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
Yonsei University
Applying Investment Decision Rules for Startups
Skills you'll gain: Capital Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Cost Benefit Analysis, Return On Investment, Investment Management, Financial Modeling, Cash Flows, Project Finance, Project Estimation, Decision Making, Depreciation, Microsoft Excel
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
86 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
DeepLearning.AI
Knowledge Graphs for RAG
Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Query Languages, Data Storage Technologies, Data Storage, Semantic Web, Unstructured Data, Graph Theory, Text Mining
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
72 reviews
Intermediate · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Copilot for Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Copilot, Generative AI, Power BI, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Storytelling, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Business Intelligence, Prompt Engineering, Artificial Intelligence
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
38 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Advanced Clinical Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Clinical Data Management, Clinical Research, Data Quality, Health Informatics, Biostatistics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Data Science, Analytics, Statistical Reporting, R Programming, SQL
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Intro to the Arctic
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Issue, Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems, Social Studies, Water Resources, World History, Research, Scientific Methods
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Random Models, Nested and Split-plot Designs
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Data Transformation, Probability Distribution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Cape Town
Doing Clinical Research: Biostatistics with the Wolfram Language
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Data Literacy, Exploratory Data Analysis, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Analysis, Statistical Visualization, Statistical Programming, Biostatistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Quantitative Research, Probability & Statistics, Deep Learning, Data Manipulation, Machine Learning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
50 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Using Descriptive Statistics to Analyze Data in R
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, R Programming, Statistical Reporting, Data Quality, Data Cleansing, Statistical Methods, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
92 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
The Nature of Data and Relational Database Design
Skills you'll gain: Decision Support Systems, Database Design, Relational Databases, Database Management, Database Management Systems, SQL, Descriptive Statistics, Data Literacy, Statistics, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, Extract, Transform, Load, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Data Manipulation, Data Science
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
101 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Universidades Anáhuac
Fundamentos de Investigación Científica
Skills you'll gain:
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Typescript in React: Get started
Skills you'll gain: TypeScript, Javascript, React.js, Debugging, Integrated Development Environments, Web Development Tools
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Más que química
Skills you'll gain: Chemistry, Systems Of Measurement, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Physical Science, Applied Mathematics, General Science and Research, Scientific Methods, Engineering
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
74 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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

Applying Investment Decision Rules for Startups: Yonsei University
Knowledge Graphs for RAG: DeepLearning.AI
Copilot for Power BI : Microsoft
Advanced Clinical Data Science: University of Colorado System
Intro to the Arctic: University of Colorado Boulder
Random Models, Nested and Split-plot Designs: Arizona State University
Doing Clinical Research: Biostatistics with the Wolfram Language: University of Cape Town
Using Descriptive Statistics to Analyze Data in R: Coursera Project Network
The Nature of Data and Relational Database Design: University of California, Irvine
Fundamentos de Investigación Científica: Universidades Anáhuac

Political Science Courses