Top Ten Free Online Courses in Computer Science With Certificates in 2022

Computer science has truly aided in the development of technologies that have altered our way of life. You can learn about computer science, software development, web applications, machine learning, and Cloud computing online — and often for free.

E-learning sites like Coursera and edX provide free online computer science courses — with optional paid certifications of completion — from top universities across the world, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and more. Programs produced by well-known organizations and universities, such as Google Cloud, are also available.

Along with short and full degrees, many Coursera and edX courses may be audited for free, which can be a fantastic opportunity to discover new interests or brush up on old ones.

You’ll have to pay a one-time cost on edX or a monthly subscription on Coursera until you finish the course to get full access to the programs, which includes graded homework, unlimited course access, and a verified certificate of accomplishment.

 The internet, smart devices, social media, and all of the other discoveries we take for granted are the product of individual determination to learn more about this sector.

Hence, if you’re new to online learning, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions to help you learn more about free online computer science courses.

Stay with us as we show you the benefits of taking an online course.

Free online courses in computer science with certificates

What are the Benefits of Taking Free Online Courses in Computer Science?

Computer science is an essential component of modern living. Although the majority of people use it on a daily basis, few have the in-depth expertise required to comprehend the cutting-edge technology that underpins it. 

Here are a few reasons to take advantage of free online courses in this field:

  • Computer science is ingrained in our culture and is here to stay!
  • CS lessons will educate you on how to address complicated problems more effectively.
  • You have the power to make significant, beneficial changes in the world.
  • It provides numerous opportunities for a lucrative career.
  • No matter where you live, you can find work.
  • You can work for yourself or for someone else.
  • You have the option of working alone or as part of a group.
  • Computer science can help you in any career because people who know how to use computers are always valued in a company.
  • It can assist you in navigating other academics more effectively.
  • The possibilities for the future are limitless.

Those who read this article end up reading Review of IBM Data Science Professional Certificate on Coursera

What Are the Prerequisites and Requirements for taking a Free Online Course in Computer Science?

Students interested in computer science should have strong math skills, as math and computer science go hand in hand. But don’t worry if you don’t think your arithmetic skills are up to standard. Most of the above-mentioned platforms also provide a variety of free mathematics courses.

Those interested in studying computer science should have basic problem-solving skills as well as the capacity to assess and evaluate potential solutions. Most students who are interested in this subject already possess the requisite imagination to meet the task.

You’ll also need some perseverance and determination. In computer science, you’ll frequently have to attempt things numerous times before you find a solution. In other words, you’ll fail a lot before you succeed. You shouldn’t have any issues if you anticipate it going in.

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What Is the Average Time to Complete a Free Online Course in Computer Science?

Because most online computer science courses are self-paced, the time it takes to complete them varies. The suggested or projected time frame for most of our offered classes ranges from a few hours to a few months. 

You may complete lessons in more or less time depending on your level of commitment and schedule. This is one of the most significant benefits of free online courses. You can schedule them around your current obligations.

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What Are Some of the Career Options for Computer Science Students?

There are numerous specializations in computer science, and there are numerous possibilities to pick from. This makes the field extremely adaptable, and students interested in pursuing CS can select from a variety of professional routes, including:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Image/Sound in Digital Format
  • Administrating And Managing Networks
  • Microprogramming is a term that refers to the programming of a computer
  • Robotics is a term that refers to the study of robots.
  • Bioinformatics is a branch of computer science that deals with the analysis of biological data.
  • Cryptography is a technique for encrypting data.
  • Graphics on a Computer
  • Operating Systems (OS)
  • Computer Science is the study of computers.
  • Programming in a Computer
  • Development of Computer Games
  • Management of Information
  • Create database designs
  • Simulation and modeling are two terms that are often used interchangeably.
  • Programming in a Computer
  • Mobile Application Development
  • Software Engineering
  • Memory Management Systems
  • Web design and development
  • App Development for iOS
  • Parallel programming is a technique for executing multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • App Development for iOS
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Please keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list. Students can pick from a variety of sub-disciplines within each of these categories.

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Is It Worth It to Take a Free Online Course in Computer Science?

Absolutely! Computer technology can lead to opportunities you never anticipated. 

We live in the digital age, where those with the correct technology skills may work in almost every area, including public policy, healthcare, entertainment, education, economics, engineering, cybersecurity, and more. The list goes on and on.

Considerably entry-level positions in this field offer good pay, and those with more experience can expect to make even more.

Taking free computer science classes is never a waste of time. At the very least, you’ll know that you have the perseverance and determination required to overcome the obstacle, and future employers will notice these qualities in you as well.

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Let’s show you our list of the top 10 best free online courses in computer science out now, including courses at all levels of specialty.

1. CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: HarvardX
  • Level: Introductory
  • Time: Estimated 12 weeks (6–18 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish, Romanian.

This Harvard-led edX course has attracted more than 1.5 million students. The University’s largest course, CS50, is offered on campus, and this free online version is nearly as comprehensive. 

What’s more amazing is that you can download it in its entirety for free. 

If you do decide to pursue a certificate to highlight your achievement, the platform offers it for only $90, which is a significant saving over the classroom version.

Because the course is so comprehensive, we’ve placed it at the top of our list. Anyone looking for the best free online computer science course should start with this option. There is no need for prior programming experience, and the course can be completed at your own pace.

The following are some of the topics covered:

  • Extensive knowledge of computer science and programming
  • Algorithms and how to solve programming problems
  • Data structures, encapsulation, abstraction, algorithms, resource management, software engineering security, and web development are all concepts that will be covered.
  • Coding languages such as C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript, as well as CSS and HTML

The course can be taken independently or as part of a professional certificate program in Game Development, AI, Web Programming, or Mobile Apps.

Enroll Here

2. Programming Languages, Part A, B, and C – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: University of Washington
  • Level: Intermediate Level
  • Time: Approximately 30 hours to complete (Suggested pace of 2 hours/week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish.

This course covers the fundamental concepts of programming languages, with a focus on functional programming. In all spheres, the course uses the languages ML, Racket, and Ruby to demonstrate the ideas, but the true goal is to teach you enough about how any language “fits together” so that you can program more effectively in any language — and learn new ones.

Also, this course will provide you with a framework for understanding how to use language constructs effectively and how to develop proper and elegant programs. It will not be overly theoretical or focused on programming specifics. 

You will learn to think more deeply by employing several languages rather than thinking in terms of a single language’s grammar. 

Equally, learning how to construct durable, reusable, composable, and elegant programs requires a strong focus on functional programming. Indeed, functional programming is the source of many of the most fundamental concepts in modern languages. 

Prepare to discover a new and attractive way to look at software, as well as how to have fun creating it.

The course presupposes some prior programming knowledge, which is detailed in the first lesson.

Part A, Part B, and Part C are the three Coursera courses that make up the course. The whole course involves a large amount of tough information, as detailed in more detail in the first module of Part A, therefore the three-part arrangement provides two intermediate milestones and opportunities for a rest before continuing.

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Enroll Here

3. HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 40 hours to complete (Suggested pace of 2 hours/week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Enrolling in this course will expose you to the fundamental tools that any web page coder should be familiar with in this course. 

They intend to start from the ground up, learning how to use HTML and CSS to create modern web pages. They’ll then go on to learn how to code our pages such that their components dynamically resize and reorganize themselves according to the size of the user’s screen. 

What stands out for this course is that in the end, you’ll be able to create a web page that works equally well on a smartphone as it does on a desktop computer. 

Last but not least, you’ll get a full introduction to Javascript, the web’s most ubiquitous, popular, and tremendously powerful language.

In the end, you can create a completely functional web application that uses Ajax to expose server-side functionality and data to the end-user using Javascript.

Enroll Here

4. Computer Science Principles

  • Platform: Udemy
  • Created by Bhavesh Kumar
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: 1hr 44min of on-demand video
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English [Auto]

Computer Science Principles is a course designed for complete beginners who want to get a taste of what computer science is all about. 

Basically, students will master the fundamentals of the Python programming language as well as a firm foundation in essential computer science principles to let them explore further.

Also, this course is designed for novices to help them get started in the field of computer science by teaching them how to use the Python programming language.

Above all, students will obtain knowledge about computer science.

Enroll Here

5. Computer Science 101 – edX.org

  • Platform: edX
  • Institution: StanfordOnline
  • Level: Introductory
  • Time: Estimated 6 weeks (4–6 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish, Romanian.

This is a fantastic self-paced course offered by Stanford Online and delivered through the edX platform. 

It’s one of the best free online computer science courses for novices we’ve seen, as it exposes students to the field with no prior knowledge. 

Students will master the fundamentals of computer science over the course of six weeks, at a rate of four to six hours each week.

Everything you need to know about computers and programming, including what they can and can’t accomplish is in this course.

You’ll learn:

  • The workings of computer hardware
  • Computer lingo and terminology
  • How does software function?
  • The workings of digital images
  • Programming code
  • Major concepts: abstraction, logic, and bugs
  • The workings of structured data
  • The Internet’s Operation
  • Information security
  • Digital vs. Analog
  • Images, audio, video, and compression in digital media

There are no prerequisites for this online computer science course, which requires no prior expertise. Students who are already familiar with most of the aforementioned topics will likely find the course too basic; however, it is suitable for complete beginners. 

A certificate of verification is available for $149, although it is not required because the course can be completed entirely for free.

Enroll Here

6. Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose – Coursera.org

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: Princeton University
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: Approximately 88 hours to complete (Suggested pace of 2 hours/week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

The crucial first step in computer science is learning to program, and this course from Princeton University covers the subject in depth with over 40 hours of instruction. Unlike some of the other beginner courses on our list, this one employs Java instead of Python, despite the fact that the main purpose is to teach students programming in general.

Loops, arrays, conditionals, variables, and I/O are just a few of the programming concepts you’ll study. The free online computer science course then teaches object-oriented programming before moving on to concepts like modular programming, recursion, and code reuse.

Unlike other Coursera programs, this one does not include a certificate, and all of the features, including auto-graded multiple-choice exercises, quizzes, and programming projects, are free. 

Students can use any programming environment they like, including a condensed version of IntelliJ that is quick to install and excellent for novices.

Enroll Here

7. Accelerated Computer Science Fundamentals Specialization

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Level: Intermediate Level
  • Time: Approximately 3 months to complete (Suggested pace of 2 hours/week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish
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This specialization in computer science foundations is made up of three courses, each of which can be studied for free in audit mode on the Coursera platform to get the whole specialization experience. 

You won’t be able to participate in the hands-on projects or receive a certificate in the free option, but all other aspects of the coursework will be available. 

If you want to earn the certification but can’t afford it, you can request financial aid on the site.

Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++, Ordered Data Structures, and Unordered Data Structures are the three courses.

The free computer science course online, taught by computer science professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, is designed for students who have already completed an introductory course in a programming language such as Python and can construct a program.

Enroll Here

8. Mathematical Thinking in Computer Science

  • Platform: ClassCentral
  • Institution: University of California, San Diego
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: 6 weeks long, 40 hours worth of material
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Mathematical Thinking in Computer Science is a 25-hour beginner-level course that teaches students the critical mathematical thinking abilities that are required in all parts of computer science. 

Induction, recursion, logic, invariants, examples, and optimality are among the main tools taught in discrete mathematics in this free online computer science course. 

After that, you’ll apply the skills you’ve learned to answer programming questions.

You’ll be completing interactive puzzles (that are also mobile-friendly) throughout the course to help you build the reasoning skills you’ll need to figure out the solutions on your own. 

Basic math skills, curiosity, and a desire to learn are all that are required for this fascinating course.

Enroll Here

9. CS50’s Computer Science For Business Professionals

  • Platform: Coursera
  • Institution: HarvardX
  • Level: Introductory
  • Time: Estimated 6 weeks (2–6 hours per week)
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English

This free online computer science course, like the first on our list, is provided by Harvard University and follows much of the same curriculum but from a different, top-down perspective.

The training is intended for product managers, managers, founders, and decision-makers who are used to approaching business from the top down. 

It concentrates on the most high-level topics first, so that business professionals develop a better understanding of how computer science works and the elements that can help them make important business decisions. 

The following topics are covered in the course:

  • Languages for programming
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Website design
  • Internet-based applications
  • Computing in the cloud
  • Stacks of technology

Enroll Here

10. Foundations of Computer Science: Theory and Practice

  • Platform: Udemy
  • Created by SE Factory
  • Level: Beginner Level (No prior experience required)
  • Time: 4hr 31min of on-demand video
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English [Auto]

SE Factory, a charity coding Bootcamp located in Lebanon, is offering this four-and-a-half-hour course on the Udemy platform. The company’s goal is to teach computer science and engineering students the hard and soft skills they’ll need to get a job. 

You should have a basic understanding of high-school mathematics and programming fundamentals to take the course.

Students will learn Python, Algorithms, Complexity Analysis, and Data Structures in four sessions with 44 lectures each. The Udemy interface is simple to use, with each lesson developing in a straightforward and succinct manner. 

The online computer science course is free, but an upgrade that includes a certificate of completion and one-on-one interaction with the instructor is available.

Enroll Here

Conclusion

Learn “Everything about computer science” in this free online course. 

All these free online courses in computer science introduce you to the world of coding and more.

Start by enrolling now.

FAQs

Why should you enroll in an online computer science course?

Learning how computer software and hardware work can equip you with the skills you’ll need to succeed in the field of information technology. Both personal and professional benefits can be gained by taking online computer science classes. Many computer sciences online courses are massive online open courses (MOOCs) offered by renowned universities throughout the world through websites like Coursera and edX.

Who will profit from these free computer science online courses?

This course will teach you about the principles of computer software and hardware, as well as computer security and how the Internet works. It is intended for people who have no prior knowledge of computer science.

Where can I study computer science for free?

Harvard CS50’s Intro to Computer Science.
Stanford University Computer Science 101.
Princeton University Computer Science with a Purpose.

References

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