Quick Access:

• General Sociology Courses: With Possible Credit, With Free Certificate, Introductory Course, With ACE Credits, Most Popular
• Specific Aspects of Sociology: Classical Sociological Theory, Social Change, Poverty, Migration, Feminism

Do you want to study sociology without enrolling as a student in a university? I’ve combed the Class Central catalog with over 800 online sociology courses and used ratings and reviews to handpick the best ten for this Best Courses Guide (BCG).

Some courses in this guide offer a certificate or credit for eligible colleges. Some cover general sociology issues, while others focus on specific fields: social change and inequality, poverty, migration, and feminism.

These courses are self-paced and you can learn anywhere and at at any time of the day or night suitable for you. Watch the pre-recorded video lectures, read the course materials and helpful links, then take the quizzes and exams for courses that offer certificates. Some courses have discussion forums where you can post your thoughts and access opinions and recommended resources provided by other learners.

Click on the shortcuts for more details:

• Top Picks
• What is Sociology?
• Courses Overview
• Why You Should Trust Us
• How We Made Our Picks and Tested Them

Here are our top picks:

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What is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of human social relationships, cultures, organizations, and institutions using scientific methods to develop theories of how human behavior is shaped by historical, cultural, political, economic, and social forces. Various research methods of investigation and analysis are used to develop knowledge about social order and change. Sociology is regarded as part of both social sciences and humanities.

Aspects of sociology include inequality within social structures, racism, policing, domestic violence, migration, war, religion, and poverty. Sociologists examine how these factors affect human behavior and are shaped by human agency, ranging from individual interactions to analyses of social systems and structures.

Sociology and anthropology are closely related disciplines that study human societies and cultures, but they differ in their primary focus and approach. Sociology primarily focuses on the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior within modern, industrialized societies. Anthropologists employ qualitative methods like ethnography and participant observation, immersing themselves in the cultures they study to gain an insider’s perspective.

Sociology concentrates more on modern, Western societies, while anthropology has traditionally focused on non-Western, indigenous, and prehistoric cultures, while anthropology covers a wider range of topics, including human evolution, archaeology, linguistics, and biological variations among human populations, in addition to cultural anthropology.

Anthropologists often conduct long-term fieldwork living among the communities they study, while sociologists more commonly rely on surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis.

Anthropology takes a more holistic, cross-cultural, and comparative approach, while sociology tends to focus on specific social institutions and processes within a particular society. It aims to produce an interpretive understanding of social action and its causes and consequences through systematic observation and analysis

Courses Overview

• 8 courses are free or free to audit and 2 are paid
• 7 courses offer a certificate of completion
• 2 courses offer credit for eligible colleges
• The most featured provider is Coursera with 3 courses
• The Sociology subject is followed by 145.1K learners on Class Central.

Best Sociology Course with College Credit (Study.com)

Study.com offers 3 semester hours credit transferable to over 2,000 colleges and universities for Sociology 101: Intro to Sociology. Check out the engaging lessons and expert instruction!

You will learn:

• Foundational concepts: introduction and basics, key sociology theorists and research methods
• Social Structures and Theories: foundations of society, theories of individual social development, social groups & organizations
• Cultural and social diversity: multiculturalism & cultural relativis, race and ethnicity in society
• Social stratification and inequality: inequality and divergence, sex and gender, aging
• Societal Systems and Institutions: economics and politics, social institutions
• Societal dynamics: social change over time.

Other Study.com sociology courses:

• Sociology 305: Sociology of Work (credit for eligible colleges)
• Topics in Sociology (certificate but not college credit).

Best Sociology Course with Free Certificate (Saylor Academy)

After you finish going through the course materials for SOC101: Introduction to Sociology, gain 70% or more in the exam to receive a free certificate.

In this course, you will learn:

• To define sociology and its purpose and describe the sociological imagination or perspective
• How to discuss major theoretical perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism
• Methods of collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
• To apply sociological thought processes to describe social institutions: culture, socialization, family, media, education, economics, and politics
• To analyze the power of groups over individual behavior
• How to apply sociological imagination to describe social phenomena, such as stratification, racism, sexism, and deviance
• To apply sociological concepts to social events and issues.

Also Great Introductory Sociology Course (University of Newcastle)

What Is Sociology? An Introduction will introduce you to basic sociological concepts, theories, and contemporary cultural issues such as class, social inequality, globalization, and media. The course also includes practical training on conducting sociological research and presenting findings. It’s designed for you if you’re interested in understanding society, enhancing your critical thinking, or developing research skills.

