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 tools and strategies needed to rank higher on Google.
The course runs for two months and is designed for beginners. It is self-paced, so you can start anytime and progress through the modules at your own speed. The language of instruction is English, and a shareable certificate is available upon completion.
Learners begin with an introduction to Google SEO and then move into Google SEO Fundamentals. The next module, Optimizing a Website for Google Search, covers technical changes you can make to a site. Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO explores how content and social signals affect rankings. The course wraps up with a Google SEO Capstone Project, where you apply what you have learned to a real-world scenario.
By the end of the course, you will be able to conduct keyword research, optimize on-page elements such as titles and meta descriptions, and understand how Google’s indexing works. You will also know how to use social media and content marketing to support your SEO efforts.
This course is best suited for beginners who want a structured introduction to SEO. Learners who already have hands-on experience with technical SEO or content strategy may find the early modules familiar. Those looking for advanced link-building tactics or in-depth analytics configuration may want to supplement this course with a more specialized offering.
Free options include the Google SEO Fundamentals course on Coursera and the free SEO Training Course on Udemy. Both are beginner-friendly and carry a certificate.
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Free SEO Training Course |
 Udemy
|
4.6★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate | |
| Introduction to Google SEO |
Coursera
|
4.6★ | Check price | 16h 13m | Beginner-friendly · 16h 13m |
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.