is brought to you by Georgetown University and uses the Standard Policy Evaluation Toolkit, as recognised in the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics. 

The self-paced programme provides two tracks for students to pursue it; the paid certificate track and the free audit track. In the free audit mode, the candidates will be given access only for a limited duration. 

The Sociology XI Part-I Online Course is a massive open online course that is based on the subject of sociology as taught in Class XI. The course will be taught on the interactive online platform of Swayam and will focus on the features of social institutions, the process of socialization, and the relevance of culture. The course deals with the study of social institutions and encourages learners to question stereotypes in society.

The Sociology XI Part-I Training is led by Dr. Sheetal Sharma from the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. The course will be supported by video lectures, online materials, and web resources that help learners to form an in-depth understanding of the subject. There will be self-assessment questions to help learners measure their progress. After completing all course steps and the assignments, students will get a Sociology XI Part-I Certification by NIOS and Swayam.

The Geography XII Part-II Online Course is a massive open online course that is taught based on the Class XII Geography textbook. This online certificate course provided on the Swayam learning platform explores the core topics of Geography including human resources, water and mineral resources, the agricultural system of India, and the geographical perspective on different issues.

The Geography XII Part-II Training will be headed by Dr. Tannu Malik of DESS, NCERT, New Delhi. The mode of delivery will include video lectures, reading materials, and web resources to elaborate on the topics. After a student completes all the online lessons and takes part in the assessment, they will be rewarded with a Geography XII Part-II Certification by NIOS and Swayam.

Also Read: Sr.Secondary: Geography (316)

The Geography XII Part-I Training is a massive open online course that educates learners about the topics of Geography in Class XII. The course will explore different environmental and social dimensions, principles of human geography, and the interaction of people and the environment. This online certificate course will be coordinated by By Dr. Tannu Malik of DESS, NCERT, New Delhi, and provided on the Swayam online learning platform.

The Geography XII Part-I Online Course is divided into different modules that are taught through video lectures, audio material, e-tutorials, and plenty of web resources. Those who are enrolled in the course will need to take part in self-assessments that include multiple-choice questions and other tests. Once all course evaluation is completed successfully, the learners will get the Geography XII Part-I Certification by NIOS and Swayam.

Also Read: Sr.Secondary: Geography (316)

The Sr.Secondary: History (315) Training is a massive open online course that introduces learners to the nature and different phases of Indian culture and human civilizations. The course provided on the senior secondary level is coordinated by Prof Dr. Azmat Noori of the National Institute of Open Schooling. The course includes 5 core modules and 1 optional module wherein the students can choose from the topics evolution of state or culture in India.

The Sr.Secondary: History (315) Certification Course has a duration of 24 weeks and is delivered through the interactive and engaging platform of Swayam. After completing the course and concluding all course steps, learners will get a Sr.Secondary: History (315) Certification by NIOS and Swayam. The course in history will help learners understand the social, economic, religious, and cultural development of India through different historical phases.

The Ancient Greek Hero course is being provided by edX in collaboration with Harvard University. It has been designed to provide the learners' exposure to Greek literature and culture. Participants can explore the literature and heroes of ancient Greece with the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey, the dialogues of Plato, the tragedies of Sophocles and many more.

Participants will gain knowledge about some of the beautiful works of ancient Greek literature and song-making spread for more than thousand years from the 8th century BCE till the 3rd century CE: the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey, Sophocles, and Euripides, songs of Sappho and Pindar, tragedies of Aeschylus, dialogues of Plato, and On Heroes by Philostratus. The course material has been designed to be easily accessible and transformative for a wide range of participants. Participants will be given access to a supportive learning community that showcases the methodology for "reading out" of ancient texts. These techniques will allow the participants having little or even no experience in this subject matter to see this literature as a magnificent and perfected system of communication. 

The candidates may choose any one of the tracks available to learn the course, one is the verified track and the other is the audit track. Both the tracks are self-paced but during the audit period, the course can be accessed only for a limited period. Whereas during the verified track, the course is open to be accessed for an unlimited period.

The Plato, Socrates, and the Birth of Western Philosophy course is being provided and instructed by edX and the Tsinghua University. It has been built to give the learners an in-sight into the origins of the western philosophy. 

