680 Free Online Programming & Computer Science Courses You Can Start in July

As an experienced full-stack developer, I know first-hand how important it is to keep your skills sharp and constantly be learning new technologies in our rapidly evolving industry. One of the best ways to do this is by taking online courses, which offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.

The good news is that there are a plethora of free, high-quality programming and computer science courses available from top universities and tech companies. Class Central, a search engine for online courses, has compiled a list of 680 such courses that you can start in July 2021.

Having combed through this extensive list, I‘ve noticed some key trends and highlights worth mentioning. First, the breadth of topics covered is impressive, with courses on everything from programming languages like Python (58 courses), Java (37 courses), and C++ (18 courses) to more specialized fields like data science (63 courses), artificial intelligence/machine learning (40 courses), and web development (58 courses). There truly is something for everyone, regardless of your experience level or areas of interest.

To give you a sense of the caliber of courses offered, here‘s a table summarizing some of the most popular and highly-rated options:

Course Name	Provider	Rating	# of Students	Subject
Machine Learning	Stanford University	4.9	4,181,411	AI / Machine Learning
The Web Developer Bootcamp 2021	Udemy	4.7	596,726	Web Development
Python for Everybody	University of Michigan	4.8	2,137,319	Python
Java Programming and Software Engineering	Duke University	4.6	667,500	Java
AI For Everyone	deeplearning.ai	4.8	564,075	AI / Machine Learning
Introduction to Computer Science	Harvard University	4.8	2,035,647	Computer Science (general)
Full Stack Web Development with Angular	Hong Kong U of Sci & Tech	4.7	132,570	Web Development (Angular)
Algorithms, Part I	Princeton University	4.9	706,045	Algorithms & Data Structures
Linux for Developers	Linux Foundation	4.7	194,576	Linux / Unix
R Programming	Johns Hopkins University	4.6	854,641	R Programming

As you can see, these courses boast enrollments in the hundreds of thousands to even millions, with incredibly high ratings. Many are taught by renowned experts in their fields, such as Andrew Ng (co-founder of Coursera and Google Brain) who teaches the Machine Learning course, and David J. Malan who teaches Harvard‘s Introduction to Computer Science.

What‘s great about these offerings is that there are options for those with zero coding experience (e.g. "Programming for Everybody" and "CS50‘s Introduction to Computer Science") all the way up to more advanced, specialized topics (e.g. Princeton‘s "Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies" or IBM‘s "Quantum Computing").

There are even some unique finds, like the "Internet of Things" course from Curtin University which covers embedded systems and sensor networks, a "Competitive Programming" course from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for coding interview prep, and a niche "Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Dynamics and Control" skills-based course from the University of Minnesota.

So what tangible benefits can you reap by taking some of these courses? Let‘s imagine you‘re an aspiring full-stack web developer. You could start with Harvard‘s intro CS class to grasp core programming concepts in C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript. Then dive into UI/UX design with University of Michigan‘s "Web Design for Everybody" and a full-stack JavaScript course like "Full-Stack Web Development with React" from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Combine that with University of Michigan‘s "Building Web Applications in PHP" and deeplearning.ai‘s "Intro to TensorFlow for Deep Learning" to round out your front-end, back-end and AI/machine learning skills. Voilà, in a matter of months and $0 spent on tuition, you‘ve gained a solid foundation to build your portfolio and start applying for jobs.

Don‘t just take my word for it – many of these courses have glowing reviews from past students. For example, Shubham S. writes of the Web Developer Bootcamp, "This course is amazing. Angela explains everything very well and in great details. The challenges are great for implementing the things learned in the module and provide great ideas for future side projects. Worth every penny!" Kush P. shares that CS50 "teaches you how to think like a programmer" and Avi K. says Andrew Ng‘s Machine Learning "should be a requirement for all disciplines of Engineering."

If you‘re considering pursuing a formal computer science degree or enrolling in a full-time coding bootcamp, these free online courses provide a perfect way to test the waters and see if it‘s the right path for you. By completing related coursework in advance, you‘ll also set yourself up for success and demonstrate your aptitude to admissions committees.

For example, a strong applicant to an intensive web development bootcamp might take University of Michigan‘s "HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers" and "Interactivity with JavaScript" as well as Harvard‘s "CS50‘s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript" to gain exposure to the core technologies covered in the bootcamp.

To illustrate how valuable these free courses can be, let‘s consider the average costs of alternative educational paths. The average tuition for an on-campus computer science degree in the United States is $40,000 per academic year, so you would save that amount taking the OCW route. Coding bootcamps aren‘t cheap either – the average price tag is about $13,000. By carefully selecting aligned free courses, you could replicate much of that core curriculum for $0.

