15 Top Online Courses
#WFH doesn’t have to mean PJs and Netflix.
(This article contains affiliate links.)
Technical skills
Course: Introduction to Computer Science
# Students: 1.6 million
Instructor: David J. Malan, Doug Lloyd, Brian Yu
Host University: Harvard University
Time needed to complete: 25 hours
Why take it: For anyone interested in learning the basics of programming, this course gets you started on the fundamentals. Through the course, you gain familiarity in a number of languages, including C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. What I also like about the course is that it involves presenting a programming project. It’s one thing to sit at a desk by yourself and learn, it’s another to have to put your knowledge to the test and present it to to a group of people you don’t know.
Course: Machine Learning
# Students: 2.9 million
Instructor: Andrew Ng
Host University: Stanford University
Time needed to complete: 56 hours
Why take it: According to Forbes, the machine learning market is expected to grow from $1.58B (2017 numbers) to $20.83B in 2024. With this growth, businesses will also have a continued need to understand this technology and how to incorporate it.
Course: R Programming
# Students: 445k+
Instructors: Dr. Brian Caffo, Dr. Jeff Leek, Dr. Roger D. Peng
Host University: Johns Hopkins University
Time needed to complete: 20 hours
Why take it: There are lots of good reasons for learning to code. The R language and this course are focused on data science and working with large data sets- a skill set that is extremely relevant.
Course: Microsoft Excel — Excel from Beginner to Advanced
# Students: 343k+
Instructors: Kyle Pew
Host University: N/A
Time needed to complete: 25 hours
Why take it: Excel is an extremely useful tool, and knowing how to use it well can help you stand out in a job. It’s not complicated, it just requires technical practice.
Course: Practical Ethical Hacking — The Complete Course
# Students: 15k+
Instructors: The Cyber Mentor
Host University: N/A
Time needed to complete: 30 hours
Why take it: The Cyber Mentor is doing a lot to share instruction on cybersecurity. He’s a military veteran who is starting a great brand around cybersecurity.
Course: Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
# Students: 1 million
Instructors: Charles Russell Severance
Host University: University of Michigan
Time needed to complete: 12 hours
Why take it: According to The Economist, Python is already one of the more popular programming languages and is getting more popular.
Course: Algorithms, Part I
# Students: 493k+
Instructors: Robert Sedgewick, Kevin Wayne
Host University: Princeton University
Time needed to complete: 33 hours
Why take it: As the course describes: “This course covers the essential information that every serious programmer needs to know about algorithms and data structures.”
Managing
Course: Game Theory
# Students: 231k+
Instructors: Matthew O. Jackson
Host University: Stanford University, University of British Columbia
Time needed to complete: 21 hours
Why take it: Managers need to understand an account for incentives. They may be the single most aspect of understanding behavior in your employees, your customers, and your competitors. This course is a primer in understanding incentives and how that understanding can be applied to problem-solving, models, and strategy.
Course: Financial Markets
# Students: 242k+
Instructor: Robert Shiller
Host University: Yale University
Time needed to complete:38 hours
Why take it: The stated goal of this course is to use financial industries “effectively and towards a better society.” That’s a mission statement that most can likely get behind. The intent is not to make you a financial whiz-kid, but to educate financially savvy leaders.
Course: Introduction to Operations Management
# Students: 79k+
Instructor: Christian Terwiesch
Host University: University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business
Time needed to complete: 18 hours
Why take it: This course can be a good starter in understanding the business fundamentals of operations management.
Personal Development
Course: Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects
# Students: 2 million
Instructors: Dr. Barbara Oakley, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski
Host University: University of California San Diego, McMaster University
Time needed to complete: 12 hours
Why take it: With a 4.8-star rating (from 50k+ ratings)- this is one of the most popular courses on the web. Meant to help you deal with procrastination, sharpen your memory, and learn new skills in any field- this can be an invaluable tool to help you progress.
Course: The Science of Well-Being
# Students: 534k+
Instructors: Laurie Santos
Host University: Yale University
Time needed to complete: 20 hours
Why take it: Wellness is quickly becoming a whole thing. Why wouldn’t you want to learn from a professor on the subject and understand more about the science and research behind wellness.
Course: Introduction to Public Speaking
# Students: 73k+
Instructors: Dr. Matt McGarrity
Host University: The University of Washington
Time needed to complete: 16 hours
Why take it: According to Warren Buffet, the famed investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathway: “You can improve your value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills — public speaking.” You can be the smartest person in the room, but if you don’t have the means to communicate effectively then your potential can be greatly diminished.
Course: English Grammar and Style
# Students: 593k+
Instructors: Roslyn Petelin
Host University: The University of Queensland Australia
Time needed to complete: 32 hours
Why take it: Just like with public speaking, effective writing is a critical skill. In today’s electronic age and with the growth of remote work, having effective written communication skills is imperative.
Entrepreneurship
Course: Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship
# Students: 39k+
Instructors: Dr. James V. Green
Host University: The University of Maryland at College Park
Time needed to complete: 10 hours
Why take it: I’m a big believer in the power of entrepreneurship. Starting here can get the juices flowing on your next great idea.