Participants of this course will study and analyse the works of Aristotle, Plato, Heraclitus and other originators of Western philosophy in a comprehensive study of ancient Roman and Greek philosophers. This will enable the participants to build a strong grasp of the basic spirit of the Western philosophy. They will be trained to inculcate deeper thinking abilities, explore noble values, and learn to examine the world around them in different ways. They will develop a new perspective towards their surroundings. They will understand the concept and history of philosophy, religion and culture. They will learn about the society, the culture, the rules, the traditions that prevailed during the ancient times and the factors that gave birth to this philosophy.

The Introduction to Bioethics course is a platform for learners to gain knowledge about the moral challenges faced in the fields of health, medicine and biotechnology. edX together with Georgetown University has come up with this opportunity for keen learners. The framework of the Introduction to Bioethics certification course has been built to introduce the participants to the various concepts that define bioethics along with its core concepts and skills. Participants will understand the fundamental moral issues that arise in health, medicine, and biotechnology. Some of the issues such as the vulnerability of illness and the fact of death are as old as life itself while some are new. 

We are facing many challenges due to the growth of modern technology which seems to have unsettled our basic ideology about human nature and our place in the world. The majority of the issues intersect with the issues of gender and racial equality and policies influencing the world's most vulnerable populations. Undergraduates, policymakers, health care professionals, and anyone interested in learning about philosophy or ethics should pursue this Introduction to Bioethics training course. The candidates can pursue this programme in two tracks, namely, paid and free. In the paid track also known as verified track, candidates will be given unlimited access to the course and a certificate of completion but in the free version, they will be provided access to the course materials only for a limited period.

The Emerging Trends & Technologies in Library & Information Services (ETTLIS) certification course has been structured to provide a depth understanding of the technologies that are used in the modern-day library. The course is designed for all the interested candidates, who wish to study this genre. 

The course on  Emerging Trends & Technologies in Library & Information Services (ETTLIS) certification by Swayam and IIT Delhi will be helping the applicants to understand the topics of- Institutional Repository and Digital Library Services, QR Code, Ranking/Accreditation, Ask the Librarian, Library Automation, EM, and RFID implementation, Use of Social Media, Remote Login, Discovery Services, Outreach programs, Reference Management,  Consortia based Services,  Open Science, Web 2.0 and 3.0 based Services,  Open Access, Digitalization, Green Library Concept, Virtual Reality Tools,  and others. 

The Emerging Trends & Technologies in Library & Information Services (ETTLIS) certification syllabus, will be completed within a period of 16 weeks. The course will take a total duration of 40 hours to complete the entire curriculum.

The Methodology and Pedagogy of Teaching Social Sciences program by Swayam introduces Teaching and Learning Social Sciences, focusing on skills and methods for teaching social science, and instructional strategies. This program is based on student-teachers and working teachers in Social Science. The University of Calicut delivers the 15-week course.

The Methodology and Pedagogy of Teaching Social Sciences training will help learners to study the theoretical framework of Instructional plan in social science and how to implement it in classrooms. Learners will successfully understand all the fundamental ideas of Teaching Social Sciences. They will also learn relevant psychological theories and learn how to apply them in Social Science. 

Moreover, the Methodology and Pedagogy of Teaching Social Sciences certification course can be studied by any individual at any level of teacher education, including working educators to magnify their teaching skills. The syllabus combines practical and theoretical teaching to give a holistic learning experience.

Shakespeare remains the most staged, filmed, studied, and translated author amidst world literature. Stages, books, and other media from various cultures have localised, domesticated, and adapted this icon in several languages. To shed a holistic light on this writer, the Central University of Kerala has curated the Shakespeare Across Cultures programme, explaining how the world’s varying languages and cultures have influenced him and how he’s influenced them.

India’s numerous Shakespeare experts teach the Shakespeare Across Cultures certification syllabus, which deals with analysing Shakespeare through language discourses, geopolitics, identities, gender, race, how he’s negotiated on pages, screens, stages, classroom discourses, outlining his adaptations, etc. The training also touches upon vital concepts such as how Shakespeare’s adaptations evoke diverse cultures' responses, how they transfigured him in their cultural and literary terrain, and many more.

