The 10 Best Online Psychology Courses of 2023

Our Ranking Criteria

The best online psychology courses offer a mix of theory and hands-on practice to help you excel and reach your academic goals. For our top ten list, we looked at all the courses attracting the most students and assessed them to find the ones that best deliver on their promises. We based our decisions on both basic and advanced criteria.

Basic Ranking Criteria

First, we looked at the basic factors each class should possess to provide a solid educational experience. We expected every course to meet these four requirements.

Time to complete. We looked for those that took the time they needed to properly convey the material, without wasting your time. Most of our classes can be completed in less than six months to a few weeks or less.

Prerequisites required. None of our final chosen courses had prerequisites. This means they are accessible to anyone with little background knowledge of psychology.

Flexible schedule. All but one of our choices allow you to set the pace for your learning experience. That gives you the ability to shape your coursework around personal and professional commitments.

Certificate of completion. Most of our courses feature a certificate of completion you can add to your resume or LinkedIn profile, although some of them charge a fee for this service. A certificate can be a valuable asset, showing you are engaged in professional development.

Advanced Ranking Criteria

Then we took a closer look at each course based on more advanced ranking criteria. Although every course has a unique focus, we expected them to adhere to these standards.

• Instructors who are credentialed in psychology and have teaching experience at the university level.
• Instructors who are engaging speakers capable of providing lectures that bring the material alive.
• Students have the chance to assess their learning through quizzes or practical assignments.
• The material covered reflects the current psychological practice and up-to-date information.
• Student reviews, when available, are generally positive and affirming.
• The course does not require specialized software or any technology beyond what the average student has available.
• Students can start the course either when it is convenient for them or at a start date that is repeated regularly.
• Goals for the course are clear from the beginning and are stated on the website.

The 10 Best Online Psychology Courses

Coursera
Introduction to Psychology

Intelligent Award: Top Pick

Developed in conjunction with the University of Toronto, Coursera’s Introduction to Psychology offers a broad overview of topics including experimental psychology and how it impacts our understanding of human behavior, the brain and its cognitive abilities, and mental illness and its treatments. The class is taught by Professor Steve Joordens, who has won many teaching awards from the University of Toronto and is known for his innovative and engaging lecture style. The course is free if you are taking it for personal enrichment but only costs $49 if you want a certificate upon completion.

• Price: free to audit; $49 with certificate
• Time to complete: about 23 hours
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes, for a fee

Who should take this course? This is a great course for the intellectually curious. If you consider yourself a life-long learner who is open to exploring new topics, the instructor is excellent at explaining his topics in an accessible and interesting manner.

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Coursera
The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs

Intelligent Award: Best for Social Workers

Developed and offered by the University of Toronto, this course focuses on the Strategies and Skills Learning and Development (SSLD) System, a model that helps learners master ways in which they can attain personal goals within a social environment. The instructor for the course is A. Ka Tat Tsang, a professor of social work who developed SSLD, and who teaches globally at the university level. You’ll learn the basic principles of SSLD and their relevance for everyday relationships, along with case studies that illustrate how these relationships work within the system. Students will participate in observation learning, simulations, real-life implementations, and review.

• Price: free to audit; $49 with certificate
• Time to complete: approximately 32 hours
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes, for a fee

Who should take this course? Students of psychology and social work who are interested in learning about the SSLD model for interpersonal and societal relationships, as well as professionals in social work and related fields who require an in-depth understanding of social interactions.

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Interested in a degree instead?

Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

 

Coursera
Positive Psychology

Intelligent Award: Best for Practicing Psychologists

This course addresses an interesting subset of psychological study. Positive psychology takes a close look at the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. It is, as the name suggests, an uplifting area of study, based on the belief people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives and nurture all that is best within themselves. The course is offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and taught by Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson, a distinguished professor of psychology at the school and president-elect of the International Positive Psychology Association. You’ll study positive emotions, the outcomes of positivity and positivity resonance, and look at how happiness radiates out to benefit relationships and the community.

• Price: free to audit; $49 with certificate
• Time to complete: approximately 11 hours
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes, for a fee

Who should take this course? Anyone curious about the features of positive psychology, including psychologists and psychology students who want to expand their area of expertise.

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Coursera
Foundations of Positive Psychology Certification

Intelligent Award: Best Free Trial

This comprehensive course is offered by the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution with excellent faculty. All five professors teaching this course hold doctorates in psychology. The course offers strategies and tools to help individuals and organizations to thrive and allows students to explore the world of positive psychology. This five-course specialization leads to a certificate that is signed by Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology and Director of Penn’s Positive Psychology Center. The five courses culminate in a project that brings all the coursework from the first four courses together as you develop and test a positive intervention for an audience of your choice.

• Price: $79/month
• Time to complete: approximately five months at four hours a week of work
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes

Who should take this course? This course is a good introduction to the world of positive psychology for those who are interested in making a career change or learning a new topic in psychology.

