Political Science Courses

Princeton University

HOPE: Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism

236 reviews

What sets us apart, and brings us together, as humans? How can we live up to our humanity? Join us as we explore not only "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" but "death, freedom, and the pursuit of meaning."

• edX
• 3-5 hours a week, 10 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Leiden University

EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

51 reviews

In this course, we learn how the European Union prepares and decides on policy, and how policy is transferred to member states and implemented by various authorities, including regional and local governments.

• Coursera
• 56 hours worth of material, 6 weeks long
• 6th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

• Best of All Time

Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science

23 reviews

This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political sys…

• Coursera
• 16 hours worth of material, 7 weeks long
• 20th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World

12 reviews

One of the most significant changes in the world in the past 30 years is the opening of China to the outside world and its engagement with that world. In the initial years of the opening, external forces influenced China’s economy, regional balances, bur…

• Coursera
• 13 hours worth of material, 6 weeks long
• 20th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Revolutionary Ideas: Utility, Justice, Equality, Freedom

4 reviews

What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have? Even within a political community, there may be sharp disagreements about the role and purpose of government. Some want an active, involved government,…

• Coursera
• 18 hours worth of material, 5 weeks long
• 27th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Princeton University

Constitutional Interpretation

22 reviews

Examine the most important and vexing questions in American constitutional interpretation.

• edX
• 2-5 hours a week, 7 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Leiden University

Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice

25 reviews

Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. It frequently makes headlines, threatening or attacking governments, private business and ordinary citizens. And in many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats…

• Coursera
• 22 hours worth of material, 6 weeks long
• 13th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons

1 review

What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have? Even within a political community, there may be sharp disagreements about the role and purpose of government. Some want an active, involved government,…

• Coursera
• 17 hours worth of material, 5 weeks long
• 27th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

American Government: Constitutional Foundations

2 reviews

Learn how early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.

• edX
• 2-4 hours a week, 4 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

U.S. Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy

1 review

Examine the inner workings of the three branches of the U.S. Federal Government

• edX
• 2-4 hours a week, 4 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Yale University

Moral Foundations of Politics

15 reviews

When do governments deserve our allegiance, and when should they be denied it? This course explores the main answers that have been given to this question in the modern West. We start with a survey of the major political theories of the Enlightenment:…

• Coursera
• 44 hours worth of material, 8 weeks long
• 13th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media

Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape.

• edX
• 2-4 hours a week, 4 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy

Gain a foundational knowledge of American constitutional democracy and understand how to encourage others to explore their own civic paths, while in parallel crafting your own civic voice and identity.

• edX
• 1-3 hours a week, 7 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism

2 reviews

Former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry and a team of international experts explore what can be done about the threat of nuclear terrorism in this free course, for which you can earn a signed Statement of Accomplishment. This is a self-paced version…

• edX
• 1-5 hours a week, 5 weeks long
• Self paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

How Technology is Shaping Democracy and the 2020 Election

Democracy can only thrive with the participation of well-informed citizens. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will be historic for many reasons and all parties are leveraging the power of technology to both influence and mobilize voters. More than ever…

• Coursera
• 3 hours worth of material, 1 week long
• 13th Sep, 2021
• Free Online Course (Audit)