While these free courses don‘t provide the networking opportunities, face-to-face learning, and personalized feedback you would get from an in-person program, they do grant you ultimate flexibility and the chance to sample a wide variety of computer science and programming topics before any major investment. For the disciplined, self-motivated learner, they can provide an unparalleled educational value.

To make the most of these courses, I recommend following a strategy:

1. Identify your end goal, whether it‘s to gain employable skills in a specific domain like web development or data science, to build a foundation for further academic studies in computer science, or simply to explore the vast world of programming as a hobby. Having a target in mind will help you choose the most relevant courses.

2. Peruse the course list and read the descriptions, syllabi, and reviews to find options that align with your goal and seem engaging to you. Make a shortlist of contenders.

3. Choose 1-2 courses that fit your schedule and commit to completing them within a defined timeframe. Block off dedicated study time and hold yourself accountable.

4. As you progress through the material, take digital notes to solidify your learning. Handwritten notes have also been shown to boost retention. Don‘t just copy verbatim but rather paraphrase key concepts in your own words.

5. Get hands-on practice through course assignments and projects. Don‘t be afraid to go off-script and tweak example code to see what happens. The best learning comes through trial and error.

6. Engage with the course community by posting and responding to questions on the discussion forums. You‘ll gain valuable insights from classmates around the world.

7. Apply your new skills in the real world by building small programs and projects from scratch. Share your creations for feedback and to start establishing an online presence as a developer.

8. Supplement your learning through reading technical blogs, listening to podcasts like "Coding Blocks" and "Developer Tea," and following industry leaders on social media.

9. Attend local technology Meetup events to make connections, learn about companies that are hiring, and get a pulse on the skills that are in high demand in your area.

10. Celebrate your course completions and share key learnings with your network. You never know what opportunities might arise from discussing your new knowledge.

In terms of what courses to prioritize, it depends on your programming experience and domain interests. However, I would recommend starting with a big picture course like Harvard‘s "CS50‘s Introduction to Computer Science‘‘ to establish a solid foundation in computational thinking and core programming concepts. From there, you can branch out into more specific topics that pique your curiosity.

For a balanced computer science and programming curriculum, I would suggest the following sequence:

1. Harvard‘s CS50x to establish a strong CS foundation
2. A programming language course in Python, Java, or C++ (e.g. MIT‘s "Introduction to Programming in Python")
3. A web development course like University of Michigan‘s "Web Applications for Everybody"
4. An algorithms and data structures deep dive like Princeton‘s "Algorithms, Part I"
5. A database course like Stanford‘s "Introduction to Databases"
6. An operating systems intro like Institut Mines-Télécom‘s "Introduction to Operating Systems"
7. A practical data science/machine learning course like IBM‘s "Machine Learning with Python"
8. A cybersecurity primer like the University of Maryland‘s "Cybersecurity Fundamentals"
9. A specialized elective in an area of interest like mobile development, game development, or blockchain
10. A capstone project to apply your cumulative skills and create a portfolio piece

Of course, your path will vary depending on your unique goals and interests. The beauty of these MOOCs is that you have the autonomy to pick and choose what you learn. Whether your aim is to upskill for a promotion, make a career pivot into tech, or dive into graduate-level computer science topics, you can curate a curriculum that serves your needs.

In summary, Class Central‘s compilation of 680 free online programming and computer science courses starting in July is an incredible resource for both aspiring and experienced technologists looking to expand their skill sets. With offerings from top universities in every conceivable domain – web development, data science, AI, software engineering, mobile development, cybersecurity, and beyond – there‘s something for everyone.

By strategically selecting courses and following a disciplined learning plan, you can gain highly marketable skills and build an impressive project portfolio. What‘s more, you‘ll save tens of thousands of dollars compared to enrolling in a traditional computer science degree program or coding bootcamp.

To put your learning into perspective, the average developer salary in the United States is $92,046 per year according to Indeed. If you were able to gain entry-level programming skills from these free courses and land a job, the ROI would be enormous. Even if you‘re already employed, adding in-demand skills to your toolkit can position you for raises and promotions.

You have an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in academia and industry – all you need is an internet connection and self-motivation. Whether you commit 20 minutes per day or several hours per week, you can make significant progress towards your goals by chipping away at these courses one module at a time.

So what are you waiting for? With 680 courses to choose from and a wealth of different topics to explore, there‘s no better time to start than now. Dive into a course (or a few) that catches your eye, connect with like-minded learners around the globe, and see where your coding journey takes you. The world is waiting for the programs, apps, and innovations you‘ll create with your growing skill set.

As acclaimed scientist Josiah Willard Gibbs once said, "No one trusts a model except the man who wrote it; everyone trusts an observation, except the man who made it." There‘s no substitute for hands-on experience – and with these free online courses at your fingertips, you have a clear pathway to gain practical programming skills and become the developer you aspire to be. Happy coding!