Free Social Science Courses & Certifications

The Literature, Culture, and Media certification by Swayam is a part of the NPTEL scheme that provides free learning programmes for interested individuals. This course's curriculum aims to introduce participants to the intersections of literature, culture, and media through an interdisciplinary framework. Literature, culture, and media are responsible for generating new ideas and perspectives in the consumers and play a massive role in determining identities.

The Literature, Culture, and Media certification syllabus will touch upon and highlight some of the new forms of media that have reinvented and transformed the literary forms. Theoretical approaches and literary criticisms such as Marxism, Feminism, and Deconstruction will further explain some of the literary phenomenon and cultural aspects of popular culture.

Additionally, the Literature, Culture, and Media certification course by Swayam is suitable for all individuals interested in learning about the subject. No prior knowledge is required for enrollment. Further, the 12-week learning course falls under the Humanities and Social Science category.

Literature and Life Certification are designed and structured in such a way that it helps learners make sense of their own lives through the prism of literature and get a better understanding of the relation of literature to life.

A selection of essays, poems, plays, and short stories from British, American, and Indian literature will be examined in Literature and Life Classes in order to understand and appreciate the complex but fragile human relationships at various levels, including the individual, family, society, business, politics, etc.

All students get a Literature and Life Certification from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India. 

Elements of Literature and Creative Communication Certification is ideal for those who are interested in tasting the nectar of literature. Because literature is directly related to life and keeping that broad vision in mind makes students aware of the finer sensibilities of human existence.

Elements of Literature and Creative Communication Classes intend to teach the students by introducing them to literature, which represents profound and beautiful expressions of mankind, we hope to help them better comprehend and enjoy life. It includes carefully chosen readings of drama, fiction, and poetry. 

All students get an Elements of Literature and Creative Communication Certification from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India. 

The ‘Complex Analysis’ online certification course enables students to learn about the foundational level mathematics focussing on complex numbers and the complex analysis functions. This online course attempts to discuss the implications of complex numbers that offer the spectral theorem for matrices. This free National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) course is provided by the Swayam education portal. It is a core course for undergraduate and postgraduate level students and is scheduled for twelve weeks. The classes are held online through videos, lectures, weekly assignments, and other online resources.

The instructor for this online training is Dr. Pranav Haridas, assistant professor at the Kerala school of mathematics. The students of this course are given an opportunity to explore the theoretical and practical implications of complex numbers in the mathematics domain.

The ‘Complex Analysis’ certification course ensures a course certificate and credit points after successfully completing this AICTE recognized course and the certification exam.

The ‘Computational Commutative Algebra’ certification course is an elective course for the students to develop their understanding of the computation of the rings, ideals, and modules with the help of a computer. This course enables students to get an overview of commutative algebra with a focus on the computations and the techniques behind them. This free online training course is provided by the Swayam education portal along with the National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). The classes for this course are conducted online for a period of twelve weeks.

The students of this program are led by the instructor, Prof. Manoj Kummini from the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI). In this course, candidates will get a theoretical and hands-on experience with the computational tool Macaulay2. This program can be downloaded and installed locally or can also be worked with the online version for smaller computations.

The ‘Computational Commutative Algebra’ online training program ensures an E-Certificate and credit points after completing the course and the assessments successfully.

The Overview and Perspectives of Values course is one of the highlighted online courses on value education provided by Indira Gandhi National Open University. The course offered by Swayam is coordinated by Dr. Grace Don Nemching, Senior Assistant Professor in IGNOU. The 12-weeks long course seeks to inculcate value education through effective ways.

The Overview and Perspectives of Values Certification course aim at making candidates aware of the greater role played by value education in a person's life as a whole. The course aims at generating social awareness and positive values in the life of professionals, teachers, students, government officials, parents and other groups of people.

The need for an Overview and Perspectives of Values Training course is greater in today's society for the successful prevention of social evils. The course will help candidates in shaping the value system that will enable them to project a positive attitude in their personal, professional and social life.

The Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification offers a systematic study of the concepts and principles standards necessary to differentiate between right and wrong behaviour. 

