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    Government Courses Online

    Understand government principles for public administration and policy-making. Learn about government structures, functions, and political processes.

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    Explore the Government Course Catalog

    • University of Virginia

      Design Thinking for Innovation

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Creative Problem-Solving, Ideation, Innovation, Creativity, Strategic Thinking, Human Centered Design, Curiosity, Storytelling, User Research, Business Modeling

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • IE Business School

      Understanding economic policymaking

      Skills you'll gain: Financial Policy, Public Policies, Economics, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Tax, International Finance, Policy Analysis, Crisis Management, Fiscal Management, Financial Systems, Supply And Demand, Financial Market

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • University at Buffalo

      Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance

      Skills you'll gain: Governance, Non-Profit Accounting, Leadership and Management, Philanthropy, Public Administration, Organizational Effectiveness, Performance Review, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Structure, Leadership

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      200 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Erasmus University Rotterdam

      Digital Governance

      Skills you'll gain: Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Emerging Technologies, Market Dynamics, E-Commerce, Political Sciences, Automation, Digital Transformation, Technology Solutions, Public Administration, Data Governance, Complex Problem Solving, Governance, Artificial Intelligence

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      148 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Universiteit Leiden

      Political Economy of Institutions and Development

      Skills you'll gain: Political Sciences, International Relations, Socioeconomics, Social Sciences, Economic Development, Governance, Policty Analysis, Research, and Development, Economics, Global Marketing, Cultural Diversity, Data Collection

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      373 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      University of Pennsylvania

      Microeconomics: The Power of Markets

      Skills you'll gain: Supply And Demand, Economics, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis, Resource Allocation, Policy Analysis, Tax, Consumer Behaviour, Decision Making

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.6K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Duke University

      Civic Engagement in American Democracy

      Skills you'll gain: Political Sciences, Policy Analysis, Social Sciences, Social Studies, Advocacy, Public Policies, Governance, Public Administration

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      104 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Stanford University

      Organizational Analysis

      Skills you'll gain: Organizational Structure, Decision Making, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Change, Professional Networking, Strategic Decision-Making, Business, Social Sciences, Culture, Sociology, Analysis, Resource Management, Learning Theory, Innovation, Negotiation

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.6K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Universiteit Leiden

      Risk in Modern Society

      Skills you'll gain: Risk Management, Risk Analysis, Safety and Security, Environmental Issue, Cyber Security Strategy, Decision Making, Public Health

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      218 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • University of California, Irvine

      Security Governance & Compliance

      Skills you'll gain: Security Strategy, Cyber Governance, Security Management, Cyber Risk, Compliance Management, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Cyber Security Policies, Cybersecurity, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Cyber Security Strategy, Governance, NIST 800-53, Security Controls, Procedure Development, Data Governance, Program Standards, Computer Security

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      164 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free

      The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

      Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science

      Skills you'll gain: Political Sciences, Public Policies, Policy Analysis, Social Sciences, International Relations, Economics, Economic Development, Governance, Culture

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      349 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • IE Business School

      Market Research and Consumer Behavior

      Skills you'll gain: Survey Creation, Surveys, Market Research, Business Research, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Strategies, Research Design, Data Analysis, Research Reports, Market Analysis, Research Methodologies, Experimentation, Customer Analysis, Focus Group, Business Marketing, Decision Making

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular government courses

    • Design Thinking for Innovation: University of Virginia
    • Understanding economic policymaking: IE Business School
    • Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance: University at Buffalo
    • Digital Governance: Erasmus University Rotterdam
    • Political Economy of Institutions and Development: Universiteit Leiden
    • Microeconomics: The Power of Markets: University of Pennsylvania
    • Civic Engagement in American Democracy: Duke University
    • Organizational Analysis : Stanford University
    • Risk in Modern Society : Universiteit Leiden
    • Security Governance & Compliance: University of California, Irvine

    Frequently Asked Questions about Government

    The subject of government encompasses the systems that a nation, state, or other political community is administered and regulated. Governments may be democracies structured by constitutional law, as in the United States, a socialist country governed by a single Communist Party, as in China, or any other form of rule. However, in all jurisdictions, government plays a centrally important role in establishing and enforcing laws, collecting and allocating tax revenues, directing the use of public resources, and other activities that are fundamental to society.

    Governance is always evolving, and recent years have seen the role and nature of government changed by the same revolutions in information technologies that have disrupted countless private sector industries. E-government promises to make governance much more efficient, replacing decades-old bureaucracies with “smart” cities and countries administered and regulated with the help of real-time data. At the same time, the advent of social media has led to upheaval in many countries, from the revolutions of the Arab Spring to struggles with the spread of disinformation in many Western democracies.

    Learning about government isn’t only important if you want to work in politics or a government agency. Businesses must stay abreast of changes in governments and the laws they propagate, as they are typically subject to regulatory compliance requirements in areas like taxation and financial reporting, environmental performance, and more. Understanding politics and government is especially important for strategic planning in industries such as oil and gas or mining, where business opportunities may depend on government decisions surrounding the use of natural resources.‎

    If you’re fascinated by the important and ever-changing world of government, working in political science can be a gateway to an interesting and rewarding career. Using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, political scientists study the development and working of political systems, structures of government, the effectiveness of different policies and regulations, and trends in public opinion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientists earned a median annual salary of $122,220 in 2019, and typically had at least a master’s degree in political science.‎

    Absolutely. Coursera has opportunities to learn about government across a variety of perspectives, including legal topics like constitutional law, the rise of e-government and smart cities, and ensuring business regulatory compliance. Regardless of what you choose to learn about, you’ll learn about government from top-ranked schools like University of California, Irvine, University of Pennsylvania, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and National Research University Higher School of Economics, so you’ll get a great education while learning remotely.‎

    Some of the skills or experience you might already need before learning government is a basic understanding of what is written in the United States Constitution. If you have ever worked or volunteered in your local community or worked within any department of government at any level, then you may have the experience needed to learn concepts of government.‎

    The kinds of people best suited for roles in government are passionate about shifts in the cultural and political climate at the local, national, or global level. Those in government roles typically want to work for the good of the public to better citizens’ lives. Someone well suited for working in roles in government will also be interested in reading, interpreting, and debating the contents of the United States Constitution to understand how it affects these shifts. They'll also be interested in the composition, abilities, and rulings of the Supreme Court.‎

    A common career path for someone who has studied government would typically include working within a governmental agency at the local, state, or national level. A common career path on the business side would include working in a corporation on governmental regulations and compliance. A third common career path for someone in government is to go into law or to move forward with more training to become a lawyer. Yet another career path for someone in government is to go into the field of law enforcement.‎

    There are many topics related to government that you can study, including areas of corporate and commercial law that often rely on governmental policy. Other topics related to government include city, urban, or town planning, including the concept of Smart Cities, because any funding and transformation of a place’s infrastructure rely on governmental support. In addition, another related topic to government would be to study leadership and management to gain practical skills and strategies to becoming an effective government leader. Also, corporate or global finance and banking or economics are topics to study related to government because the financial sector and the economy are affected by government and vice versa.‎

    Online Government courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Government skills. Choose from a wide range of Government courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Government, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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