Introduction to Public Speaking
Offered by University of Washington. This course offers a proven framework for crafting and delivering impactful presentations.
Introduction to Public Speaking is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Public Speaking. It is structured in 5 modules, over 12h 21m. Learners rate it 4.7/5 from 2.3K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Public Speaking courses collection, where we compare it against 3 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 12h 21m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.7★ (2.3K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
This course gives beginners a practical framework for crafting and delivering effective presentations. It is offered by the University of Washington and hosted on Coursera. The total time commitment is 12 hours and 21 minutes, and the material is in English.
Each week builds a specific skill. Week 1 covers the basics of speech structure. Week 2 focuses on making ideas compelling and memorable. Week 3 teaches how to illustrate and deliver those ideas. Week 4 helps learners overcome fear and develop strong delivery habits. The final week is a course conclusion and a final speech.
By the end, a learner can structure a short speech, use verbal and non-verbal techniques to engage an audience, and deliver a presentation with composure. The course also covers skills such as constructive feedback, persuasive communication, and concise writing.
This course is best for beginners who want a structured introduction to public speaking. It requires access to a digital video camera or smartphone for peer-review speech assignments. Learners who need a certificate must purchase the Certificate experience; a free audit track is available but does not include a credential. Those who prefer a Hindi-language option may look at the Udemy course listed under alternatives, while learners looking for a very quick overview might try the 55-minute Udemy bootcamp.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
5 modulesThe 5-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 12h 21m.
Module 1 · Week 1: Understanding Speech
Module 2 · Week 2: Making ideas compelling and memorable
Module 3 · Week 3: Illustrating and Delivering your ideas
Module 4 · Week 4: Overcoming your fear of Public Speaking and developing great delivery
Module 5 · Week 5: Course Conclusion and your Final Speech
What learners rate it
Rated 4.7/5 by 2.3K 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.
How we compare and rank courses · Our review policy · Affiliate disclosure
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 Public Speaking This |
 Coursera
|
4.7★ | Check price | 12h 21m | Highest rated (4.7★ from 2.3K reviews) |
| Speak Like a Pro: Public Speaking for Professionals |
 Udemy
|
4.5★ | Free | Free — certificate included | |
| Public Speaking Course in Hindi (हिंदी) |
Udemy
|
4.5★ | Free | Free — certificate included | |
| How to speak to anyone & be fearless - in less than 55 min |
Udemy
|
4.4★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate |
Where Public Speaking leads
Roles we map to Public Speaking on CoursesGlobal. This is our own mapping of subject to job, not a placement claim by Coursera.
Browse every course we track for one of these — courses for teachers.
Common questions
How much does Introduction to Public Speaking 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 Public Speaking 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 Public Speaking take?
Coursera lists it at 12h 21m. 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 Public Speaking suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Introduction to Public Speaking cover?
It is organised into 5 modules, starting with Week 1: Understanding Speech and going on to Week 2: Making ideas compelling and memorable, Week 3: Illustrating and Delivering your ideas, Week 4: Overcoming your fear of Public Speaking and developing great delivery, Week 5: Course Conclusion and your Final Speech. The full outline is on this page.