Free Social Science Courses & Certifications

Researching skill is a very basic and instrumental skill. A plethora of students, research scholars and professionals struggle on the research front due to lack of training on the same. After receiving Introduction to Research training, they will be able to effortlessly conduct research and discover various undiscovered aspects of research including ethical research to avoid legal repercussions.

By pursuing this course, learners will surely be au courant with the important aspects of research including modelling skills and data analysis. The intent of this course is not only to bring awareness regarding the details associated with formal research but also to break the myths and common misconceptions in the minds of students so that they may perform authentic research. 

The course will prepare candidates to formalise and refine their researching skills under the able pedagogy of IIT Madras faculty. They can work on their learnings by solving quizzes and assignments given generously throughout the course. This online learning program helps a person with lack of resources to obtain formal learning to know everything about research free of cost. Undergraduate students can pursue this course to prepare themselves for higher studies.

The ‘Development Research Methods’ online course is designed for the students to get an overview of the implementation of development methods and development research strategies while writing dissertations and theses. This massive open online course is provided by the free online education portal Swayam in collaboration with the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. The course classes are scheduled online for eight weeks. 

The course curriculum consists of four modules and is delivered through videos, lectures, weekly assignments, and a final examination at the end of the program. The instructor for this online training program is Rajshree Bedamatta, an associate professor teaching economics from the department of humanities and social sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.

The ‘Development Research Methods’ online certification program enables students to get the certificate of achievement and credit points after completing this elective course and assessments successfully. This certification course is recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education.

The Digitalization in International Relations Certification Course is a 100% online programme provided on the Coursera website. The course offered by the faculty of Saint Petersburg University aims at imparting knowledge about the consequences of digitalization in international relations and its impacts on world politics.

The Digitalization in International Relations Online Course will discuss the prevailing issues concerning cybersecurity and information security along with the national and international dimensions of digital electoral technologies. The online course is instructed by Yarygin Gregory, Sytnik Anna, Tsvetkova Natalia, and Stadnik Ilona of St. Petersburg University.

Through the Digitalization in International Relations Training Course, learners will be introduced to the notion of big data and big diplomacy in connection with social networks. Upon the completion of course assessment and practice tests, candidates will get a shareable digital course certificate.

This online course Interdisciplinary Innovations for Population Ageing training consists of an eight-week online course. Hong Kong Polytechnic University offered and designed this course, which was delivered via the EDX platform. This online course is explained by top experts in the field.

We will start investigating and examining the method of incubating innovative ideas in three areas, namely the social sciences, design, and engineering, in this course. Individually, learners will acquire skills and knowledge from these disciplines, as well as understand the synergy generated when working toward innovations using an interdisciplinary approach.

Topics are specifically designed within the domains of social care programs and policies for the elderly, engineering for the elderly, and design for the elderly. In addition to meeting the need to equip global learners with interdisciplinary problem-solving skills to address the ageing challenge, the above MOOC will have included interdisciplinary perceptions, problem-solving models, case analysis, and assessment strategies to encourage learners to formulate innovative ideas for the ageing population in their own cultural and ecological contexts.

The learners can join the self-paced programme either for free or they can pay some amount. In the verified track, they need to pay the required course fee and get unlimited duration during which they can access the course. In the free track, they can audit it for a limited duration.

Also Read:

• Social Sciences Certification Courses
• Designing Engineering Certification Courses
• Design Innovation And Strategy Certification Courses

Coursera’s Age of Jefferson course provides a comprehensive look into the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. The seven-part course, with each part comprising lectures, readings, and a tour of institutions and places pivotal to the life of Jefferson, is a place for anyone looking to know the historical figure on a personal level.

The institutional tours offered by Coursera’s Age of Jefferson course are quite in-depth, with an abundance of knowledge regarding the work done by Jefferson in Monticello Estate and the University of Virginia, and how the work brought about a significant change in his life and philosophy. The curriculum reading also includes a lot of letters and other writings penned by Thomas Jefferson. The syllabus also covers the famous letter the historical figure wrote to James Madison, named “the earth belongs to the living.”

