Online Psychology Courses | TheBestSchools

Free Online Psychology Courses

Free psychology classes from the established providers discussed in this section offer a high-level introduction to the discipline. These courses do not lead to college credits but can help you prepare for future studies.

Alison

As one of the world's largest free online learning platforms, Alison offers nearly 50 psychology classes developed by industry leaders and experienced professionals. Most classes take 1.5-3 hours to complete, with some more intensive sequences lasting up to 10 hours in total. Each course uses an asynchronous, self-paced delivery format with a personalized knowledge dashboard, allowing users to track their progress.

Course Examples

• Beating Depression
• Hidden Secrets of Psychology
• Fundamentals of Emotional States and Processes

edX

edX partners with over 160 colleges and universities to provide free online learning experiences to students across the globe. Some courses were originally taught at institutions like the University of Queensland and the University of California, Berkeley. edX's free psychology classes explore abnormal psychology, child development, and mental health. Most of the self-paced courses last around eight weeks. An enrollee can receive a verified certificate for an additional fee.

Course Examples

• Introduction to Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence at Work

Harvard University

Harvard University offers free online psychology courses on an intuitive learning platform where learners can engage with content on their own time. Each introductory class requires 2-4 hours of study per week for up to seven weeks and is taught by renowned university faculty. Like other providers, Harvard does not charge for these courses. Interested learners can pay for certificates of completion.

Course Examples

• The Science of Corresponding With Busy People
• The Path to Happiness

MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT maintains a massive archive of past courses, including material from over 2,500 high-quality graduate and undergraduate classes. Its psychology and cognitive science courses include recorded video lectures with captions, self-administered exams, and instructor-developed lecture notes. They are available to the general public at no cost. Some come with free online textbooks and built-in assessment tools.

Course Examples

• Neuroscience of Morality
• Human Memory and Learning
• Psychology of Gender

Open Yale Courses

Yale University uses a flexible and intuitive web interface to house previous course content. Self-paced learners can audit classes taught by Yale faculty and expert practitioners. The lecture-driven material provided by the Yale's Department of Psychology includes 75-minute talks on introductory and advanced topics. Students can also access past syllabi, assigned readings, and other course materials to advance their psychology knowledge.

Course Examples

• Introduction to Psychology
• The Psychology, Biology, and Politics of Food

University of Oxford

The free online psychology courses at the University of Oxford use a podcast format with audio and video options. Class offerings focus on comparative and experimental psychology, self-help, and social psychology. Students can access course materials at any time and engage with lectures from established scientists and researchers. All course content includes closed captioning and other assistive tools.

Course Examples

• Managing Stress and Overcoming Anxiety
• The Science of Mindfulness
• Overcoming Mistrust and Paranoia

Next Steps for Your Psychology Education

Individuals who enjoy taking free online psychology courses can pursue psychology degrees. Earning an online bachelor's in psychology will take time, but it can lead to fulfilling careers in counseling, social work, or human services.

You can start even more competitive careers by obtaining a master's degree or doctorate in psychology. Both options feature specializations in areas like psychotherapy, education, and clinical psychology.