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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

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Indian Institute for Human Settlements

      The Art and Science of Economic Policy

      Skills you'll gain: Policy Development, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Public Policies, Policy Analysis, Behavioral Economics, Economics, Market Dynamics, Competitive Analysis, Governance, Program Implementation, Decision Making, Resource Allocation

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      110 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

      University of Pennsylvania

      Microeconomics: When Markets Fail

      Skills you'll gain: Market Dynamics, Economics, Socioeconomics, Supply And Demand, Market Analysis, Business Economics, Public Policies, Policty Analysis, Research, and Development

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      649 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      University of Geneva

      Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development

      Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, Environment, Natural Resource Management, Spatial Analysis, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Socioeconomics, Sustainability Reporting, Economics, Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, Ethical Standards And Conduct

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      712 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • 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

    • Status: Free
      Free

      Hebrew University of Jerusalem

      Israel State and Society

      Skills you'll gain: Social Studies, Demography, Political Sciences, International Relations, Sociology, Anthropology, World History, Cultural Diversity, Governance, Economics, Conflict Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      377 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free

      The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

      Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance

      Skills you'll gain: Audit Planning, Systems Development Life Cycle, Software Development Life Cycle, Auditing, Information Assurance, Internal Controls, Information Systems Security, Compliance Auditing, Risk Management, Security Controls, Change Management, System Implementation, Risk Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free

      United Cities and Local Governments of Africa

      Financing Infrastructure in African Cities

      Skills you'll gain: Project Finance, Risk Management, Finance, Financial Policy, Decision Making, Public Administration, Economic Development, Cost Benefit Analysis, Revenue Management, Governance, Stakeholder Engagement

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      57 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Governmental Accounting and Reporting I

      Skills you'll gain: Fund Accounting, Governmental Accounting, Financial Reporting, Non-Profit Accounting, Accounting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), General Ledger, Financial Statements, Cash Flows, Accrual Accounting, Revenue Recognition, Depreciation, Reconciliation, Budgeting, Accountability

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Yonsei University

      Understanding Korean Politics

      Skills you'll gain: Political Sciences, Social Studies, Policy Analysis, Economic Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, Diplomacy, Economics, Governance

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      274 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Intuit

      Intuit Academy Bookkeeping

      Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Inventory Accounting, Payroll, Bookkeeping, QuickBooks (Accounting Software), Payroll Administration, Inventory Control, Payroll Processing, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Depreciation, Fixed Asset, Payroll Tax, Property Accounting, Financial Analysis, Sales Tax, Ledgers (Accounting), Accounting

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.3K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • University of Minnesota

      Enterprise Systems

      Skills you'll gain: Enterprise Resource Planning, Business Systems, Change Management, Organizational Change, System Implementation, Business Process, Business Management, Business, Project Design, Business Strategy

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      788 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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

    • The Art and Science of Economic Policy: Indian Institute for Human Settlements
    • Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance: University at Buffalo
    • Microeconomics: When Markets Fail: University of Pennsylvania
    • Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development: University of Geneva
    • Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    • Israel State and Society : Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    • Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    • Financing Infrastructure in African Cities: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa
    • Governmental Accounting and Reporting I : University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • Understanding Korean Politics: Yonsei University

    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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