This course covers:

• Introduction to Sociology: the sociological imagination, norms and socialization
• Sociological Theories: what is sociological theory and why is it important? Comparing major theoretical perspectives, feminist and post-colonial theory
• Gender studies: sex and gender, making the gendered normal look strange, gendered marketing, theoretical perspectives on gender inequality, sexuality topics.

“Very interesting and thought provoking. Clear layout and a good starting point to delve deeper into the science of sociology” –  Brigit R., FutureLearn learner.

Great Course with College Credit (StraighterLine)

Do you want a comprehensive overview of sociology and its relevance to everyday life? Introduction to Sociology covers the impact of social class and various social institutions. It is tailored to help students fulfill general education humanities requirements efficiently and includes tutoring support for those needing extra assistance. Check if your institution allows 3 ACE credits for this course.

Learn about:

• Introduction: key sociological concepts and relevance of sociology in everyday life
• Social Class: influence of social class on individuals and society
• Role of social institutions: churches, education systems, healthcare systems, government structures, economic systems, and environmental impact.

The e-textbook is included with your course.

Most Popular Sociology Course (CrashCourse)

Sociology by CrashCourse covers introductory college-level sociology topics. The course uses the 15th edition of “Sociology” by John J. Macionis as a reference and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of sociology as a science, the role of social institutions in the U.S., key sociological theories, and the construction of social groupings, interactions, and stratifications. It also explores how social class, stratification, and institutions contribute to or mitigate inequalities.

Syllabus overview:

• Introduction: CrashCourse sociology preview, major sociological paradigms, what Is sociology?
• Research methods and foundational theorists: sociology & the scientific method, research methods, Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Dubois, Harriet Martineau, Max Weber
• Culture and society: symbols, values & norms, cultures, subcultures, and countercultures, how we got here, social development, socialization, social interaction & performance, social groups, formal organizations
• Deviance and Stratification: deviance theory, crime, social stratification in the US, impacts of social class & poverty in the US and globally, social mobility, theories of global stratification
• Systems and institutions: economic systems & the labor market, politics, sex & gender stratification and theories, race & ethnicity, prejudice & discrimination, age & aging
• Theories about family & marriage: stages of family life, religion, education, schools & social inequality
• Health & medicine: population health, the structure & cost of US health care.

“This course was so helpful and the instructor was very entertaining…” –  Malik Shafar, Class Central learner.

Best Classical Sociological Theory Course (University of Amsterdam)

Learn about the foundational sociological theories from the 18th to the 20th century in Classical Sociological Theory.

Video lectures and recommended readings are integrated with with small tests to deepen your understanding of complex sociological concepts that remain relevant today.

Syllabus overview:

• Introduction to classical sociological theory: historical roots of sociology, importance of classical theories in modern societies
• Early influences: Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith, industrialization and its social consequences, division of labour
• Foundational thinkers and concepts: Auguste Comte (positivism, law of three stages, functionalism), Alexis de Tocqueville (liberalism, equality, tyranny, and revolutions)
• Major sociological theorists: Karl Marx (alienation, class struggle, capitalism), Émile Durkheim (social facts, solidarity, suicide, religion), Max Weber (social action, verstehen, ideal types, rationalisation, Protestant ethic)
• Modern sociological perspectives: Norbert Elias (process or figurational sociology, civilization process).

“This course is presented by one of those rare professors who are enthusiastic about their material…I love his style of showing the larger (global) picture, rather than focusing on only a segment of time/geography…” – Dorothy, Class Central learner.

Best Course on Social Change (University of Pennsylvania and Unicef)

Social Norms, Social Change I is designed to educate on social norms and their impact on society. It covers the identification, measurement, and differentiation of social norms from other social constructs such as customs and conventions. This knowledge is essential for developing effective policies to foster beneficial norms or abolish harmful ones. The course uses real-world examples such as child marriage and gender violence, and provides tools for understanding and changing collective practices. It is the first part of a series, focusing on foundational concepts and measurement techniques.

This course covers:

• Introduction to social norms and social change: understanding social norms and differentiating norms from customs and conventions
• Foundational concepts: interdependent and independent actions, empirical expectations, normative expectations and personal normative beliefs, conditional preferences
• Understanding and identifying social norms: assembling foundational concepts to define social norms
• Measurement and analysis: pluralistic ignorance, techniques for measuring norms and assessing interventions
• Real-world applications: examples and case studies on norms related to child marriage, gender violence, and sanitation practices.

“…The vocabulary and concepts are fairly complex, so I found it important to take notes…” – Linda Saalman, Class Central learner.