Also, the Age of Jefferson online programme is entirely an online learning experience, with no strict lecture timings, allowing you to tackle the course at your own pace. The certification training, alongside the video lectures, also has a ton of reading material paired up with weekly graded tests to put your newly acquired knowledge to test. On course completion, you will be rewarded with an industry-revered certificate by Coursera.

The Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology programme explains how Star Trek, which was initially a failed series, became supremely influential. Today, this cult favourite encompasses additional television series, feature films, and a world of fan memorabilia and conventions. Undertaking this seven-week course, you will understand why people resonate with Star Trek, how it has inspired generations to ask essential questions about their identity and relation with their surrounding world. 

Through the Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology certification syllabus, you will explore how Star Trek’s motion pictures and live-action tv shows impacted audiences globally. Offered by the Smithsonian Institution - the curriculum features trained instructors to explain the relationships between Star Trek and culture, History, society, and technology. The training also includes clips from the films and shows, experts’ opinions, and debate sessions with fellow fans. 

EdX’s Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology course is an introductory free programme under the ‘History’ category. It features no enrolment prerequisites, a self-direct schedule, and a purchasable e-certificate. The institute offers this curriculum under the CBS Consumer Products’ license. 

The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World Certification Course is a 100% online course that explores the historical significance of the Arabic Medieval World. The history course available on the Coursera platform has a flexible structure that is convenient for candidates. The course will take the candidates to the Middle Ages and marketplaces of Cairo along with historiographical debates.

The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World Training will be led by Prof Dr. Petra Sijpesteijn of Leiden University. The course will be taught through video lectures, reading materials, and engaging practice exercises to enhance the knowledge of learners. Once all course procedures are completed, candidates will receive The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World Certification by Coursera and Leiden University.

The International Politics in the Korean Peninsula Training is a self-paced online course that discusses the core aspects of the Chinese World Order and its political relationship with Korea. The course will be taught on the online edX platform in the Korean languages with English subtitles. The course instructors for the certification course are Doong-Joon Jo, Professor of International Relations, and Soyun Chang of the Seoul National University.

The International Politics in the Korean Peninsula Certification Course discusses the topics including the challenges and characteristics of the Chinese World Order in China and East Asia. This course in social science will be taught through video lectures and course materials. After completing the graded assignments and exams, learners will receive an International Politics in the Korean Peninsula Certification by edX. 2 different tracks are offered by Edx, one is the audit track and the other one is the verified track. During the audit track, the candidates will be able to learn the materials of the course for a limited period, and the verified track will offer unlimited hances to view and learn the course materials.

The Theory of Change for development certification course introduces the learners to an approach of Theory of change or ToC which will help them to understand developmental and social interventions and the causes of these changes. This introductory Theory of change for the development program on social studies is offered by edX, a top online provider for education, and the program is crafted by the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg which is popularly known as Wits University. The Theory of Change for development by edX is brought to the students as a series of graded assessments with online lectures taken by top faculties of Wits university. Like the majority of the edX courses, this course also comes with the flexible learning options of free audit sessions and verified track accounts. 

This Theory of change for development certification is commonly centred around deeply exploring the ToC approach which is considered both as a product and process for describing many contributors to change, levels of results that are an outcome of program implementation. 

Sustainable development is the need for an hour for continuing the existence of humans on Earth. We are developing our technologies and life every day but somewhere at the cost of harming mother nature. Utilizing resources without giving a thought to their renewability is becoming a reason we are observing nature. Sustainable development is one solution to protect mother earth for future generations. The Sustainable Development in the 21st Century with Ban Ki-moon is an initiative by Yonsei University for the people who are willing to be a part of the change and wish to help Earth. 