Ethics: Theories and Applications Classes provide a philosophical foundation for fundamental ethical discussions and ideas and use the Indian context to demystify the theories and give students simpler examples.

In Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification Syllabus an introduction to ethics is provided, along with discussions of what constitutes a moral deed, what virtue and vice are, concepts of moral law, and concepts of moral relativism.

All students get a Ethics: Theories and Applications Certification by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India.

The ‘Computational Physics’ is a National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) online course offered for the students to build their competence in the computational techniques and strategies and to get introduced to methods of quantum and classical computations. This online certification course is provided by the Swayam, a free online education portal for a period of twelve weeks.

The instructors for this elective course are academically trained faculty Prof. Apratim Chatterji and Prof. Prasenjit Ghosh from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER, Pune). The students of training will gain computational insights and will be able to explore the field of physics through the theoretical and practical exposure of concepts.

The ‘Computational Physics’ online training program enables students to receive the certification and credit points after completing this All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) course and assessments according to the eligibility standards.

The Introduction to Political Theory by SWAYAM is spread across 12-weeks of learning. Learners will understand the concepts behind politics through theories and environmental studies. They will be able to comprehend the political ideologies that support society and are empowered to voice their independent opinions on democracy and politics.

Set at an undergraduate level of study, the Introduction to Political Theory certification syllabus explores concepts of equality, justice, liberty, and freedom in a country. Once students complete the learning module for the week, they can progress to the next topic. Students will receive book references to go through when in doubt.

Developed by IIT Guwahati, this introductory course is open for all students involved in engineering, social sciences, and humanities subjects. Professor Mithilesh Kumar instructs online training. Candidates can avail themselves of the Introduction to Political Theory certification by fulfilling the criteria mentioned for the course. Post-completion, the e-certificate will be sent to the candidate’s registered email address.

The Intellectual Property by Swayam program on Intellectual Property is a substantive course formulated for students across a diverse field. The online certification program will be providing a brief overview of the “intellectual property” landscape in the Indian subcontinent. The Intellectual Property training will also make the applicants aware of the role of intellectual property in the modern intangible economy. 

The Intellectual Property certification can be offered as a generic elective subject under the Choices that are being provided under the based credit system in affiliated colleges and universities as suggested by UGC. The  Intellectual Property certification syllabus will be covered over a period of twelve weeks. 

The topics that will be covered are- Trademark, Government's role in fostering IP, Enforcement of IP—protecting your rights and other topics related directly or indirectly to intellectual property rights. Hence after completing the Intellectual Property online course the students will learn to formulate and strategies policies to deal with the issues pertaining to intellectual properties.

The Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives certification course offers the candidates learning on different social theories on globalization. The course provides extensive learning to illustrate the engagement with the process of globalization and the subsequent outcomes. All the theories have been well explained by using certain examples.

The course also includes assignments, quizzes, discussion forums, and studies for students to have a better learning course. The candidates will also learn about the examples and how it varies across different globalization. Certain specific themes have been covered in the course for finding out the engagement in the Indian society.

The Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives online course also has a certificate, which is awarded if the candidates take the end term exam. The end-term exam involves all the learning in every module. This course also prepares the participants for future industry exposure. The candidates will also learn about the different levels of globalization and how we categorize them. 

The Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Course is a massive open online course that relates to the Certificate Programme in Gandhi and Peace Studies. The course deals with topics such as the notion of peace, different levels of conflicts, and the most effective ways to approach conflict resolution.

The Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Certification Course offered by Swayam attempts to introduce Mahatma Gandhi's approach towards peace and social justice. The course will help students pursuing their studies in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences to grasp Gandhian ideology surrounding non-violence and dispute resolution.

The Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Online Course is a 4 credit course coordinated by Dr. Anita Priyadarshini of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. The course is taught through self-learning material along with audio and video lectures by experts. Students are assessed through online assignments and a term-end examination.

The Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution course is a 4 credit course taught through massive open online mode. The course can be of great academic value to students pursuing their studies in Humanities and Social Sciences and are particularly interested in the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his unique ideas.

The Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution course is part of the Programme in Gandhi and Peace Studies provided by the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. The course is coordinated by Dr. Monika Misra, belonging to the School of Social Sciences. The course aims at imparting knowledge on Gandhian perspectives of peace.

The Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution course offered by Swayam is a course taught at the postgraduate level and open to graduates of any discipline. The course will be conducted with the help of self-instructional study material and audio and video material. The mode of assessment is through assignments and a term-end examination.

The ‘Classical Sociological Theory’ online training program is offered for the students to build their expertise in the field of sociology. This course helps the students develop sociological views and enables them to learn about the socio-cultural and intellectual factors that frame the foundation of sociology. This is an AICTE approved free course provided by Swayam along with the National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning(NPTEL) initiative. 

The duration of this online core course is scheduled for a period of twelve weeks and the students of this program will benefit from the sociological insights. The instructor for this course is Dr. R. Santhosh, professor of sociology from the humanities and social sciences department at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. 

The ‘Classical Sociological Theory’ online course helps the participants receive a course certification with credit points at the end of the course. The learners of this course are provided with online resources and materials for better engagement with the concepts and subject matter.

Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Certification gives the candidates a brief introduction to the nomenclature of this course's sociological perspectives on modernity. The way we try to engage with modernity, we also try to interrogate modernity.

Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Classes enable students to understand modernity as a socio-cultural product in specific socio-historical contexts.

All students get a Sociological Perspectives on Modernity Certification from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India. 

The Feminism: Concepts and Theories programme is a 12-week-long online course designed to explain notions related to feminism. During this course, you will examine the growth, journey and entire history of the feminist movement. You will develop a vision to look at the ‘emotion’ that is characterised as a one-dimensional movement. 

The Feminism: Concepts and Theories training by IIT Madras aims to explore the feminist theory through written works, ethnography and case studies. This programme will also describe how gender works as a strong force in the world. Development of feminism through the years will be discussed in great detail.

The last four weeks of the Feminism: Concepts and Theories certification course will include lectures from various experts. These people belong to multiple areas of expertise such as writing, filmmaking, painting, and individuals who deal with questions of gender in many ways. This e-learning course is brought to you by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

As a noble initiative by the Government of India to achieve access, quality, and equity in education policy, Swayam has brought the Twentieth-Century Fiction programme as an engaging and comprehensive course for English and Cultural Studies graduates and postgraduates. Throughout the course, learners will experience the best teaching-learning resources; even the less privileged can avail themselves online learning from top IIT Madras faculty in their own comfortable spaces.

Twentieth-Century Fiction certification syllabus has been distributed over twelve weeks where learners can learn at their pace and examine along with the faculty the interplay between imperialism, embodiment, identity, and other related issues and nineteenth-century and twentieth-century fiction, wherein they will read stories, poems, and more. A calculated and thorough study of selected literary texts and their corresponding cultural contexts will help learners draw a vivid picture whilst exhaustive learning of fiction, representation, and reality.

The course is highly interactive and falls ideal for Humanities and Social Sciences students as well. Moreover, as per the UGC (Credit Framework for online learning courses through SWAYAM) Regulation 2016, certain universities might even designate the course as one from which credits can be transferred to the academic record of students.

Contextualizing Gender Certification will analyze an outline not only of how the concept of gender has evolved and advanced over the last 50 years, but also of how ideas about gender are changing in complex ways and how they are reflective of the new ways of gender identification, contextualized meaning, and gender nonconformity. 

Contextualizing Gender Classes aim to introduce students to an interdisciplinary framework that enables them to explore and theorize the contextualized meaning and the intersectional nature of gender and culture. Gender is analyzed in a variety of ways, including as an institution, ideology, and process that organizes daily life.

All students get a Contextualizing Gender Certification from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) under the Swayam Initiative by the Government of India. 

Geography, in general, is the study of lands, people, and all the phenomena which take place on Earth. In this course, the focus is the country of India. The Geography of India course by Swayam provides a more detailed perspective about the formation of the physiography and the physiographic features situated throughout India. The course also details various details about the natural features of India including its changing topography, the composition of different types of soil, study about various landforms, water bodies such as rivers and their tributaries, basins, and so on. Geography does not only deal with physical features but it also deals with ecological features. 

