What are the best social work courses on Coursera?

Popular courses include Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change from the University of Michigan and Using Public Policy for Social Change from the University of Michigan . These courses explore topics such as counseling techniques, trauma-informed care, public policy, and advocacy.

Can I learn social work for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many social work–related courses offer a free audit option, giving you access to video lectures and reading materials at no cost. To earn a certificate or complete assessments, you’ll need to pay or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a social work course?

You’ll learn about human behavior, case management, ethics , mental health , community development, and working with diverse populations. Some courses also explore social welfare systems, cultural competency, and techniques for supporting individuals and families in crisis.

Do I need a background in psychology or sociology to take a social work course?

Not necessarily. Many courses are beginner-friendly and introduce key social work concepts from the ground up. More advanced options may be better suited for learners with some experience in social sciences or community service.

Can Coursera’s social work courses help with career goals?

Yes. While Coursera doesn’t offer a full degree in social work, its courses can help you explore the field, build practical skills, and prepare for further education or roles in social services, counseling , nonprofit work , and community outreach.

Top Social Work Courses - Learn Social Work Online

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Find the Best Social Work Course for Your Goals

Google Cloud
Developing a Google SRE Culture - 日本語版
Skills you'll gain: Site Reliability Engineering, Safety Culture, Culture Transformation, Continuous Delivery, DevOps, Service Level, Continuous Integration, Performance Measurement, Performance Metric, Change Management, Design Thinking, Automation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Prototyping
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Packt
Finalizing, Rendering & Advanced Lighting
Skills you'll gain: 3D Modeling, Conceptual Design, Design, Computer Graphics, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Animations
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
Software Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Strategies
Skills you'll gain:
Intermediate · Course
O.P. Jindal Global University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Skills you'll gain:
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Google Cloud
Change Management for Google Workspace Português Brasileiro
Skills you'll gain: Change Management, Organizational Change, Stakeholder Engagement, Google Workspace, Process Development, Customer Success Management, Customer Communications Management, Organizational Strategy, Training and Development, Communication Strategies, Employee Engagement, Needs Assessment
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Work with Gemini Models in BigQuery - Português Brasileiro
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Google Cloud Platform, Customer Relationship Management, Predictive Modeling, SQL, Big Data, Applied Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Python Programming
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Agentic AI Fundamentals with LangChain and LangGraph
Skills you'll gain:
Intermediate · Course
Status: New
Google Cloud
Change Management for Google Workspace - 日本語版
Skills you'll gain: Change Management, Organizational Change, Culture Transformation, Business Transformation, Google Workspace, Training and Development, Process Analysis, Needs Assessment, Stakeholder Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication Strategies, Employee Engagement
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Google Cloud
Google Cloud 資料分析簡介
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Strategic Leadership: Visionary Skills for Success
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Leadership, Business Leadership, Change Management, Organizational Change, Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Visionary, Decision Making, Communication, Culture Transformation, Organizational Strategy, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Management
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
Coordinating and Conducting Interviews
Skills you'll gain: Interviewing Skills, Coordinating, Recruitment, Talent Recruitment, Professional Networking, Labor Compliance, Compensation Management, Record Keeping, Communication, Diversity and Inclusion, Branding
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
Sourcing and Screening Applicants
Skills you'll gain: Talent Pipelining, Talent Sourcing, Talent Acquisition, Recruitment, Recruitment Strategies, Talent Management, Applicant Tracking Systems, Human Resources Management and Planning, Professional Networking, Job Evaluation, Interviewing Skills, Communication
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks