Coursera

Civic Engagement in American Democracy (Coursera)

Offered by Duke University,

So how does the American political system work? Who are some of the key actors? What are key concepts for a student trying to understand what’s going on? How can I as a citizen influence politics? Civic Engagement in American Democracy takes on these and other key questions. We’re Dr. Nicholas Carnes and Dr. Bruce Jentleson, the principal course instructors. Along with our Duke faculty colleagues who also contributed modules, we’ve designed the course to provide a strong foundational introduction to US politics.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

If you’re new to this material, proceed through the modules one by one and build up your knowledge of politics and government. If some of the material is familiar, go ahead and set your own pace. Either way we hope Civic Engagement in American Democracy helps you be an effective student in more advanced politics courses and/or an engaged citizen in 21st century America.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Overview and Introduction

WEEK 2
Who are the key players?
This week we'll learn who is who in American Democracy.

WEEK 3
How do the players fit together?
This week we'll learn how American Democracy is structured and how forces—internal and external—affect it.

WEEK 4
How do citizens influence politics?
This week we'll learn how American citizens can affect their political system.

Go to Class

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Coursera

University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

ADHD: Everyday Strategies for Elementary Students (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

This course will provide an overview of ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Course participants can expect to learn about ADHD as a developmental disorder that begins early in childhood, and participants will also learn about evidence-based approaches for diagnosing ADHD. Following that, two evidence-based treatment approaches (the Daily Report Card and Parenting Strategies) will be introduced. (Note these course activities are informational and are not intended to replace working with a licensed/trained professional).

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Planning Education ADHD

Coursera

University of Florida,University of Arizona,Drexel University

Introduction to the Orbital Perspective (Coursera)

Social Sciences

The goals of this course are to develop the student’s critical thinking skills, global awareness, and ability to work as an integral part of a team in an increasingly complex global job market. The course provides a foundation in such skills as team building, collaboration, and elevated empathy using real-world scenarios from some of world’s most effective collaborative projects including the Earthrise-2068 Project.

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Earth Social Sciences Space

Coursera

Case Western Reserve University

Beyond Silicon Valley: Growing Entrepreneurship in Transitioning Economies (Coursera)

Management & Leadership

The path for entrepreneurs to grow their companies outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley is challenging. Most markets around the world do not look like Silicon Valley, and they never will. But there are other models to support new businesses. In transitioning markets (where entrepreneurs do not have much access to private sector financing), government officials, donors, and business leaders are experimenting with creative approaches to support the growth of entrepreneurs. Northeast Ohio, whose largest city is Cleveland, is one such community. During our time together in this course, we will be exploring some of these innovative approaches.

Aug 3rd 2026

5-12 Weeks

Business Management Entrepreneur

Coursera

Leiden University

EU policy and implementation: making Europe work! (Coursera)

Social Sciences

People have become more critical of EU policy and often seem to prefer local policy solutions in response to globalisation problems. How do you experience EU policy? Does it help? And if not, how can we change this? In this course, we learn how the European Union prepares and decides on policy, and how policy is transferred to member states and implemented by various authorities, including regional and local governments. We discuss the challenges of the European multi-level governance structure. We also focus on the main causes of policy failure or success. On this journey, we focus on actual policy and present the views of various experts: how easy is it to establish yourself in another EU-country?

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Europe Government Social Sciences

Coursera

University of Alberta,UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Arctic Economy (Coursera)

Economics & Finance Social Sciences

Arctic communities have diverse histories and roles in local, regional and global economies. However, the scope and scale of globalization has increased so quickly that vulnerable Arctic communities are facing new kinds of challenges to their survival. In this 3-week MOOC, a unique collaboration between the University of Alberta and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, you will investigate the challenges faced by Indigenous, North American, Russian and Nordic Arctic communities in a modern world. So join us as we venture above the 60th parallel North, and explore how these fascinating communities adjust to change while maintaining their ways of life, socio-economic histories, and cultural traditions.

Aug 17th 2026

4 Weeks

History Economics Economy

Coursera

Yale University

Moral Foundations of Politics (Coursera)

Social Sciences

When do governments deserve our allegiance, and when should they be denied it? This course explores the main answers that have been given to this question in the modern West. We start with a survey of the major political theories of the Enlightenment: Utilitarianism, Marxism, and the social contract tradition. In each case, we begin with a look at classical formulations, locating them in historical context, but then shift to the contemporary debates as they relate to politics today.

Aug 10th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Politics Democracy Enlightenment

Coursera

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Studying Cities: Social Science Methods for Urban Research (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

Are you looking to learn more about how to conduct scientific research, specifically in an urban or local context? Then you have found the right course: Studying Cities: Social Science Methods for Urban Research by the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam. During the course you will gain more insight in the different steps of the research cycle, and build a firm foundation for your own future research endeavors.

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Research Methods Social Sciences Research

Coursera

University of Lausanne

Doping : Sports, Organizations and Sciences (Coursera)

Social Sciences Sports

The objective of this course is to encourage a critical understanding of doping. To achieve this goal, this course will rely on a multidisciplinary approach that allow you to see how different disciplines get into a single object, in different perspectives and in often complementary ways. This approach will also allow us to appreciate the complexity of a subject like doping. Doping in sports is a complex practice whose definition and identification is the result of socially and historically constructed norms. This course offers to shed light on the processes that led to the use and prohibition of doping substances.

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Health Sports Social Sciences

Coursera

University of Amsterdam

Quantitative Methods (Coursera)

Engineering Statistics & Data Analysis

Discover the principles of solid scientific methods in the behavioral and social sciences. Join us and learn to separate sloppy science from solid research! This course will cover the fundamental principles of science, some history and philosophy of science, research designs, measurement, sampling and ethics. The course is comparable to a university level introductory course on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, but has a strong focus on research integrity. We will use examples from sociology, political sciences, educational sciences, communication sciences and psychology.

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Ethics Research Methods Social Sciences

Coursera

University of Minnesota

What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)? (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

In the last decade transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals have become increasingly visible in our families, culture, and public discourse. This course explores the concept of gender identity for people who are curious about the nature of gender, the process of gender affirmation, or changing social dynamics. Participants will learn the unique challenges faced by the TGNC population as well as develop the skills to build inclusive spaces in all spheres of their life. This course was developed under the Joycelyn Elders Chair for Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota.

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Personal Development Society Gender

Coursera

University of California, Irvine

Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law - The Structure of Government (Coursera)

Law Social Sciences

This course will highlight the construction and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution through the centuries. You'll learn the history behind the Constitution, cases that formed important precedent, and how changes in interpretation have been dependent on shifts in cultural and political climate as well as the composition of the Supreme Court.

Aug 17th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Law Government Federalism

Coursera

University of Virginia

Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

Do you work for a nonprofit or in the social sector? Are you struggling to solve the problems and meet the needs of the people you serve? Come learn more about how design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem solving, can help you truly understand an issue, generate ideas worth testing and iterate to find solutions that make a real difference. Through global stories from areas as diverse as government, health care, and education, we’ll show you the tools, techniques and mindset needed to use design thinking to uncover new and creative solutions in the social sector.

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Social Innovation Education