Sustainable Development in the 21st Century with Ban Ki-moon training is provided by Ban Ki-moon and it focuses on the agenda of 2030 and the five pillars of sustainable development. The pillars include interdependence of people, prosperity, planet, peace, justice, and partnership. This is the self-paced online course available on the portal of Coursera for guiding the students about the process, rules, regulations, and technological advancements done so far in sustainable development. The candidates shall also receive Sustainable Development in the 21st Century with Ban Ki-moon certification by Coursera by the end of the course. 

Did you realise that cities occupy only 3% of the earth’s land area, but nearly 50% of the world’s population resides in them? Furthermore, cities cause more than 70% of global carbon emissions. For understanding how metropolitan regions, responsible for sustainability challenges and urbanisation, hold the key to resolving the issues, join the Sustainable Urban Development certification course.

The Sustainable Urban Development certification syllabus offers a trans-disciplinary, systemic, and holistic approach to combat 21st century’s sustainability challenges. The curriculum encompasses knowledge from disciplines, including urban planning, urban engineering, urban design, systems analysis, social sciences, policymaking, and entrepreneurship. The MOOC trains candidates in understanding these concepts in the metropolitan context.

Sustainable Urban Development by edX is a part of the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute) educational programme. The seven-week course is drafted by Wageningen University and Research and TU Delft. The introductory training from Social Sciences domain necessitates no minimum requirements about academia or profession. Besides, the course offers students a chance to explore the sustainability issues in their cities and hinterlands.

Learners are free to select anyone from the audit or the verified track to finish learning the programme. Both these tracks are self-paced and can be completed at their own pace. The verified track is paid and offers unlimited access to the materials of the course whereas on the other hand, the audit track offers free but limited course access.

The Evaluating Social Programs certification imparts knowledge to the participants in the concepts of evaluation which includes scaling up, sample size, randomization, generalizability, cost-effectiveness analysis, threats in evaluation, measurement, RCT and analysis of evaluation. The candidate will learn about the key components of randomized evaluation through the Evaluating Social Programs training.

The participants will learn to measure the outcomes and manage data through this Evaluating Social Programs online course. They will also explore the techniques which are used for interpreting results. The candidate would be able to understand the threats in evaluation and they will be able to determine the sample size by pursuing this course. This course covers concepts like randomization and Randomized controlled trial.

The Evaluating Social Programs certification of completion is awarded to the successful participants and is verified by the institution. The instructor of the programme duly signs it. This certificate will add weight to the profile as well as the curriculum vitae of the participant. In addition to this, it welcomes bright career prospects. The Evaluating Social Programs certification benefits can be directly shared to the LinkedIn profile.

In Sustainability Science- A Key Concept for Future Design by edX, the students will be discovering the science of sustainability by learning more about the practical applications and theoretical concepts around the world and in Japan. The course will provide an overview to all the applicants about the current issues that are faced by sustainability around the global platform, also the students would deal with the approaches to solve the crisis in the Sustainability Science- A Key Concept for Future Design program.

The students will be made aware and also exposed to the water and industrial pollution issues along with the challenges faced to solve those raging issues. The concept of- “human nature” will also be tackled in the six-week session. The participants will be encouraged to explore ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) techniques. The students will be learning about environmental planning and governance in an elaborate manner. The learners can pursue the course by paying the fee or free of cost. While taking the course in the paid mode, the learners can access the course for unlimited duration and in the free mode, they will have a limited duration of access. 

The Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology Part II is a six-week programme that offers insightful knowledge about how this globally favourite series left a lasting impact. This introductory curriculum features top educators with whom you’ll analyse Star Trek clips and movies to understand why it’s a cult classic. Experts will lay down their opinions, and you will also debate with fellow fans for an immersive experience.

The Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology II certification syllabus will dive deep into how this sci-fi phenomenon tackled controversial topics like ethics, race, sexuality, and gender. You will explore vital topics, examine Star Trek’s connections with culture, technology, society, and History, and engage in critical analysis. 

Presented by The Smithsonian Institution, the Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology II online course is entirely self-paced. While there’s a paid certification track for the shareable certificate, you can choose to audit the curriculum at zero cost as well.  It is recommended that you complete Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology (Part I) before enrolling in this training.

Egypt is one of the countries that has a wealthy and long history. The country is linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, dating to the time of the pharaohs. The fertile Nile river, temples, ancient monuments, and pharaohs are the central reason for its strong history. The course on Wonders of Ancient Egypt is an initiative by the University of Pennsylvania for the learners who wish to dig deeper into the history of Egypt. 

Wonders of Ancient Egypt training is available on the Coursera portal and the course shall make learners aware of the rich and strong history of Egypt. The learner shall learn about the wonders and strange traditions of the country. This is an online course with flexible deadlines of 6 weeks duration. The classes will be delivered by the experts in the art and history of Egypt and shall be completed within 9 hours. The candidates who have enrolled in the course will also receive Wonders of Ancient Egypt certification from the University of Pennsylvania by the end of the course. 

This course entails how the promise of the Arab Spring, which meant to open up the Arabic world to the mainland, failed, and how the revolutions against despotic leaders and for popular sovereignty amounted virtually to nothing. Today, the Arab world is once again in the throes of crisis and this After the Arab Spring- Democratic Aspirations and State Failure programme in Governance and Society aims to shed light on the same.

After the Arab Spring- Democratic Aspirations and State Failure is an online course made available by Coursera and offered by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the oldest university in Denmark with a focus on comprehensive research. This course is entirely online, and candidates can earn a shareable certificate issued by Coursera upon completion.

The syllabus consists of six different modules that are available as pre-recorded lectures by Dr. Ebrahim Afsah, one of Coursera’s top instructors. Further, every week’s module is accompanied by a suitable reading and practice exercise. 

The Understanding Korean Politics certification course is an approximate 12 hours online course launched by Coursera along with the support of Yonsei University. This course will engage the students for 6 weeks teaching them contemporary issues in Korean politics.

The Understanding Korean Politics training will also help in understanding the history of Korean politics, and the different dynamics of Korean politics including the in-depth inquiry of those important issues. The syllabus also focuses on the political leadership profiles, developmental state of myth, and reality, along with the economic miracle of Korea, and Korean unification debates. The candidates also get their hands on a free certificate while paying only the course access.

Circular Economy for a Sustainable Built Environment by edX is a 6-week program. The training focuses on the Circular Economy model principles and guidelines to promote sustainable building construction and reduce environmental impact. It is a helpful course if you are interested in transitioning to a more sustainable construction manner. 

Through the online program, learners will get familiar with circularity as a multi-disciplinary, systemic approach. It is concerned with different scales, from material to product, building, region, and city. Circular Economy for a Sustainable Built Environment certification syllabus also teaches how the Circular Economy can realign business incentives in supply chains. Students learn to maximize reuse and recycle levels by closing material loops.

Moreover, the Circular Economy for a Sustainable Built Environment certification allows you to engage customers and contribute to the transition with new business models. You will enable circular design, remanufacturing, repair, reuse, and recycling of building components. After the end of this course, if you choose to buy, you will also receive a verified certificate to display your gained knowledge and skills. 

Learners have the option to choose anyone from the verified track or audit track and complete the programme. Both these tracks are self-paced but there is a time constraint in case the students choose the free audit mode since it offers only limited access to the course materials. The verified track is on the other hand a paid version that offers paid but unlimited access to the materials of the course.

As the social setup is dynamically changing including one of its evolving parts, Gender, it calls for a need to understand its complexities from different cultural and historical settings. The introductory course on genders and why it matters is apt for candidates who want to understand these important concepts. Offered by edX, an online education provider, and presented by the University of Hong Kong (HKU); this short certification course taken by the experienced instructors of HKU, combines the goodness of a comprehensive curriculum with a flexing learning system to get the best learning experience for the aspirants.

The course mainly highlights the diverse genders prevailing in the changing society in a comparative and descriptive study along with case studies in which key concepts like Gender discrimination, gender in politics, education, and work, gender gaze, gender in the digital age, sexual harassments, sexual violence, gendered assumptions and biases and so on.  The candidates may choose your path while they enroll in any of the paths. In case the audit mode is selected by the students they will be able to access the programme materials for a limited time. In case the verified mode is considered then there is unlimited access to the course for the candidates.

The Introduction to Systematic Reviews certification course is for Stanford Medicine community members. You will need a valid Stanford login to access some of the course content. The programme aims to facilitate more meaningful and productive consultations between librarians and members of the Stanford Medicine community, interested in conducting systematic reviews.

The Introduction to Systematic Reviews training programme begins by defining the requirements for a systematic review and comparing systematic review methodologies with other types of reviews. It then discusses why there must be protocols to determine whether someone has already undertaken/completed a systematic review of the topic you are interested in. Students interested in exploring systematic reviews will gain relevant skills from the course.

The Introduction to Systematic Reviews certification syllabus will introduce you to tools for supporting an organised, systematic review project. There is also an extensive discussion about why/how librarians collaborate on these reviews. You will also learn how to search for systematic reviews in three commonly used databases: CINAHL, EMBASE, and PubMed.

The Remembering Empire online course is about the collective memory of the empire. It talks about the memories of French settlers in Algeria and their view of Algerian colonial history. In this program, you will learn about these settlers’ history, the subsequent eight-year-long Algerian War of Independence, and the French settlers’ mass exit in 1962. The curriculum focuses on the mass migration’s cultural impact and aims to arrive at how France shaped Algeria’s colonial history. 

The UK Government’s Arts and Humanities Research Council has funded the Remembering Empire certification. It is a five-week online course in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities. You will be learning through videos, short readings, discussions, and quizzes through an interactive and comprehensive journey. 

Dr. Fiona Barclay of the University of Stirling, Scotland, will deliver the Remembering Empire program. You do not need any prior knowledge to join this course. Moreover, this in-depth curriculum will help you seek career prospects in cultural industries, charities, and amongst memory activists, museums, etc. 

Have you ever wondered what made Star Trek a cult classic? How it began as an unsuccessful network series and transformed into a whole universe of feature films, fan conventions, television series, and memorabilia? If yes, then choose edX’s Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology III programme. Here, you’ll take an in-depth look into why this globally popular series resonates with millions. Offered by The Smithsonian Institution, this is a five-week introductory training in ‘History’. 

The immersive Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology III certification syllabus will employ object exploration, critical analysis, Star Trek’s clips, experts’ viewpoints, and debate sessions with fans. Additionally, you will also examine how this series’ motion films and live-action tv shows impacted audiences worldwide. The curriculum will also explain how this cult movie tackled various controversial subjects, including gender, sexuality, race, and ethics.

The Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology III online course provides free auditing and an optional certificate (paid). The curriculum schedule is self-paced, has English transcripts, and requires just one to three hours of study every week. 

The Tabernacle in Word & Image: An Italian Jewish Manuscript Revealed certification course is an estimated 5 weeks online course. This programme can be studied through the online platform edX. The syllabus comprises five video lectures in number and are short that explore Mantua, Malkiel Ashkenazi’s Tavnit ha-mishkan manuscripts.

The Tabernacle in Word & Image: An Italian Jewish Manuscript Revealed training course has no pre-requirement of knowing Jewish or intellectual history. This short history programme also introduces a free, and fascinating Italian Jewish text concerning the collection portrayed at the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Guetta explains through this programme by studying the manuscripts which state how Jews intellectually lived their lives.

2 different tracks are offered by Edx, one of which is the audit track which offers limited but free access whereas the other one is the verified track which gives unlimited access to the course materials.