Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Offered by University of California, Davis. Become an SEO Expert. Master search engine optimization tools and strategies Enroll for free.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in SEO. It is structured in 5 modules, over 2 months. Learners rate it 4.6/5 from 13.1K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our SEO courses collection, where we compare it against 8 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 2 months |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.6★ (13.1K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results. This Coursera course, offered by the University of California, Davis, walks learners through the core tools and strategies used to rank higher on Google. The course is structured as a five-course Specialization, each module building on the last. Learners start with "Introduction to Google SEO" and progress through "Google SEO Fundamentals" and "Optimizing a Website for Google Search" before tackling "Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO" and finishing with the "Google SEO Capstone Project."
What sets this course apart is its practical focus. Rather than theory alone, the modules walk learners through real SEO tools and tactics. "Google SEO Fundamentals" covers how search engines crawl and index pages, while "Optimizing a Website for Google Search" teaches on-page and technical fixes. The advanced module explores how content and social signals interact with search rankings. The capstone asks learners to apply everything by running a full SEO audit and presenting a strategy.
By the end, a learner can run a technical SEO audit, research and target keywords, optimize on-page elements like titles and meta descriptions, and evaluate the impact of content and social media on search performance. These are concrete skills that translate directly to entry-level SEO roles or freelance work.
Honest limits: the course does not cover paid search (PPC) or advanced technical development. It is built for beginners, so learners who already run live SEO campaigns may find the early modules familiar. Those seeking a deeper technical dive might look at the "Free SEO Training Course" on Udemy, which is also beginner-rated and free, or the "SEO Tutorial for Beginners" Udemy course, which has 30K+ ratings and a certificate. The Coursera path is ideal for someone who wants a university-backed credential and a structured five-course flow, while the Udemy options suit a learner who prefers a single, free video course and immediate access.
Enrollment is self-paced. The course takes about two months if studied part-time. English is the medium of instruction, and a shareable certificate is awarded on completion. Financial aid is available for learners who cannot afford the enrollment fee.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
5 modulesThe 5-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 2 months.
Module 1 · Introduction to Google SEO
Module 2 · Google SEO Fundamentals
Module 3 · Optimizing a Website for Google Search
Module 4 · Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO
Module 5 · Google SEO Capstone Project
What learners rate it
Rated 4.6/5 by 13.1K learners on Coursera (checked 8 Nov 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 8 November 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search Engine Optimization (SEO) This |
 Coursera
|
4.6★ | Check price | 2 months | Beginner-friendly · 2 months | |
| Google SEO Fundamentals |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 9h 27m | Highest rated (4.8★ from 3.7K reviews) | View ↗ |
| Introduction to Google SEO |
Coursera
|
4.6★ | Check price | 16h 13m | Beginner-friendly · 16h 13m | View ↗ |
| Free SEO Training Course |
 Udemy
|
4.5★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate | Start free ↗ |
Where SEO leads
Roles we map to SEO 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 digital marketers.
Common questions
How much does Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 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 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 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 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) take?
Coursera lists it at 2 months. 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 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Search Engine Optimization (SEO) cover?
It is organised into 5 modules, starting with Introduction to Google SEO and going on to Google SEO Fundamentals, Optimizing a Website for Google Search, Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO, Google SEO Capstone Project. The full outline is on this page.