VOOZH about

URL: https://www.coursera.org/learn/critical-thinking-skills-for-professionals

⇱ Critical Thinking Skills for the Professional | Coursera


Critical Thinking Skills for the Professional

Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.

Critical Thinking Skills for the Professional

75,721 already enrolled

Included with

Ask Coursera

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

1,326 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
9 hours to complete
Learn at your own pace
98%
Most learners liked this course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

1,326 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
9 hours to complete
Learn at your own pace
98%
Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

  • Apply critical thinking skills to complex problems.

  • Apply a model for solving problems and pose questions to further understanding of specific problems.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Professional Skills for the Workplace 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 3 modules in this course

Have you ever tried to find a solution to a problem only to realize you’ve been focusing on the wrong problem from the very beginning? Or you’ve proposed a solution only to have it shut down by your boss or coworkers? How stressful and defeating is that? With massive changes in our world that seem to create the most difficult of circumstances, both personally and professionally, your skills as a critical thinker and problem solver need to be further developed now more than ever.

By the end of this course you will have learned and memorized a practical model to solve problems on your own and with others. These 7 critical steps will ensure that you have looked at a problem from every angle and considered multiple solutions. In fact, this dynamic and holistic approach will help you solve problems once and for all!

In this module, you will be able to apply a model for solving any problem, large or small, in a creative and collaborative way. You will also be able to identify all aspects of a problem and examine role in the problem. You will be able to reframe a goal oriented question.

What's included

5 videos2 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

5 videosTotal 27 minutes
  • Introduction to Problem Solving5 minutes
  • Why So Many Problems?6 minutes
  • Kinetic Memorization4 minutes
  • Identify the Problem6 minutes
  • Reframe7 minutes
2 readingsTotal 61 minutes
  • Course Navigation and Safety Statement1 minute
  • Recommended Readings60 minutes
3 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes
  • Let's Practice: Problem Definition & Goal Reframing30 minutes
  • Identifying Problems Quiz15 minutes
  • Problem Solving Steps Quiz15 minutes
2 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes
  • Identifying the Problem30 minutes
  • Reframe Your Problem10 minutes

In this module, you will be able to brainstorm solutions to your possible problem. You will choose 3 possible options and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each option. You will be able to generate more effective solutions.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

5 videosTotal 21 minutes
  • Module Introduction4 minutes
  • Individual vs. Group Brainstorming4 minutes
  • Brainstorming Guidelines4 minutes
  • Choose 33 minutes
  • Advantages and Disadvantages5 minutes
2 readingsTotal 100 minutes
  • Brainstorm Using Miro10 minutes
  • Recommended Readings90 minutes
2 assignmentsTotal 30 minutes
  • Let's Practice: Brainstorming, Selecting, and Evaluating Scenarios30 minutes
  • Module 2 Knowledge Checks0 minutes
2 discussion promptsTotal 45 minutes
  • Brainstorm Possible Solutions to Your Problem15 minutes
  • Choose 3 and Analyze the Advantages & Disadvantages30 minutes

In this module, you will be able to explore your own triggers and how they may show up in our reactions. You'll be able to identify potential responses that could trigger negative reactions. You will be able to prepare and make a recommendation to your problem. You will also be able to engage in feedback.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 20 minutes
  • Introduction to Prepare and Recommend2 minutes
  • Prepare and Recommend Example3 minutes
  • Applying Your Recommendation3 minutes
  • Be and Avoid5 minutes
  • Engage Feedback4 minutes
  • Course Summary3 minutes
1 readingTotal 60 minutes
  • Recommended Readings60 minutes
2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes
  • Let's Practice: Preparing and Stress-Testing Your Recommendation30 minutes
  • Module 3 Knowledge Check30 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 15 minutes
  • Analyze Your Triggers15 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.

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (444 ratings)
University of California, Davis
1 Course75,721 learners

Explore more from Business Essentials

Why people choose Coursera for their career

👁 Image

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."
👁 Image

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
👁 Image

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."
👁 Image

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

    82.73%

  • 4 stars

    14.32%

  • 3 stars

    2.18%

  • 2 stars

    0.45%

  • 1 star

    0.30%

Showing 3 of 1326

SM
·

Reviewed on Dec 29, 2022

Its a very good course ,it is necessary to learn the ethics and understanding the peoples ,to avoid the conflicts .So its very good course for everyone.

DR
·

Reviewed on Mar 28, 2025

I really enjoyed the instructor's lessons. I felt like she was having a conversation with me, she's a breath fresh air and I loved every moment of this course.

HS
·

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2021

I love the structure of the course. The steps are easy to remember with the help of Kinetic Memorization. Overall, this course exceeds my expectation. Thank you.

Frequently asked questions

You'll learn how to approach professional problems more clearly and use a seven-step model to make better decisions. It starts with identifying the real issue and reframing it into a goal-oriented question, then builds into brainstorming options, weighing tradeoffs, and making a recommendation. You'll practice that process on real situations by defining a problem with the 6Ws and testing your thinking through feedback.

No, you don't need prior training in critical thinking or formal problem-solving methods. The course is beginner level and teaches the process step by step, from defining a problem to presenting a recommendation. Some experience with workplace or everyday challenges will help because many activities ask you to apply the framework to a problem you can actually influence.

Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want a clear method rather than an abstract treatment of critical thinking. The course breaks the work into manageable steps, with lessons, quizzes, discussions, and guided practice around problems, solutions, and feedback. If you're looking for advanced theory or specialized analytical frameworks, it may feel more introductory than deep.

It takes about 10 hours to complete. That makes it manageable over a few study sessions, with time spread across lessons, readings, quizzes, discussions, and practice assignments. The workload is varied, so you'll alternate between learning the framework and applying it to example or personal problems.

Yes, but the hands-on work is guided practice rather than a big project or lab-based course. You'll define a problem you control, turn it into a clear question, brainstorm possible solutions, and compare the top options. There are also discussion prompts, quizzes, coaching activities, and practice assignments, so you apply each step as you learn it.

The course centers on structured problem solving, critical thinking, and decision-making in professional settings. You'll work on problem identification, reframing, brainstorming, evaluating advantages and disadvantages, and preparing recommendations that can stand up to questions and feedback. It also addresses collaboration and self-awareness, including how your own reactions can affect problem-solving conversations.

By the end, you should be able to take a real problem and work through it with a repeatable process instead of relying on instinct alone. You'll be able to define the issue, generate and compare options, and prepare a recommendation that anticipates likely questions or objections. For example, you could turn a vague team challenge into a clear question, evaluate three possible responses, and explain which one you'd recommend and why.

It's more focused on learning a practical framework and applying it than on abstract theory alone. The course explains each step clearly, then reinforces it through quizzes, discussions, and guided assignments rather than a large independent project.

This course is a strong choice if you want critical thinking taught as a usable problem-solving process, not just as a set of general ideas. Diane Davidson builds the course around a seven-step model and carries it through problem definition, option analysis, recommendation, and feedback, with practice tied to situations you can actually work on. If you want a short beginner course that feels concrete and workplace-relevant, this one is likely a better fit than a more theory-heavy overview.

Financial aid available,

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.