Introduction to Psychology
Offered by Yale University. What are people most afraid of? What do our dreams mean? Are we natural-born racists? What makes us happy?
Introduction to Psychology is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Psychology. It is structured in 7 modules, over 17h 44m. Learners rate it 4.9/5 from 32.7K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Psychology courses collection, where we compare it against 2 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 17h 44m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.9★ (32.7K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
Introduction to Psychology is a beginner-level course on Coursera offered by Yale University. It runs for 17 hours 44 minutes and is taught in English. A learner can earn a certificate upon completion. The course is self-paced, allowing study around other commitments.
The syllabus moves through core areas of psychological science. It starts with Foundations, then covers Development and Language, Cognition, and how the Self relates to Others. A section on Variation explores differences between individuals and groups. The course ends with The Good Life, which examines what psychological research says about happiness and well-being.
Practical skills built during the course include Scientific Methods, Critical Thinking, and Learning Theory. Learners also engage with topics such as Mental Health Diseases and Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Psychotherapy. The module on Human Development covers Child Development, while Cultural Awareness runs through discussions of Diversity.
At the end of the course, a learner can identify basic psychological concepts, describe how people develop and learn, and explain findings from classic and contemporary research. They can also reflect on factors that contribute to a happy life, based on the course's final module.
This course is best suited for beginners who want a broad, university-level introduction to psychology without a heavy math or research methods requirement. Learners who need hands-on research experience or advanced clinical training may want to look at more specialised options. The free-to-audit track gives full access to materials; the certificate track adds graded assignments and a credential for LinkedIn profiles.
Free options include auditing this Coursera course or trying the beginner-friendly Forensic Psychology course on Udemy, which is also free to audit and covers profiling, crime, and criminal minds. The Dark Psychology Udemy course is another free option for those interested in the psychology of influence and manipulation.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
7 modulesThe 7-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 17h 44m.
Module 1 · Welcome to Introduction to Psychology
Module 2 · Foundations
Module 3 · Development and Language
Module 4 · Cognition
Module 5 · Self and others
Module 6 · Variation
Module 7 · The good life
What learners rate it
Rated 4.9/5 by 32.7K learners on Coursera (checked 10 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 10 August 2026.
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Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Psychology This |
 Coursera
|
4.9★ | Check price | 17h 44m | Highest rated (4.9★ from 32.7K reviews) |
| FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: Profiling, Crime & Criminal Minds |
 Udemy
|
4.5★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate | |
| Dark Psychology |
Udemy
|
4.0★ | Free | Free — certificate included |
Common questions
How much does Introduction to Psychology cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Introduction to Psychology come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Introduction to Psychology take?
Coursera lists it at 17h 44m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Introduction to Psychology suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Introduction to Psychology cover?
It is organised into 7 modules, starting with Welcome to Introduction to Psychology and going on to Foundations, Development and Language, Cognition, Self and others, among others. The full outline is on this page.