Canvas

Science of Relationships (CSU)

Offered by Colorado State University Online,

An exploration of the science behind what makes relationships in our lives work or not work.

Free relationship advice; who couldn't use that, right? And from an expert with a scientific perspective no less! Have you ever wondered what makes your significant other tick? Why you're attracted to the people you are? How to best nurture a relationship? Or how to get through a breakup?
Dive deeper into the science of relationships with social psychology expert and CSU faculty member, Dr. Jennifer Jill Harman, Ph.D., during this free online psychology course. The noncredit, social-based program is designed for individuals interested in the field of psychology and those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the science behind how relationships work.

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

Emory University

The Psychology of Thrill Seekers (Coursera)

Health & Society Social Sciences

Sensation seeking is a trait we all have and includes the search for complex and new experiences. Thrill Seekers, people with high-sensation seeking personalities, crave exotic and intense experiences even when physical or social risks are involved. This course helps learners examine the remarkable world of the high-sensation seeking personality and explores the lifestyle, psychology, and neuroscience behind thrill seekers.

Sep 14th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Neuroscience Psychology Lifestyle

Coursera

University of London,Goldsmiths, University of London

Introduction to Virtual Reality (Coursera)

CS: Design & Product

This course will introduce you to Virtual Reality (VR). The course will teach you everything from the basics of VR- the hardware and the history of VR- to different applications of VR, the psychology of Virtual Reality, and the challenges of the medium. The course is designed for people who are new to VR as a medium. You may have experienced some virtual reality before, and may have some hardware- but this course is suitable to individuals who have never experienced VR and those who do not have much hardware- we will explain Mobile VR as well as devices such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Aug 31st 2026

4 Weeks

Psychology Hardware Game Programming

Coursera

Universidad de Palermo

Psicología de la Percepción (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

¿Cómo funcionan nuestros sentidos para ayudarnos a dar sentido y responder a nuestro entorno? ¿La percepción es un reflejo “fiel” del ambiente que nos rodea? ¿En qué se diferencia una alucinación de una percepción normal? ¿Cómo se relacionan los avances neurocientíficos con las teorías psicológicas clásicas de la percepción? ¿Cómo influyen la memoria, la atención y las expectativas en lo que percibimos?

Sep 14th 2026

3 Weeks

Psychology Sensation Perception

Coursera

University of Toronto

The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

This course provides an introduction to: 1- Basic concepts of The Strategies and Skills Learning and Development System (SSLD), their relevance for every day relationships and provide advanced concepts for participants who work in fields of social work and health care. 2- Basic practice principles and methods of SSLD, illustrated by relationship management case studies. 3- The SSLD framework for relationship management assessment; N3C (needs, circumstances, characteristics, capacity) and problem translation. 4- Core competencies in the relationship management application of the SSLD system: Observation learning, simulation, real life implementation, review and monitoring.

Sep 7th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Psychology Personal Development Communication

Coursera

University of Edinburgh

Intellectual Humility: Science (Coursera)

Humanities

It’s clear that the world needs more intellectual humility. But how do we develop this virtue? And why do so many people still end up so arrogant? Do our own biases hold us back from becoming as intellectually humble as we could be—and are there some biases that actually make us more likely to be humble? Which cognitive dispositions and personality traits give people an edge at being more intellectually humble - and are they stable from birth, learned habits, or something in between? And what can contemporary research on the emotions tell us about encouraging intellectual humility in ourselves and others?

Sep 14th 2026

4 Weeks

Science Philosophy Psychology

Coursera

University of North Carolina

Reasoning Across the Disciplines (Coursera)

Humanities

Critical reasoning skills are a key success factor for students entering their first year of college. They must be able to think logically and form arguments. This course, designed with incoming college freshmen in mind but open to anyone, provides an essential grounding in critical reasoning skills. Faculty from multiple disciplines at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offer guidance on applying critical thinking skills in the context of specific disciplines. By developing these skills, students will learn more, enjoy their courses more, and experience greater academic success.

Sep 7th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Psychology Chemistry Literature

Coursera

University of Rochester

Introduction to Self-Determination Theory: An approach to motivation, development and wellness (Coursera)

Health & Society

Self-determination theory (SDT) is an empirically based theory of motivation and psychological development that is especially focused on the basic psychological needs that promote high quality motivation and wellness, and how they are supported in social contexts.

Sep 21st 2026

5-12 Weeks

Healthcare Psychology Behavior

Coursera

Rutgers University

Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences - Unit 3: How Does It All End? (Coursera)

Social Sciences

Throughout history, the vast majority of people around the globe have believed they have, however defined, a “soul.” While the question of whether the soul exists cannot be answered by science, what we can study are the causes and consequences of various beliefs about the soul and its prospects of surviving the death of the body. Why are soul and afterlife beliefs so common in human history? Are there adaptive advantages to assuming souls exist?

Aug 31st 2026

5-12 Weeks

Health Mind Psychology

Coursera

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Serious Gaming (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

Have you ever wondered how playing games can help us to train people, deal with societal challenges or raise awareness of contemporary social issues? In this MOOC you will learn the ins and outs of games that are designed with exactly those purposes in mind: serious games. We will define serious games and discuss the different types that have been developed. We will explain why people like to play them and what impact they may have.

Aug 31st 2026

5-12 Weeks

Game Philosophy Education

Coursera

Johns Hopkins University

Psychological First Aid (Coursera)

Health & Society Social Sciences

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the military, faith-based organizations, mass disaster venues, and even the demands of more commonplace critical events, e.g., dealing with the psychological aftermath of accidents, robberies, suicide, homicide, or community violence.

Sep 7th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Medicine Health Psychology

Coursera

University of Pennsylvania

Social Norms, Social Change I (Coursera)

Social Sciences

This is a course on social norms, the rules that glue societies together. It teaches how to diagnose social norms, and how to distinguish them from other social constructs, like customs or conventions. These distinctions are crucial for effective policy interventions aimed to create new, beneficial norms or eliminate harmful ones. The course teaches how to measure social norms and the expectations that support them, and how to decide whether they cause specific behaviors.

Aug 31st 2026

4 Weeks

Social Education Social Psychology

Coursera

Rice University

Mindfulness and Well-being: Living with Balance and Ease (Coursera)

Health & Society

This is the sequel course to Foundations of Mindfulness that will continue to provide a broad overview of the fundamental concepts, principles, and practices of mindfulness. With interactive exercises to help students explore their own attitudes, mental habits and behaviors, Foundations of Mindfulness series offers a pathway for living with more freedom, authenticity and ease. Featured components of the course include experiential exercises, guided meditations, personal reflection and interactive discussions.

Sep 14th 2026

4 Weeks

Health Mind Psychology