190 Top Universities Just Launched 600 Free Online Courses. Here‘s the Full List.

The number of free online courses, or MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), has absolutely exploded in recent years. Platforms like Coursera, EdX, and FutureLearn now offer thousands of courses from hundreds of top universities, and the number keeps growing every year.

In fact, in just the past four months alone, 190 universities have launched over 600 new free online courses. This represents an astonishing rate of growth that shows no signs of slowing down. As the CEO of EdX Anant Agarwal recently said, "The pandemic is a transformational moment for education. We are seeing an explosive demand for online learning globally — from learners as well as universities."

What Subjects Do the Courses Cover?

These 600+ new courses span a huge range of subjects, but the most popular areas are computer science, business, social sciences, and engineering.

Here‘s a breakdown of the new courses by subject area:

Subject Area	Number of New Courses
Computer Science	156
Business	125
Engineering	71
Social Sciences	54
Data Science	51
Personal Development	41
Mathematics	36
Art & Design	35
Education & Teaching	35
Science	35
Health & Medicine	32
Humanities	32
Programming	31
Other	25

As you can see, over a quarter of the new courses are in computer science, programming, and data science. This reflects the huge demand for technical skills and the key role that MOOCs are playing in teaching them. Anant Agarwal notes that "computer science alone accounts for nearly a third of [EdX‘s] 35 million global enrollments."

Which Universities are Offering Them?

The 190 universities launching free online courses reads like a who‘s who of the world‘s top institutions. It includes a majority of the top 100 in global rankings.

Some of the most prestigious universities offering new MOOCs include:

• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• Princeton University
• Yale University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Caltech
• Johns Hopkins University
• Duke University
• University of Michigan
• Georgia Tech
• Imperial College London
• University of Toronto
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Peking University

In total, the universities span 44 countries around the world. Around 40% are in the United States, but there is also strong representation from the UK, Europe, India, China, Australia, Russia, and Latin America.

Most Popular New Courses for Developers

As a professional coder myself, I always keep an eye out for new free courses to expand my technical knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. Some of the most exciting and useful new courses for developers and IT professionals include:

• CS50‘s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript from Harvard University – Learn to build dynamic, database-backed web apps with Django, React, and more
• Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals from Google Cloud – Master the core infrastructure and services of one of the most popular cloud platforms
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Columbia University – Understand core AI concepts like machine learning, NLP, robotics and more
• Blockchain and FinTech: Basics, Applications, and Limitations from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – See how blockchain is impacting finance and other industries
• Cybersecurity Fundamentals from the Rochester Institute of Technology – Covers key concepts in network security, cryptography, cyber threats and defense

According to the 2022 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, web development, databases, cloud platforms, AI/ML, blockchain, and cybersecurity are some of the top areas where coders are expanding their skills. These free courses provide an excellent way to do that.

As a full-stack developer, courses like Harvard‘s CS50 Web Programming provide a great way to round out your knowledge, learning both frontend and backend technologies in a hands-on way. And cloud skills are becoming absolutely essential – the Stack Overflow survey found that over 30% of developers are now regularly using AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.

Building a Foundation with Free Courses

While I earned my master‘s degree in computer science the traditional way, I continue to be amazed by the sheer breadth and depth of knowledge that can now be gained from free online courses. Even as an experienced professional, I still find myself turning to MOOCs to pick up new skills or fill in gaps in my knowledge.

For aspiring developers just starting out, these free courses can be invaluable in building a foundation and exploring different areas of specialization. When you‘re learning to code, there is so much to master – programming languages, tools, frameworks, computer science concepts, software engineering best practices, etc. High-quality MOOCs from top computer science schools can help you work through these topics in a well-structured way, with hands-on coding practice and expert guidance.

Some great examples for beginners include:

• Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python from MIT
• Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) from the University of Michigan
• CS50‘s Introduction to Computer Science from Harvard University
• Algorithms, Part 1 from Princeton University

These courses have been taken by millions of students and provide an excellent starting point for learning programming and computer science fundamentals. And they are just the tip of the iceberg – you can find in-depth courses on virtually any computer science topic, from data structures to machine learning to software engineering.

Advancing Your Career

For experienced developers, keeping your skills sharp and up-to-date is crucial for career advancement. With technology evolving so rapidly, it‘s easy to fall behind if you‘re not continuously learning.

This is where the flexibility and variety of free online courses can be a huge asset. Whenever I want to learn a new programming language, dive into an emerging field like blockchain, or level up my skills in an area like cloud computing, I can find a high-quality MOOC to do so, often from a top computer science program.

The fact that these courses are free is remarkable. When I was first learning to code, my options for structured learning were pretty much limited to expensive university courses or textbooks. Now, so long as you have an internet connection, you can take courses from Stanford and MIT on your own schedule without paying a cent. It‘s really quite extraordinary.

Beyond just consuming courses, MOOCs can also be a powerful tool to demonstrate your knowledge and expand your portfolio. Many courses offer the option to pay a small fee to earn a verified certificate upon completion. You can share these certificates on LinkedIn and GitHub to show employers that you‘ve developed expertise in a certain skill or topic.

Some of the most valuable certificates for developers in my experience include:

• Google IT Support Professional Certificate – Developed by Google and hosted on Coursera, covers key IT and troubleshooting skills
• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate – 10-course program teaching data science and machine learning tools and concepts
• Python for Everybody Specialization – Beginner-focused, 5-course sequence on Python from the University of Michigan
• Software Development Lifecycle Specialization – Foundational knowledge for a career in software from the University of Minnesota

Especially if you don‘t have a formal computer science degree, these kinds of certificates from top programs can really bolster your resume and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning.

The Big Picture

Looking at the big picture, the continued growth and evolution of MOOCs is truly exciting, especially for increasing access to high-quality computer science education. With the demand for technology skills showing no signs of abating, free courses and programs make it possible for anyone to launch a career in programming or keep their knowledge current, regardless of their means or background.

I know from experience that learning to code can be a challenging journey, and it‘s easy to get stuck or give up without support and guidance. The fact that you can now get that support from top universities for free is remarkable, and has the potential to open up so many opportunities and new pathways for people around the world.

Of course, online courses aren‘t a silver bullet, and they‘re not for everyone. Motivation and self-directed learning skills are essential, since completion rates can be low. And especially for more advanced, cutting-edge topics, the amount of free material may be limited.

There are also still major issues around access. While MOOCs can be a great equalizer, you still need a decent computer and internet connection to participate. Underserved communities in the U.S. and globally may lack access. Closing these digital divides remains an urgent priority.

But the overall trend of high-quality university courses being made widely available for free is a major step in the right direction. And I believe it will only accelerate.

Conclusion

As a professional developer with years of experience, I‘m truly in awe of the volume and caliber of free computer science courses that are now available from many of the world‘s most prestigious universities. It‘s absolutely remarkable.

When I reflect back to when I was first learning to code, the landscape was so different. MOOCs didn‘t exist, and access to high-quality instruction was so much more limited. I would have given anything to have this kind of free access to courses from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and dozens of other top schools. It‘s really a game changer.

For both new and experienced programmers, these 600+ free courses across computer science and related fields represent an incredible opportunity. Whether you want to build your foundational knowledge, develop new skills to advance your career, or explore an emerging field like data science or AI, you can do it on your own schedule without spending a cent.

So if you‘re looking to jumpstart your learning, I really encourage you to check out Class Central‘s full list of over 600 new free online courses for the full selection. No matter what your goals are, I bet you‘ll find something that catches your eye and can help you grow as a developer and technologist. What an incredible time to be learning!