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Udacity
Intro to Psychology

Intelligent Award: Most Affordable

Udacity’s Intro to Psychology course is taught by professors at San Jose State University. They gear this free course toward the beginner, the only prerequisite, they say, is “curiosity about human nature.” Among other topics, the course helps students to analyze the social element of society, look at the dynamics of ethnic, cultural, and other identities, and evaluate social science information. Each of the nine lessons centers around a particular area of psychological studies, such as consciousness and perception. In addition to the video lessons, there are exercises you will complete and interactive quizzes that allow you to test your understanding.

• Price: free
• Time to complete: approximately four months
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: no

Who should take this course? Anyone looking to learn more about the science of psychology without incurring a high cost would be well served by this free course.

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FutureLearn
Introduction to Psychology: Developmental Psychology

Intelligent Award: Best Multi-Course Series

This course on developmental psychology was developed by Monash University, a leading research institution in Australia, and is taught by Associate Professor Matthew Mundy, who is director of education for the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash. He’s an expert in the cognitive neuroscience of memory and perception, so expect this topic to be covered in particular depth in the course. You’ll also look at topics including human development, lifespan theories, the stages of development, and the final stage of our lifespan. The course includes online assessments you can complete to test your knowledge. If you wish, you can continue with five other intro to psychology courses in what the company calls an ExpertTrack, and earn certificates for each course as well as the series as a whole.

• Price: $39/month
• Time to complete: two weeks, with six hours of study each week
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes

Who should take this course? Best for those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or another field who want to expand their scientific and research skill set.

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Udemy
Advanced Level Psychology Certificate

Intelligent Award: Best Professional Outcomes

As the title suggests, this course goes beyond the beginner-level classes that make up most of our list. It’s taught by motivational psychologist Elmira Strange,  who has been a senior researcher and psychology lecturer at colleges in the U.K. and is now an online entrepreneur of psychology-based materials. In this class, you’ll learn about psychological theory, applied social and cognitive psychology, research methods and why they are important, child development, and current debates in the field. The course assumes some basic understanding of psychology, but much of the material is accessible to anyone with basic education. There is a certificate available, and the course is fully accredited by the International Association of Therapists (IAOTH).

• Price: $99
• Time to complete: four hours
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes

Who should take this course? Best for people who are considering a career in psychology or who are brushing up on skills they have from previous studies.

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Udemy
How to “Get” People: Practical Psychology

Intelligent Award: Shortest Course

Taught by organizational psychologist and author Bill McAneny, this course delves into how we interact with others and influence people and situations to get better outcomes for our ideas. McAneny helps you to understand your personality type and appreciate the difference between personality and behavior. You’ll learn about four elements of personality: extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuitive, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving, and see why each of these elements is important in understanding how to work effectively with people. This practical course is a great primer for those who want to know how to handle conflict and motivate others to get the best out of them.

• Price: $44.99
• Time to complete: 1.5 hours
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes

Who should take this course? Those looking for practical information that will help them understand what makes people tick and how to work and mediate more effectively, no matter what their personality is like.

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edX
Developmental, Social, & Clinical Psychology

Intelligent Award: Most Comprehensive Course

Developed by the University of Queensland, Australia, the eight professors who teach this course have crafted an excellent introduction to psychology that will help you understand why we think and behave the way we do. This self-paced series includes four courses, introduction to social psychology, introduction to developmental psychology, introduction to clinical psychology, and introduction to psychological research methods. Each course includes 7 to 8 sections, and it’s recommended that you complete 1 to 2 sections each week. Throughout the series, you’ll gain an understanding of psychological disorders and how to treat them, why we act as we do in a variety of settings, how our bodies and minds develop throughout our lives, and what methods are used to interpret and report research.

• Price: $356.40 for four courses
• Time to complete: seven months at one to two hours per week
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: yes
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes

Who should take this course? Best for those who are interested in pursuing advanced study in psychology.

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edX
Trends in e-Psychology

Intelligent Award: Best for Working Professionals

This course, led by instructors from the University of Leuven and the University of Maastricht, delves into an interesting subfield of psychology that is on the cutting edge of current research. It deals with electronic and digital applications used to promote healthy behavior, including the e-cigarette trend, e-mental health applications, and e-mediation, which uses electronic communication to prevent escalation and promote conflict resolution. You’ll learn from videos, demonstration movies, exercises, discussion, and reading assignments for three weeks, with a final week given over to catch-up work so assignments and evaluations can be completed.

• Price: free; certificate available for $49
• Time to complete: four weeks
• Prerequisites required: none
• Flexible schedule: instructor-paced
• Includes verified certificate of participation: yes, for a fee

Who should take this course? Best for those already knowledgeable in psychology who want to expand their understanding of current trends in electronic and digital health.

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Online Course Comparison Chart

Tips for Succeeding in an Online Psychology Course

1. Consider the cost

How much do online psychology classes cost?

There are many reasonably priced online psychology courses available. If you are taking the course for personal enrichment and not interested in earning a certificate of completion, you will find quite a few, such as the classes offered by Coursera, that are free. The most expensive option among our chosen courses is Edx’s Developmental, Social & Clinical Psychology class, which covers a great deal of information for $356.40.

Will my employer pay for me to take the course?

If your psychology class allows you to perform your job at a higher level or meets the professional requirements of your employer, they may be willing to pay all or part of the class fees. It is worth a conversation with your supervisor or your company’s HR department head to see if they are open to supporting you in this way.

2. Get your tech squared away

You shouldn’t need any special tech to take these online psychology courses. A few companies, such as Udacity, allow you to test your system for compatibility. In general, you will need a fairly up-to-date operating system, such as Windows 7 or higher for PCs and Mac OS X 10 or higher for Apple products. You’ll also need a solid internet connection, with a download speed of at least 1Mbps and upload speed of 0.5 Mbps. Most of our chosen courses are compatible with smartphones and other devices. One suggestion if you are using Chrome, consider downloading the Video Speed Controller app, which allows you to speed up or slow down video lectures as well as rewind or fast forward.

3. Use the right study resources

Depending on what area of psychology you are interested in, child psychology, forensic psychology, marriage, and family therapy, or something else, there is probably an organization with an information-packed website that includes resources for students of psychology. An example of this would be the National Association of School Psychologists, which features resources, publications, standards, and more for those interested in working as a psychologist in a primary or secondary school.

There are numerous books available that are geared toward those learning about psychology. Two that we like are The Psychology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK Publishing and Psychology: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Subject, by Alan Porter.

Career Outlook for Psychology

Studying psychology online can help you advance in your profession in many ways. Such study can help you develop marketable soft skills, expand your knowledge base in your chosen field, and provide opportunities for hands-on practice with online clinical experience.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, working as a psychologist usually requires a doctoral degree and residency, and leads to the median pay of $82,180 a year. But there are many other career options open for those with an understanding of psychology. These include management and other business and industry positions, educational instruction and library work, and administrative and office support occupations. Below are additional jobs related to psychology:

Social worker

Social workers offer assistance to those in need by way of counseling, advocacy, and referrals to community resources that can assist them in preventing and overcoming challenges. Most social workers specialize in  work with either children or adults, whereas others focus on populations like those without homes, veterans, the medically underserved, or those in need of child protective services. Furthermore, some social workers have a specialized license that allows them to legally practice mental health care in the same capacity as a licensed professional counselor. These professionals, known as licensed clinical social workers, diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual salary for social workers is $50,390 as of 2021.

Clinical psychologist

Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders using a variety of approaches. For this work, they earn a $65,400 median annual salary. They’ve completed advanced training, which makes them experts in performing assessments and diagnosing psychiatric illnesses. Most clinical psychologists are employed by private practices, hospitals, or clinics, where they may treat all patients generally or care exclusively for those with one of two specific conditions, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or posttraumatic stress disorder. They may also choose to specialize and treat members of special populations like the LGBTQ+ community or individuals afflicted with or related to someone with a terminal illness.

School counselor

School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and create plans for postsecondary education and/or careers. They are also tasked with preparing and delivering school counseling programs to the student body as a whole to improve student outcomes. Another part of the role involves meeting one-on-one and in groups with students who are struggling with things like bullying, disabilities, low self-esteem, or relationship troubles.

A profession growing slightly faster than average at a rate of 10%, school counseling includes mental health and youth specialists in public and private schools from elementary through high school. Credentials required for public school counselors vary by state, and although most require a master’s degree in counseling, some also require a certain number of internship hours or years of teaching experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, school counselors earn a median salary of $60,510.

Human factors specialists

The average human factors specialist earns between $91,016 and $114,093 annually. Human factors specialists, more commonly known as engineering psychologists, conduct research on and contribute to the design of products, facilities, and environments to maximize human well-being and overall system performance. In practice, this may entail investigating and assessing features of human behavior and performance as they relate to the use of technology. Human factor specialists then use this data to make a product more user-friendly regarding factors like ergonomics, efficiency, and fatigue, with the goal of ultimately contributing to better productivity. While many human factors specialists with advanced degrees work in industry, many also find employment with the government as researchers, most notably with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Police and detectives

A police officer’s primary responsibility is to protect the public and enforce the law. They answer calls, conduct investigations, and provide emergency services. Police detectives are more senior police officers who spend most of their time investigating crimes, reviewing records, interviewing witnesses and suspects, gathering evidence, and conducting surveillance. A sophisticated understanding of human psychology is important for patrol officers and detectives to effectively engage with suspects, witnesses, and members of the public. The median annual wage for police and detectives was $66,020 as of May 2021.

Educational requirements for careers in psychology

Although some careers directly related to psychology need only a bachelor’s degree, many, such as clinical psychologists, human factors specialists, and school counselors, require a master’s or doctoral-level education. Regardless of education, any individual pursuing a career directly related to psychology must build and maintain a range of impressive soft skills, such as active listening, interpersonal communication, and de-escalation. Bilingualism is also a beneficial skill in many psychology careers. Online courses can help grow these soft skills or maintain job-specific growth that is useful to the patient and public interaction, so as to ensure a safe work environment or meet other role-specific objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Courses