Critical Thinking Skills for University Success

Ends soon: Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

Critical Thinking Skills for University Success

This course is part of Academic Skills for University Success Specialization

Instructors: Katherine Olston

109,589 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,214 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

94%

Most learners liked this course

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,214 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

94%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

30 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

In this course, you will learn how to develop your Critical Thinking Skills to help you achieve success in your university studies. After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Use critical thinking and argumentation in university contexts to improve academic results 2. Understand the importance and function of critical thinking in academic culture 3. Use a variety of thinking tools to improve critical thinking 4. Identify types of argument, and bias within arguments, in order to better evaluate the strength of arguments 5. Use evidence to support claims in arguments 6. Apply critical thinking and argumentation to real world problems and issues

What's included

7 videos7 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 47 minutes

Welcome to the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization!2 minutes
1.1a Introduction to the Course4 minutes
1.2a Introduction to Academic Culture10 minutes
1.2b Introduction to Critical Thinking9 minutes
1.3a Survival Skills at University part 16 minutes
1.3b Survival Skills for University part 27 minutes
1.4a Academic Integrity9 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Critical Thinking Weekly Topics10 minutes
Critical Thinking Assessment Overview10 minutes
Summative Peer Assessment10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 160 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 130 minutes
Discussion Board Self Assessment - Module 110 minutes
1.1 Practice quiz30 minutes
1.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
1.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
1.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

1.1 Introduction Forum10 minutes
1.4 Academic Integrity10 minutes

What's included

7 videos4 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 46 minutes

2.1a Dispositions & Habits of Mind for Critical Thinking7 minutes
2.1b Dispositions & Habits of Mind for Critical Thinking Expert Video6 minutes
2.2a Argument Spheres7 minutes
2.3a Argument Fields8 minutes
2.4a Questioning in Critical Thinking7 minutes
2.4b Questioning a Text6 minutes
2.4c Questioning in Critical Thinking Expert Video4 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 155 minutes

2.5 Summative Quiz - Module 225 minutes
Discussion Board Self Assessment - Module 210 minutes
2.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

2.1 Dispositions for Critical Thinking10 minutes
2.4 Questioning in Critical Thinking10 minutes

What's included

6 videos4 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 47 minutes

3.1a Premises and Conclusions8 minutes
3.1b Formal Logic Structures10 minutes
3.2a Common Fallacies7 minutes
3.3a Forms of Reasoning10 minutes
3.4a Applying Systems Thinking8 minutes
3.4b Applying Systems Thinking Expert Video5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 155 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 325 minutes
Discussion Board Self Assessment - Module 310 minutes
3.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

3.2 Common Fallacies10 minutes
3.4 Systems Thinking10 minutes

What's included

10 videos4 readings6 assignments3 discussion prompts

10 videosTotal 67 minutes

4.1a Claims and Evidence6 minutes
4.1b Claims and Evidence Expert Video4 minutes
4.2a Identifying Biases and Assumptions 16 minutes
4.2b Identifying Biases and Assumptions 29 minutes
4.2c Identifying Biases and Assumptions 36 minutes
4.3a Using Critical Thinking to Evaluate Arguments 16 minutes
4.3b Using Criteria to Evaluate Arguments 26 minutes
4.4a Types of Argument 112 minutes
4.4b Types of Argument 27 minutes
4.4c Types of Arguments Expert Video6 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 155 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 425 minutes
Discussion Board Self Assessment - Module 410 minutes
4.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
4.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
4.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
4.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

4.1 Claims and Evidence10 minutes
4.2 Biases and Assumptions10 minutes
4.4 Types of Argument10 minutes

What's included

6 videos4 readings6 assignments2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 42 minutes

5.1a Argument Structures5 minutes
5.1b Argument Chains6 minutes
5.1c Argument Chains - Slippery Slope6 minutes
5.2a Models for Academic Argumentation9 minutes
5.3a Critical Thinking and Critique7 minutes
5.4a Critical Thinking and Reflective Writing9 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Learning Resources10 minutes
Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 155 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 525 minutes
Discussion Board Self Assessment - Module 510 minutes
5.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

5.2 Models of Academic Argumentation10 minutes
5.4a Critical Thinking and Reflective Writing10 minutes

What's included

4 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts

4 readingsTotal 100 minutes

Summative Assessment Overview10 minutes
How to mark your peers' assignments70 minutes
Practice peer marking activity answers10 minutes
Congratulations - You've Finished!10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Critically evaluating arguments120 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

End of Course Discussion10 minutes
6.1 Course Reflection10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(266 ratings)

Katherine Olston

The University of Sydney

9 Courses182,274 learners

Luke Alexander

The University of Sydney

3 Courses111,866 learners

Offered by

The University of Sydney

Explore more from Education

Status: Preview
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Reasoning Across the Disciplines
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Davis
Critical Thinking Skills for the Professional
Course
Status: Free Trial
Deep Teaching Solutions
Critical Thinking & Logic: Real-World Skills
Course
Status: Preview
University of Michigan
Leveraging GenAI to Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
89.79%
4 stars
6.91%
3 stars
1.06%
2 stars
0.65%
1 star
1.56%

Showing 3 of 1214

Reviewed on Jul 21, 2020

Good Learning experience if a candidate take the course seriously.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2021

learning coursera made me develop a lot. thank you very much

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2019

This is a helpful course for preparing for academic reading, writing and thinking.

View more reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.