Best Course on Poverty and Inequality (SDG Academy)

In Understanding Poverty and Inequality, SDG Academy explores the definitions, scale, and scope of poverty and inequality globally, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 1 (no poverty) and 10 (reduced inequalities). Delve into the multifaceted nature of poverty and inequality, examining their links to well-being, socioeconomic mobility, and challenges faced by marginalized groups. The course also addresses how these issues intersect with climate change, migration, and conflict, concluding with policy strategies for tackling poverty and inequality. It targets policy professionals, development practitioners, and students in related fields.

Learn about:

• Definitions and measurements of poverty and inequality, economic growth impacts, and case studies
• Multidimensional measures of poverty: comparing multidimensional and income poverty, measuring and addressing multidimensional poverty
• Explaining global inequality: definitions and measurements, global and domestic disparities, economic winners and losers, approaches to reducing inequality
• Poverty and subjective well-being: concepts and measures of well-being, psychological aspects of poverty
• Identity and exclusion: social identity impacts on poverty and inequality, case studies on racial, gender, and indigenous inequalities
• Poverty and inequality, Today and Tomorrow: modern challenges and inequalities, effects of COVID-19 on poverty and inequality, climate change implications, global middle class, migration, and fiscal policies, cash transfers and potential reforms.

Best Course on Migration (European University Institute)

If you’re interested in migration issues, Why Do People Migrate? Facts is designed to explore the realities of migration globally. It covers the motivations behind migration, focusing on irregular migration and asylum seeking. Including various case studies including the Syrian refugee crisis, Central American labor migration to the USA, and the Rohingya situation in Southeast Asia, it requires no prior experience.

Syllabus:

• Introduction: defining migration
• Understanding irregular migration and asylum and the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East
• Regional focus on migration challenges: asylum challenges in North America and Europe,
• migration in the United States, Canadian policy responses to migration, European asylum policy
• Global migration issues: migration and asylum challenges in South America, Asia, and Oceania, the Venezuelan crisis and the gender dimension of migration, the Rohingya in Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Solution.

“The course is very interesting as you get to know and learn ” mass exodus” of people around the globe. The history of migrants especially irregular migrants and asylum seekers…” – Maria P., FutureLearn learner.

Best Course on Feminism (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Feminism and Social Justice explores feminism through a broad lens, focusing on three historical events: the Empire Zinc strike, the trial of Angela Davis, and the #metoo Movement. The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of feminism’s role in advocating for social justice, highlighting its evolution and impact across different eras.

You’ll learn about:

• Introduction to Feminism: definition and scope, discussion on the meaning and purpose of feminism
• Historical case studies:
  • Salt of the Earth (Empire Zinc Strike, 1951), background and outcomes of the strike, analysis of the 1954 film “Salt of the Earth”
  • Free Angela! (Angela Davis Trial, 1971-1972), context of Angela Davis’ arrest and trial, insights into the support movement for Davis
  • The #metoo movement, origins and impact of the #metoo movement, discussion on recent societal changes due to the movement
• Optional additional materials  include access to ongoing works and lectures by Dr. Aptheker.

“I am honored to take this insightful short course and listen to one of the modern pioneers of feminism as we know it today…” – Aedrian Abrilla, Class Central learner.

What next?

If you want to discuss sociology with other interested students, try the Reddit community: r/sociology. And you can choose from over 800 courses and conference talks on many aspects of sociology in the Class Central Sociology subject.

Why You Should Trust Us

Class Central, a Tripadvisor for online education, has helped 60 million learners find their next course. We’ve been combing through online education for more than a decade to aggregate a catalog of 200,000 online courses and over 200,000 reviews written by our users. And we’re online learners ourselves: combined, the Class Central team has completed over 400 online courses, including online degrees.

I’ve personally completed over 200 online courses in a variety of topics.

How We Made Our Picks and Tested Them

Trying to find “the best” can be daunting, even for those of us who live and breathe online courses. Here’s how I approached this task.

First, I combed through Class Central’s Catalog and the internet to find a variety of free and paid open courses, some with certificates. You don’t need to enroll in a university to learn about sociology.

I extracted information from course syllabi and reviews, and compiled their ratings, leveraging the Class Central database with its thousands of course ratings and reviews written by our users as well as available course provider ratings. I watched some course videos to sample courses I hadn’t already taken.

Then, I defined the scope for these recommendations. A sociology course can cover various topics, so I included top courses from several sub-fields.

Ultimately, I used a combination of data and my own judgment to make these picks. I’m confident these recommendations will be a reliable way to learn sociology.