In this course, the candidate will also gain knowledge about the climate, developments across many regions, irrigation systems, agriculture throughout the country, settlements in rural and urban areas, how the demography is formed, and the presence of migrants, trades, commodities, and industrialization at different scales. The main goal of this course is to gain a very in-depth understanding of Geography as a whole, specifying India.

The ‘Conservation Geography’ online certification course is developed for the students to discuss the theories of geography in detail to understand the various aspects of conservation and biodiversity that enable development. This biological sciences and bioengineering program of the National Program for Technology Enhanced Learning(NPTEL) is provided by Swayam online education portal. The course classes are offered free of charge and are scheduled for a period of twelve weeks.

The instructor for this elective course at the undergraduate or postgraduate level is an academic and industrial expert, Dr. Ankur Awadhiya from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The training consists of a virtual mode of learning enabled by videos, online lectures, and other resources that include working on case studies to understand the conservation intended development.

The ‘Conservation Geography’ online training program ensures the participants of the program with a course certificate and credit points after completing the course successfully according to the qualifying criteria.

Literati China: Examinations, Neo-Confucianism, and Later Imperial China course by edX is part of an XSeries Program focused on the exploration of China’s history. This course enables candidates to see China’s awakening in the 19th century through the 21st-century intellect. It gives information about China’s history, neo-Confucianism, the imperial period, and the exam system government. 

The course also lets the participants explore the 8th and 11th-century resources available in China along with urbanization & the state atrocities, China’s reconfiguration of vigor. Literati China: Examinations, Neo-Confucianism, and Later Imperial China focus on imparting information relating to the rich culture and prized moral autonomy of the Chinese. It teaches what changes Tang-Sang brought to China and how a new kind of Confucianism took place.

Hence, this course allows candidates to gain an alternative and exciting worldview and global awareness. It teaches how the key to knowing China today is by unlocking ancient China. There are 2 tracks for this course when opting for enrollment. One is Verified Track which offers unlimited access. The other is Audit Track, the price of which is free but this self-paced version is only accessible for a limited period.

The Introduction to Cultural Studies online course deals with culture by drawing on psychology, political theory, and various other disciplines. From defining culture to looking at culture through different lenses, the program approaches cultural identities as socially constructed categories. This course also investigates culture from the perspective of identity, authority, and knowledge. 

The Introduction to Cultural Studies certification syllabus includes essential terms and concepts like Homi Baba'sThe other question’, George Orwell'sShooting an elephant’, Bell Hooks ‘Understanding patriarchy’, Judith Butler'sGender Trouble’ and much more. Students also receive rich downloadable materials and a list of books to use as references for further studies.  

Taught by Dr. Avishek Parui, from IIT Madras, the Introduction to Cultural Studies online course is engaging and helps candidates develop a holistic perspective to the concept of culture. The online program also gives regular assignments to help students improve and evaluate their progress.

Modern Indian political thought is an intriguing topic of academic discussions and arguments. The Introduction to Modern Indian Political Thought program by SWAYAM is a 12-week-long course that aims to teach the concepts related to Indian politics and its society as a whole. Learners will analyze numerous opinions and sets of intellectual conventions in modern India that continue to resonate in our contemporary politics.

The Introduction to Modern Indian Political Thought certification course is crafted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. It acquaints the students to some of the most influential Indian thinkers. Also, candidates will understand how their ideas and vision helped define the political and social landscape of modern India, with the help of Professor Mithilesh Kumar Jha.

The Introduction to Modern Indian Political Thought training also discusses some of today’s political challenges, including democracy, nationalism, caste, secularism, and cosmopolitanism. This elective course also provides an e-certificate when candidates undertake SWAYAM’s test and fulfill the specific eligibility criteria.

The Introduction to Political Ideologies: Contexts, Ideas, and Practices online course is designed to teach how political membership, human action, ideas of state, and human nature are rooted in political events and activities. The esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has put together this program. It is also an FDP course approved by the AICTE.

The Introduction to Political Ideologies certification course also enables learners to form reasoned judgments about political incidents and events. A wide range of ideas and contexts will be discussed throughout the course. These include Marxism, Fascism, Ecologism, Liberalism, Nationalism, and more.