 A four-credit, elective programme for 15 weeks, the Shakespeare Across Cultures course by Swayam belongs to the ‘Humanities and Social Sciences’ purview. It’s intended for English literature postgraduates, featuring internal assessments and an external proctored test. Clearing these, the candidates can also obtain the curriculum certificate. 

The Israel State and Society course by Coursera sheds light on different aspects and sides of the country of Israel. The course explores the history, politics, culture, and the economy of Israel. The certification course presents the culture and history of Israel in many different lights. 

The Coursera Israel State and Society course is an attempt to showcase multiple perspectives on the country and to delve deep into the heart of the country. It is an attempt to expose the learners to cutting-edge academic research on the country to help them understand the land and its various elements.

Furthermore, the Coursera Israel State and Society course is a self-paced learning online course that allows the learners to train at their convenience. You will be learning through different sessions hosted by experts who will share their research and studies on the topics. Students will receive quizzes to solve, as well as an online portal, to put forward their questions after every session.

A Global History of Architecture Certification Course equips learners with limitless opportunities to acquire a larger-than-life experience of looking through the lens of history and historical architecture with its variations. Beginning with First Societies and proceeding with the 16th century, the curriculum enwraps all the valuable learnings of architectural history. This course is not intended to run as a linear narrative but with a more global adaptation of concepts with a stressed focus on different architectural instances.

Through the programme pedagogy, course participants will learn about the impact of the introduction of iron in the 9th century BCE on the development of architecture and regional politics. They will also acknowledge how newly found and developed religions like Hinduism and Buddhism bore new architectural understandings by and large in society. The course is self-paced but can be accessed only for a limited period during the audit track.

Each lecture imparted by an experienced pedagogue deals with architectural transformation arising from a dynamic cultural symbolism. The course material covered in lectures will be supplemented by additional readings from the textbook- "A Global History of Architecture" which would hone the textual knowledge of candidates and help them revisit what they have learned through modules. Lastly, the verified certification would make up a great addition to the learner's resume.

Under the Indian University Grant Commission's Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), the Biodiversity and Ecological Resources online course would count as a 4 credit course in B.Sc. Environmental Science. The program will benefit undergraduate students, such as science, arts, commerce, and other biological sciences. The environmental science course provides an overview of basic ecological and environmental services.

The Biodiversity and Ecological Resources training also covers the management and protection of natural resources, as well as their usage and overexploitation. The decrease of Earth's biological variety has considerably more profound ramifications than other environmental concerns. The in-situ and ex-situ techniques for biodiversity conservation on earth are the major conservative instruments for biodiversity conservation on earth and will be developed throughout the course. 

Energy is essential, either indirectly or directly, in the growth, evolution and survival of all forms of life. As a result, energy security is essential for economic growth and the reduction of unemployment and poverty. The Biodiversity and Ecological Resources syllabus provides in-depth knowledge of the idea and techniques of environmental sustainability for the management of all biodiversity, including the carbon sequestration and ecological footprint for sustainable growth.

The Bonds and Bands in Solids certification course is a 3 months online programme. This course’s syllabus is decided and made up by the eminent Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, but the course is offered through the platform of Swayam. Again this course certificate is granted by the institutions of NPTEL and the Indian Institute of Management. 

The Bonds and Bands in Solids training belong to the core programme section under the fields of chemistry, physics, Metallurgy and Material science, and Mining Engineering. This certificate course is explained by professor S. Ramasesha. The syllabus explains the concepts of the different states namely the electronic, vibrational states of the Solids.

As explained by the faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, An Introduction to Microeconomics online course is 12-week learning in microeconomics. It assesses economic theories of individuals as enterprises and their contribution to a country’s economic landscape.

An Introduction to Microeconomics certification syllabus includes a comprehensive study of humanities and social sciences. Topics generally discussed involve core economics subjects such as market environments, price discrimination, cost functions, isoquants, and comparative statistics. The lecturers give online and book references for students to read and learn with the curriculum.

Set at a postgraduate level of study, Prof. Vimal Kumar teaches An Introduction to Microeconomics certification course. He is currently an Associate Professor at IIT Kanpur and comes from a sound professional and academic background. Students can opt for an e-certificate by paying a nominal fee and appearing for a proctored test.

