Harvard University is one of the most reputed universities across the globe, and it currently offers online education to its students. There is good news for those interested in getting quality education from Harvard; many of the school’s excellent courses are online now. What this means is that one does not have to travel to Harvard again in order to attend these courses.
Here in this article, I have outlined just few Harvard online courses that are free and how you can sign up for them as well as the importance of doing so. These courses are also for international students also.
Free Harvard University Online Courses
Below are the details of free online courses being offered by Havard University.
CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science
Do you ever wonder how does a computer work or do you have an urge to create an application on your own? Just whisper ‘CS50’ to yourself – you are half way to becoming a computer scientist.
This course begins with the concepts of algorithms and only mentions the spectrum of data structures. It will equip you with knowledge regarding languages like C, Python, Java Script and it will also offer you a great platform to practically develop web applications. There is no need for worrying if one has minimal knowledge of how to use a mouse because the course is designed in such a manner that it would first teach you that.
On the last day, you will be shocked how much you’ve learned and how capable you are.
Data Science: Productivity Tools
The goal of this course is to give you the fundamental tools to engage in data science. The process will familiarize you with the–arguably–most popular programming language in statistics and data analysis.
This course covers some of the topics such as data munging, data cleaning, data visualization and some basic about statistics. You will learn RStudio, be able to create good looking’ graphs and manipulate the data in any way you may require. It is a good start and a good foundation even if one does not aim to be a data scientist per se but wishes to work on his or her analytical disposition.
Introduction to Philosophy
Are you ready to grow into a philosopher and start thinking about the mysteries of life? Here is the course that helps you to learn the fundamental concepts of philosophy. You will explore ideas that started from the pre-Socratic philosophers of ancient Greece to the post-modern movements of the twenty-first century.
Some of the issues discussed in the course are “what is the purpose of the existence?” and “how do we come to the knowledge”. You will acquire the desired knowledge about critical thinking skills, arguments’ assessment, and perspectives’ perception.
Justice
What’s fair? What’s right? These are the questions that can be viable to the Justice course as a premise. This course is conducted by Michael Sandel who is a celebrated professor and this course deals with moral and political philosophy.
This means you will be facing actual ethical scenarios and discussing different forms of justice. It also focuses on current cases like the affirmative action, same-sex marriages and the position of markets.
How To Register For These Free Courses?
Usually, it is not a difficult task to sign up for Harvard’s open course and in fact anyone with an internet connectivity can register to take the free classes. Here is the guide and follow the step by step procedures given below to get started:
- Visit the edX website: Most of the online courses offered in Harvard are on edX. This is an LMS that was created by the Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Go to www. edx. org to begin.
- Create an account: If this is the first time you are using edX then you will be asked to create an account with the portal. Click on the ‘NEXT’ button and then enter your information when you are in the next page, click on ‘SIGN UP’.
- Search for Harvard courses: If you want to know what type of courses are currently offered, you can use the search bar above or visit HarvardX.
- Choose your course: Now select your course from the drop down list that will be displayed to you.
- Enroll in the course: You will be able to see the button called “Enroll” on the course page of the chosen course. Normally, there are two options – free audit trail and a paid and verified one. If you don’t need a certificate, then take the free certificate.
- Start learning: Similarly, once you have enrolled, you will be able to get access to the course material and then you can begin studying.
Here are the links to register for some popular free Harvard University courses:
- CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science: https://www.edx.org/learn/computer-science/harvard-university-cs50-s-introduction-to-computer-science
- Data Science: Productivity Tools: https://www.edx.org/learn/data-science/harvard-university-data-science-productivity-tools
- Introduction to Philosophy: https://www.edx.org/learn/justice/harvard-university-justice
- Justice: https://www.edx.org/learn/justice/harvard-university-justice
- Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature: https://www.edx.org/learn/literature/harvard-university-ancient-masterpieces-of-world-literature
If you want to explore more options, you can browse all HarvardX courses on edX using this link: https://www.edx.org/school/harvardx
That’s it!
Here are some key points to note before we conclude here.
We advise you to find time for study sessions and ensure that you participate in the course forums. If you are dedicated and curious enough, then you are going to find so much that you can learn through these Harvard online courses.
Have fun and happy learning, and welcome to the world of Ivy League education at the comfort of your home!