The Introduction to Political Ideologies: Contexts, Ideas, and Practices program by SWAYAM is a 12-week-long online course that delivers knowledge through theories and practical examples. The students will deeply understand the political ideologies in the light of recent or current events like social developments, court rulings, or significant policies. The training is provided at the postgraduate/undergraduate study level.

The Modern Indian Writing In Translation online course belongs to the Department of Humanities and Social sciences and is suitable for undergraduates as well as postgraduate students. The programme covers the information regarding Indian literature, its history, works in different regional languages, modern aspects of Indian literature, etc. Candidates who pursue this course will get to know about modernism, literary traditions, regionalism, and many more relevant topics. The course is offered by IIT, Madras.

Candidates will be provided with reference for external reading and study material by the platform. Participants can appear for the Modern Indian Writing In Translation certification exam if they seek to achieve a certificate upon the completion of the programme. The exam will be conducted in offline mode by the creator of the course and students will have to register themselves for the same by paying the exam fees. Candidates are free to go for a detailed learning experience and take as much time as required to sufficiently complete the Modern Indian Writing In Translation certification syllabus. The course does not require any specific timetable and is a self-paced course. The online programme includes case studies, tests, assignments, discussions, and activities for students to get a better understanding of the topics.

The International Trade - Theory and Empirics certification course provide a theoretical and analytical framework to understand recent policy changes and trade strategies. The programme goes over a lot of empirical evidence, along with topics like the pure theory of trade, gains from trade, and the basis of trade. Various advanced-level ideas on trade barriers and strategies are also incorporated.

Moreover, the International Trade - Theory and Empirics programme syllabus discusses various aspects of trade protectionism in the context of the tariff, quota, and subsidies. The latest non-tariff measures such as SPSs and TBTs are also glossed over. AICTE has approved this programme as an FDP (Faculty Development Programme) course.

The International Trade - Theory and Empirics online training are instructed by Prof. Pratap C. Mohanty, who hails from the esteemed IIT Roorkee. He curates and teaches all the video lectures provided. Lastly, upon completion, you can earn an e-certificate from Swayam, provided that you have submitted all the assignments diligently and cleared the final exam.

Structured as a core course The Nineteenth-Century English Novel training will be providing comprehensive knowledge about nineteenth-century novel-writing techniques. The Nineteenth-Century English Novel certification syllabus will be introducing the registered student to the features of novel-writing in nineteenth-century Britain. 

The Nineteenth-Century English Novel certification benefits the students by providing the students with a close study of the significant novels namely- Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and R.L.Stevenson A Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyd. Students after completing the online course on The Nineteenth-Century English Novel by Swayam the applicants will be able to understand the nature of the plots that are being used and they will also be learning about the complexities that very involved with respect to the relation in the cultural and social impulses of the nineteenth century period.

The Philosophy of Gandhi Certification Course is a massive open online course focusing on the great philosophical ideas of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The course attempts to provide a detailed glimpse into Gandhi's philosophies and unique ways of living.

The Philosophy of Gandhi course offered by Swayam is a 4 credit course coordinated by Prof. Anurag Joshi of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. The course is taught at the postgraduate level through interesting and informative videos by experts in the field.

The Philosophy of Gandhi Online Course covers vital aspects regarding the faith and ideology of Gandhi in various spheres of life. It discusses Gandhi's view of religion, human life, and modern civilization. The course will help students who are basing their career in  Humanities and Social Sciences and Political Science.

Gandhi's Social Thought Course is a massive open online course that discusses Mahatma Gandhi's critical viewpoints on tradition, modernity, and the development of humans in general. The course showcases Gandhi's views on social change and social empowerment that have great potential to transform the world.

Gandhi's Social Thought Certification Course is a 4 credit course taught over 12 weeks and coordinated by By Dr. Rukshana Zaman of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. The course is taught at the postgraduate level by experts who deliver content through informative video lectures.

Gandhi's Social Thought Online Course is a course offered by Swayam that discusses various dimensions of Gandhi's thoughts on language, education, nature, and environment. It attempts to gain valuable insights to students pursuing their studies in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences.