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Human Development Online Courses – Top Platforms, Eligibility & Career Opportunities

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Ayushi Shresth • 5 Mins read • 23 Sep 25
Human Development Online CoursesHuman Development Online Courses

Human Development Online Courses are temporary professional/academic courses aimed at increasing understanding of human development, psychology, social behavior, education and community development. The courses are popular with psychology, sociology, education, nursing and social work students, and working professionals in the NGO, public health, child welfare, and policy-making sectors.

Both free and paid Human Development Online Courses are available. The paid courses ranges between ₹500 – ₹50,000 and can be 2 weeks to 6 months long on such sites as Coursera, edX, Udemy, Alison, FutureLearn, SWAYAM, and Harvard Online Learning. Students have the option of free Human Development Courses with Certificate or specific diploma and certification programs in order to advance their career. Salary Certified professionals at entry-level earn a salary of 3-5 lakhs/year and experienced professionals in the field of education, psychology, or developmental studies earn over 8-20 lakhs/year.

Human Development Online Courses: Quick Highlights

Particulars

Details

Level of Courses

Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma

Duration

2 Weeks – 6 Months

Fee Range

₹500 – ₹50,000

Starting Salary

₹3–5 Lakhs per annum

Job Roles

Child Development Specialist, Social Worker, HR Specialist, Community Educator, Development Consultant

Top Recruiters

UNICEF, WHO, CRY, UNESCO, Azim Premji Foundation, Teach for India, Save the Children, Government & NGOs


Best Human Development Online Courses 

Several reputed websites offer structured Human Development Online Training with Certificate. Below is a list of top courses :

Coursera Human Development Online Courses

Course Name

Institution

Duration

Fees

Ratings

Learning, Knowledge, and Human Development

University of Toronto

6 Weeks

Free

4.9

Child Development: Behaviour

University of Washington

4 Weeks

Free

4.8

Human Development and Psychology

University of California

8 Weeks

Free

4.7

Positive Psychology

University of North Carolina

8 Weeks

₹0

4.6

Social Psychology

Wesleyan University

10 Weeks

Free

4.5


Read More: Human Resource Management Online Courses

Udemy Human Development Online Courses

Course Name

Trainer Name

Duration

Fee

Child Psychology & Development

Elmira Strange

7h 30m

₹3,499

Human Growth & Development – A Complete Guide

Dr. Andrew Luttrell

9h

₹2,899

Educational Psychology & Human Development

Joe Parys Academy

6h

₹2,299


edX Human Development Online Courses

Course Name

Institution

Duration

Fee

The Science of Happiness

UC Berkeley

8 Weeks

$49 – $300

Foundations of Positive Psychology

University of Pennsylvania

5 Months (Specialization)

$199/month

Developmental Psychology

University of Queensland

8 Weeks

$49 – $150


Alison Human Development Courses

Course Name

Duration

Description

Fees

Ratings

Diploma in Human Development

Self-paced

Covers growth, family, and social development

Free

4.8

Introduction to Child Psychology

4-6 Weeks

Foundational course on child growth and behavior

Free

4.6

Human Growth and Development

3 Weeks

Examines physical, cognitive, and emotional development

Free

4.5

Family and Community Development

5 Weeks

Focus on family systems and community impact

Free

4.4

Elderly Care and Gerontology

4 Weeks

Study of aging and care for the elderly

Free

4.3


Top Universities Offering Free Human Development Online Courses

Check the table below for the top colleges offering Free Human Development Online Courses.

Course Name

Institution

Duration

Fee

Human Development Across Life Span

IGNOU

12 Weeks

Free (₹1,000 for Certificate)

Child Development and Pedagogy

NPTEL – IIT Guwahati

8 Weeks

Free (₹1,000 for Certificate)

Psychology of Learning & Development

SWAYAM

10 Weeks

Free

  

Free Human Development Online Courses

Course Name

University/Institution

Duration

Fee

Ratings

Human Development and Health

Alison

Self-paced

Free

4.8

Human Growth and Development

SWAYAM

6 Weeks

Free

4.6

Introduction to Psychology

MIT OpenCourseWare

8 Weeks

Free

4.5

Social and Emotional Learning

Coursera

4 Weeks

Free

4.4

Gerontology Basics

OpenLearn

4 Weeks

Free

4.2


Eligibility Criteria for Human Development Online Courses

  • Amateurs, practitioners and students may apply.
  • Psychological or educational, sociological or social science background is beneficial to advanced certifications.
  • Essential English and internet literacy might be necessary with international platforms.

Why Learn Human Development Online Course in 2025?

  • Research in human development is fundamental to psychology, education, HR and social welfare.
  • Worldwide reports have indicated an increase of 70 percent in the demand of developmental psychologists, HR professionals and child development specialists.
  • Human Development certification contributes an additional 30-40 percent of employment opportunities in the NGOs, education policy, and medical fields.
  • Learners can be awarded internationally recognized certificates without being required to travel to other countries, because of the accessibility online.

Career Opportunities after Human Development Online Courses

Job Profile

Description

Average Salary

Child Development Specialist

Works with children on learning, behavioral, and social growth.

₹4–6 LPA

Social Worker

Engages in community upliftment, welfare programs, and NGOs.

₹3–5 LPA

HR Specialist

Focuses on employee development, training, and workplace well-being.

₹6–9 LPA

Development Consultant

Advises on policies, strategies for NGOs and government projects.

₹8–12 LPA

Educational Psychologist

Supports schools in learning, pedagogy, and developmental studies.

₹7–10 LPA


Top Recruiters for Human Development Online Courses

  • UNICEF
  • WHO
  • UNESCO
  • Save the Children
  • CRY (Child Rights and You)
  • Teach for India
  • Azim Premji Foundation
  • Government agencies & NGOs
  • International schools & universities


FAQs on Human Development Online Courses

Ques. Which is the best Human Development course online in 2025?

Ans. Human Development Across Life Span (Science of Well-Being, Yale, Coursera), The Science of Happiness (UC Berkeley, edX) and the Human Development offered by SWAYAM are some of the best rated Human Development Online Courses.


Ques. Do free Human Development courses and certificates count in the jobs?

 Ans. They do work in an entry level position. Nevertheless, in case of mid-career or specialized jobs, the employers take the preference of certifications provided by established platforms such as Coursera, edX or even university certified programs.


Ques. What is the time required to complete online Human Development Certification?

Ans. The average course lasts between 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on the nature of of the course; a simple certificate or a higher diploma.


Ques. Who is eligible to get Human Development Online Courses?

Ans. anybody interested in human growth and development can apply such as students, teachers, HR professionals, psychologists, NGO workers and others.


Ques. How is it possible to distinguish between free and paid course Human Development?

Ans. Free courses are basic with a possibility of lack of depth, mentorship and international value. The advanced modules, project and university-approved certifications are typical of the paid programs and boost career opportunities.


Ques. What are the prices of Human Development Online Courses in India?

Ans. Fees are between 500 to 50000 based on specialization and the level of certification.