Course Report

100+ Psychology Courses You Can Take for Free

Living a happy life. Achieving a state of “flow”. Removing triggers for mindless eating. Guarding against confirmation bias. Nudging behaviors through thoughtful design. These concepts, and many others like them, have entered the public awareness, backed by research in psychology.

As a field, psychology continues to progress rapidly, aided by advances in neuroscience and its relevance in numerous other fields, such as law, design, and economics — psychologist Daniel Kahneman even won the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on human biases.

What’s remarkable is that, while research in psychology has been active for a long time, the general public seems to have developed a renewed interest for the subject, most notably regarding the importance of mental health.

Whatever the reason behind this renewed interest, there are now more online resources to learn about psychology than ever. Take a look at the courses below and get your psychology on!

Subjects

For your convenience, we’ve broken down the list into different subjects. Click on a subject to jump to the corresponding section:

More Courses

And if you don’t find what you need below, have a look at our other collections of scientific courses:

You can find all our course collections here.

---

Intro to Psychology Online Courses

Introduction to Psychology
University of Toronto via Coursera
This course will highlight the most interesting experiments within the field of psychology, discussing the implications of those studies for our understanding of the human mind and human behavior. We will explore the brain and some of the cognitive abilities it supports like memory, learning, attention, perception and consciousness.
★★★★★ (26 ratings)

What is a Mind?
University of Cape Town via FutureLearn
Explore the most pertinent scientific and philosophical concepts for understanding our own minds with this free online course
★★★★★ (282 ratings)

Introduction to Psychology
Yale University via Coursera
What are people most afraid of? What do our dreams mean? Are we natural-born racists? What makes us happy? What are the causes and cures of mental illness? This course tries to answer these questions and many others, providing a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of thought and behavior. It explores topics such as perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behavior. We will look at how these aspects of the mind develop in children, how they differ across people, how they are wired-up in the brain, and how they break down due to illness and injury.
★★★★★ (16 ratings)

Intro to Psychology
San Jose State University via Udacity
Introduction to Psychology is a journey through all of the major psychological concepts and principles. The knowledge gained from this course will allow students to critically evaluate psychological research and have a more in-depth understanding of human thought and behavior.
★★★★★ (26 ratings)

Psychology by CrashCourse
CrashCourse via YouTube
Crash Course creates free, high-quality educational videos used by teachers and learners of all kinds. In 40 episodes, Hank Green will teach you psychology!
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Introduction to Psychology (Fall 2011)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology via MIT OpenCourseWare
This course is a survey of the scientific study of human nature, including how the mind works, and how the brain supports the mind
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Introduction to Psychology: The History and Science of Psychology
Monash University via FutureLearn
Investigate the history and science of psychology while mastering the basic principles of the scientific method.
★★★★☆ (15 ratings)

Introduction to Psychology Part 1
Wesleyan University via Kadenze
In this course, you will learn about the foundations of human behavior. Part 1 covers the fundamentals, including contributions of the brain, sensation and perception, emotions and development. Part 2 covers learning, mental health, memory, our social world and more. As you engage in the study of how people behave, think and feel, you will use digital tools in projects to investigate and communicate your learning.Mental health & Wellbeing Online Courses

Mental Wellbeing Online Courses

Psychology of Personal Growth
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via edX
Learn to understand personal growth from a comparative perspective.
★★★★★ (64 ratings)

The Science of Happiness
University of California, Berkeley via edX
The first MOOC to teach positive psychology. Learn science-based principles and practices for a happy, meaningful life.
★★★★★ (33 ratings)

The Science of Well-Being
Yale University via Coursera
“The Science of Well-Being” taught by Professor Laurie Santos overviews what psychological science says about happiness. The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice.
★★★★★ (28 ratings)

Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health
The University of Sydney via Coursera
In this course, we will explore different aspects of good mental health as well as provide an overview of the major kinds of mental disorders, their causes, treatments and how to seek help and support.
★★★★★ (21 ratings)

Positive Psychology
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via Coursera
This course discusses research findings in the field of positive psychology, conducted by Barbara Fredrickson and her colleagues. It also features practical applications of this science that you can put to use immediately to help you live a full and meaningful life.
★★★★☆ (28 ratings)

Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture
University of Liverpool via FutureLearn
Learn how a psychological understanding of our emotions and behaviour gives us new ways to improve mental health and well-being.
★★★★☆ (11 ratings)

Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
University of Pennsylvania via Coursera
Positive interventions are one of the building blocks for the application of positive psychology in our day-to-day lives. In this course taught by Dr. James Pawelski, we explore positive interventions through theory, research and practice. We provide learners the basic tools for using and measuring positive psychology in professional or personal contexts. Suggested prerequisite: Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science.
★★★★★ (6 ratings)

Psychology of Popularity
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via Coursera
The level of popularity you experienced in childhood and adolescence is still affecting you today in ways that you may not even realize. Learn about how psychologists study popularity and how these same concepts can be used in adulthood to be more successful at work, become better parents, and have a happier life.
★★★★☆ (10 ratings)

Introduction to Self-Determination Theory: An approach to motivation, development and wellness
University of Rochester via Coursera
Self-determination theory (SDT) is an empirically based theory of motivation and psychological development that is especially focused on the basic psychological needs that promote high quality motivation and wellness, and how they are supported in social contexts. SDT details how the styles and strategies of motivators such as parents, teachers, coaches, managers, and health-care professionals can promote or undermine engagement and the positive consequences that follow from it. In this course, Professor Richard Ryan, co-founder of the theory, will provide an overview of SDT with special emphasis on how autonomy, competence, and relatedness supports and facilitates behavioral persistence, quality of relationships, and healthy developmental processes, among other topics. He will also discuss the convergence of behavioral phenomenological and neuropsychological aspects of autonomy within SDT research. In addition, he will illustrate practical applications of SDT, with emphasis on educational, work, sport, healthcare and psychotherapy settings.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Clinical Psychology Online Courses

Psychological First Aid
Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition.
★★★★☆ (49 ratings)

Introduction to Clinical Psychology
University of Queensland via edX
Learn about the principles underlying psychological therapy and the features and treatment of common mental disorders, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

Young People and Mental Health
University of Cambridge via FutureLearn
What are the most common mental health problems, what can you do about them and how do you improve your mental health?
★★★★★ (77 ratings)

Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach
Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
Public Mental Health is the application of the principles of medicine and social science to prevent the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders and to promote mental health of the population. This course illustrates the principles of public health applied to depressive disorder, including principles of epidemiology, transcultural psychiatry, health services research, and prevention. It is predicted that by 2020 depressive disorder will be the most important cause of disease burden in the entire world! Every human being suffers from feeling depressed at some point or other, but only about one fifth of the population will experience an episode of depressive disorder over the course of their lives. This course illuminates the public health approach to disease, and the particular complexities of applying this approach to mental disorders, using depression as the exemplar.
★★★★☆ (3 ratings)

The Clinical Psychology of Children and Young People
University of Edinburgh via Coursera
The course will cover the basic guiding principles of the Clinical Psychology of Children and Young People and illustrate how theories of psychological development can be applied in understanding children and young people’s mental health and well being within a wider societal and cultural context. We will also discuss current psychological models of prevention and treatment for Children and Young People.
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT
University of Reading via FutureLearn
Improve your understanding of depression and anxiety and find out more about an effective and evidence-based treatment: CBT
★★★☆☆ (4 ratings)

Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
Wesleyan University via Coursera
This course presents an overview of the major domains of abnormal psychology. The course is made up of 5 modules, the first of which provides an introduction to the field through discussions of the concept of psychological abnormality, assessment and classification, and the major models in use for understanding psychological abnormality. The remaining four modules provide overviews of major domains of abnormal psychology, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, stress and trauma-related disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Lectures within each of these modules address symptoms and behaviors, epidemiology, causal theories, treatment interventions and multicultural findings and considerations.

History of Mental Illness
Wesleyan University via Coursera
Our lexicon of mental illness is immense: there currently are hundreds of classified disorders and an extensive assortment of medications and therapies. This course explores the history of this productive science its discoveries, classifications, and treatments of psychiatric distress. The excursion begins with a general introduction and proceeds to explore 4 kinds of mental illness: neurasthenia, depression, attention deficits (ADD/ADHD), and narcissism. Each kind is examined in terms of its scientific research and classification; treatments developed to cure or alleviate its symptoms; lived-experiences of those so diagnosed with the disorder; and critical reflection on the diagnosis. This course departs from histories that mainly chronicle scientific achievements and, instead, invites you to investigate how the scientific discoveries and therapies were deeply informed by cultural conditions of the time.

Social & Behavioral Psychology Online Courses

Social Psychology
Wesleyan University via Coursera
This course offers a brief introduction to classic and contemporary social psychology, covering topics such as decision making, persuasion, group behavior, personal attraction, and factors that promote health and well-being.
★★★★★ (83 ratings)

Introduction to Human Behavioral Genetics
University of Minnesota via Coursera
Behavioral genetic methodologies from twin and adoption studies through DNA analysis will be described and applied to address longstanding questions about the origins of individual differences in behavioral traits.
★★★★★ (11 ratings)

Introduction to Social Psychology
University of Queensland via edX
Learn why people think and behave the way they do in social settings.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Human Behaviour
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati via YouTube