The 12-week Energy Resources, Economics, and Environment program is suitable for undergraduate or postgraduate students in Energy Systems Engineering. This is a multidisciplinary elective course in the humanities and social sciences category, where candidates will familiarise themselves with the necessary skills to undertake macro-decision-making for society. While the training features IIT Bombay’s faculty members, it also entails several trained teaching assistants.

Following the course structure at IIT Bombay, the Energy Resources, Economics, and Environment training have a systematized syllabus that teaches about vital tools needed for economic analysis. Candidates will also learn about measuring the impact of energy systems. Instructors teach this by reviewing available energy resources and learning how to quantify their scarcity and depletion.

The Energy Resources, Economics and Environment online course discusses basic economic concepts and how to apply them to energy systems. Candidates will learn about the tools and procedures for project economics related to large-scale decisions. The course wraps up with fundamental concepts of environmental and welfare economics required to analyze energy systems and their environmental effects.

The objective of econometrics is to measure economic relations. Therefore, the Introduction to Econometrics certification course by Swayam aims to use financial data, mathematical models, and statistical tools to bring empirical evidence to various economic theories. The course is equipped with theory concepts as well as practical training, allowing candidates to apply and practice problems and solutions. 

The Introduction to Econometrics certification syllabus covers numerous technical concepts like classic linear regression model, multiple linear regression model, application of F statistics, dummy variable models, qualitative response models, and the like. The course deals not only in economics but also in social science and pure science. 

Besides, the Introduction to Econometrics online course is taught by eminent Prof. Sabuj Kumar Mandal from the prestigious IIT Madras. This 12-week, AICTE approved course helps students get a broad overview of econometrics, data analysis, humanities, and social sciences and prepares them to explore the field further.

The ‘Complex Analysis’ online certification course enables students to learn about the foundational level mathematics focussing on complex numbers and the complex analysis functions. This online course attempts to discuss the implications of complex numbers that offer the spectral theorem for matrices. This free National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) course is provided by the Swayam education portal. It is a core course for undergraduate and postgraduate level students and is scheduled for twelve weeks. The classes are held online through videos, lectures, weekly assignments, and other online resources.

The instructor for this online training is Dr. Pranav Haridas, assistant professor at the Kerala school of mathematics. The students of this course are given an opportunity to explore the theoretical and practical implications of complex numbers in the mathematics domain.

The ‘Complex Analysis’ certification course ensures a course certificate and credit points after successfully completing this AICTE recognized course and the certification exam.

The ‘Computational Commutative Algebra’ certification course is an elective course for the students to develop their understanding of the computation of the rings, ideals, and modules with the help of a computer. This course enables students to get an overview of commutative algebra with a focus on the computations and the techniques behind them. This free online training course is provided by the Swayam education portal along with the National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). The classes for this course are conducted online for a period of twelve weeks.

The students of this program are led by the instructor, Prof. Manoj Kummini from the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI). In this course, candidates will get a theoretical and hands-on experience with the computational tool Macaulay2. This program can be downloaded and installed locally or can also be worked with the online version for smaller computations.

The ‘Computational Commutative Algebra’ online training program ensures an E-Certificate and credit points after completing the course and the assessments successfully.

The Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification offers a systematic study of the concepts and principles standards necessary to differentiate between right and wrong behaviour. 

Ethics: Theories and Applications Classes provide a philosophical foundation for fundamental ethical discussions and ideas and use the Indian context to demystify the theories and give students simpler examples.

In Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification Syllabus an introduction to ethics is provided, along with discussions of what constitutes a moral deed, what virtue and vice are, concepts of moral law, and concepts of moral relativism.

All students get a Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India.

The ‘Computational Physics’ is a National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) online course offered for the students to build their competence in the computational techniques and strategies and to get introduced to methods of quantum and classical computations. This online certification course is provided by the Swayam, a free online education portal for a period of twelve weeks.

The instructors for this elective course are academically trained faculty Prof. Apratim Chatterji and Prof. Prasenjit Ghosh from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER, Pune). The students of training will gain computational insights and will be able to explore the field of physics through the theoretical and practical exposure of concepts.

The ‘Computational Physics’ online training program enables students to receive the certification and credit points after completing this All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) course and assessments according to the eligibility standards.

The Introduction to Political Theory by SWAYAM is spread across 12-weeks of learning. Learners will understand the concepts behind politics through theories and environmental studies. They will be able to comprehend the political ideologies that support society and are empowered to voice their independent opinions on democracy and politics.

Set at an undergraduate level of study, the Introduction to Political Theory certification syllabus explores concepts of equality, justice, liberty, and freedom in a country. Once students complete the learning module for the week, they can progress to the next topic. Students will receive book references to go through when in doubt.

Developed by IIT Guwahati, this introductory course is open for all students involved in engineering, social sciences, and humanities subjects. Professor Mithilesh Kumar instructs online training. Candidates can avail themselves of the Introduction to Political Theory certification by fulfilling the criteria mentioned for the course. Post-completion, the e-certificate will be sent to the candidate’s registered email address.

The Intellectual Property by Swayam program on Intellectual Property is a substantive course formulated for students across a diverse field. The online certification program will be providing a brief overview of the “intellectual property” landscape in the Indian subcontinent. The Intellectual Property training will also make the applicants aware of the role of intellectual property in the modern intangible economy. 

The Intellectual Property certification can be offered as a generic elective subject under the Choices that are being provided under the based credit system in affiliated colleges and universities as suggested by UGC. The  Intellectual Property certification syllabus will be covered over a period of twelve weeks. 

The topics that will be covered are- Trademark, Government's role in fostering IP, Enforcement of IP—protecting your rights and other topics related directly or indirectly to intellectual property rights. Hence after completing the Intellectual Property online course the students will learn to formulate and strategies policies to deal with the issues pertaining to intellectual properties.

The Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives certification course offers the candidates learning on different social theories on globalization. The course provides extensive learning to illustrate the engagement with the process of globalization and the subsequent outcomes. All the theories have been well explained by using certain examples.

The course also includes assignments, quizzes, discussion forums, and studies for students to have a better learning course. The candidates will also learn about the examples and how it varies across different globalization. Certain specific themes have been covered in the course for finding out the engagement in the Indian society.

The Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives online course also has a certificate, which is awarded if the candidates take the end term exam. The end-term exam involves all the learning in every module. This course also prepares the participants for future industry exposure. The candidates will also learn about the different levels of globalization and how we categorize them. 

The ‘Classical Sociological Theory’ online training program is offered for the students to build their expertise in the field of sociology. This course helps the students develop sociological views and enables them to learn about the socio-cultural and intellectual factors that frame the foundation of sociology. This is an AICTE approved free course provided by Swayam along with the National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning(NPTEL) initiative. 

The duration of this online core course is scheduled for a period of twelve weeks and the students of this program will benefit from the sociological insights. The instructor for this course is Dr. R. Santhosh, professor of sociology from the humanities and social sciences department at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. 

The ‘Classical Sociological Theory’ online course helps the participants receive a course certification with credit points at the end of the course. The learners of this course are provided with online resources and materials for better engagement with the concepts and subject matter.

Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Certification gives the candidates a brief introduction to the nomenclature of this course's sociological perspectives on modernity. The way we try to engage with modernity, we also try to interrogate modernity.

Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Classes enable students to understand modernity as a socio-cultural product in specific socio-historical contexts.

All students get a Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Certification from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India. 

Environmental Impact Assessment is an online course that can be pursued by both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The certificate programme is 12 weeks in duration. Developed and instructed by Prof. Harshit Sosan Lakra, a faculty at IIT Roorkee, the course is an AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education)-approved programme. The course will ecological impact assessment, environmental aspects and impacts risk assessment, EIA methodologies, and the like. 

The Environmental Impact Assessment Certification Course will provide detailed glimpses of Environmental Impact Assessment. It is the process of examining the possible impacts and consequences of proposed development and projects. Environmental Impact Assessment Certification is a free programme offered by Swayam and IIT Roorkee jointly. However, the certificate will be conferred only to the learners who sit in the exam and get the percentage of marks specified by the authorities.