★★★★★ (1 rating)

The Psychology of Thrill Seekers
Emory University via Coursera
Sensation seeking is a trait we all have and includes the search for complex and new experiences. Thrill Seekers, people with high-sensation seeking personalities, crave exotic and intense experiences even when physical or social risks are involved. This course helps learners examine the remarkable world of the high-sensation seeking personality and explores the lifestyle, psychology, and neuroscience behind thrill seekers.
★★★★☆ (1 rating)

Developmental Psychology Online Courses

Introduction to Psychology: Developmental Psychology
Monash University via FutureLearn
Examine the physical, cognitive and social development we undergo throughout our lives.
★★★★★ (69 ratings)

Introduction to Developmental Psychology
University of Queensland via edX
Learn how we develop over our lifetime, including our ability to think, communicate, and form social attachments.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Introduction to Psychology: The Psychology of Learning
Monash University via FutureLearn
Explore how new behaviours are learnt by examining different types of psychological conditioning.
★★★★★ (103 ratings)

Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms
Relay Graduate School of Education via Coursera
Positive psychology meets K-12 pedagogy. This course explores key ideas of positive psychology and shows how great teachers apply those lessons to maximize student engagement and accomplishment. Through lectures, discussions, interviews and footage of great educators in action, you’ll learn how to integrate character-based objectives into your own teaching.
★★★★★ (22 ratings)

Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies
Wesleyan University via Coursera
Welcome to Understanding Memory. Someone once said that memory is fascinating because sometimes we forget what we want to remember, sometimes we remember what we want to forget, and sometimes we remember events that never happened or never happened the way we remember them. I want to show you how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to enhance it. Based on my recent book – Memory and Movies: What Films Can Teach Us About Memory (MIT Press, 2015) – I will provide an introduction to the scientific study of human memory by focusing on a select group of topics that hold widespread appeal. To facilitate your understanding, I will use clips from numerous films to illustrate different aspects of memory – describing what has been learned about memory in a nontechnical way for people with no prior background in psychology.
★★★★☆ (10 ratings)

Identifying and Responding to Developmental Delay in Young Children
Stanford University via edX
This course will provide the knowledge and tools for the primary care clinician to identify children at risk for developmental delays, and to refer them for appropriate therapeutic and diagnostic services.

Consumer Psychology Online Courses

A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior
Duke University via Coursera
Behavioral economics couples scientific research on the psychology of decision making with economic theory to better understand what motivates financial decisions. In A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior, you will learn about some of the many ways in which we behave in less than rational ways, and how we might overcome our shortcomings. You’ll also learn about cases where our irrationalities work in our favor, and how we can harness these human tendencies to make better decisions.
★★★★★ (554 ratings)

Consumer Behaviour and Psychology
Coventry University via FutureLearn
Learn about the origins of consumer psychology and examine how consumer behaviour can be influenced by a range of factors.

Customer Value in Pricing Strategy
University of Virginia via Coursera
The traditional approach to pricing based on costs works to pay the bills, but it leaves revenue on the table. You can, in fact, price your products in a way that increases sales–if you know what your customers are willing to pay and can leverage psychology to create better deal and discount plans. In this course, we’ll show you how to price a product based on how your customers value it and the psychology behind their purchase decisions. Led by Darden faculty and Boston Consulting Group global pricing experts, this course provides an in-depth understanding of value-based pricing and how to use it to capture more revenue. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to… — Apply knowledge of customer value to price products — Leverage core value-based pricing techniques to inform pricing decisions — Measure customer willingness to pay using models (surveys, conjoint analysis, other data) — Use knowledge of consumer psychology to set prices beneficial to both consumers and sellers
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Global Impact: Cultural Psychology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign via Coursera
Globalization has brought dramatic changes to the marketplace. A proliferation of global brands brings diverse cultures to a consumer population that is also growing culturally diverse. This course enables students to understand how globalization changes consumers at a psychological level, and provides tools for imbuing brands with cultural meanings—creating iconic brands—that can resonate with global consumers.

Buyer Behaviour and Analysis
Curtin University via edX
Learn how to analyse and apply consumer and buyer behaviour fundamentals to develop an effective marketing campaign.

Forensic Psychology Online Courses

Forensic Psychology: Witness Investigation
The Open University via FutureLearn
Discover how psychology can help obtain evidence from eyewitnesses in police investigations and prevent miscarriages of justice.
★★★★★ (18 ratings)

The Psychology of Criminal Justice
University of Queensland via edX
Learn how behavioural science can improve our criminal justice system.
★★★★★ (16 ratings)

Investigating a Murder with Forensic Psychology
The Open University via FutureLearn
Experience what it’s like to be a detective in a murder investigation as you learn how psychology can help crack the case.