Tech Industry
The tech industry is booming, and the demand for skilled workers continues to rise. In order to stay competitive in this ever-changing landscape, it’s important to learn new skills and keep up with the latest technologies.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a college degree to learn these skills. There are plenty of free online courses available that can help you become an expert in everything from data science to web development.
Here are 20 free online tech courses with recognizable certificates — many of which offer certificates upon completion:
- Introduction to Programming Using Python
The University of Toronto offers this introduction to computer programming in Python, an open source language that is widely used in the tech industry. The three-credit course covers the basics of programming and data structures, as well as some more advanced topics like object-oriented programming.
- Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
Udacity offers this one-hour course, which is designed to help students understand how computers work and how they can write code using Python. The course also teaches students about algorithmic thinking and computational thinking, which are important skills for any aspiring programmer or software engineer.
- Computer Science 101: Introduction to Computing and Programming
This free online course from MIT will teach you about algorithms, data structures, hardware and software architecture — essentially everything you need to know to become a great programmer or software engineer. You can expect to spend about 12 hours per week on the course material, but it’s worth it if you want to learn how computers work at a fundamental level before starting learning other languages like Java or JavaScript.
- Introduction to HTML and CSS (Code School)
This course is a beginner-friendly introduction to the fundamentals of HTML and CSS, two of the most basic languages you’ll need if you want to build websites. The class is self-paced and comes with a ton of interactive code challenges that will help you get comfortable with both languages. You can also follow along with your own website project if you want to practice what you’re learning.
- Data Structures and Algorithms in Java (Coursera)
If you’ve ever wanted learn how to program, this course from Georgia Tech University is a great place for anyone looking for an introductory class on the subject matter. It’ll teach you how to think like a computer scientist as well as how to write basic programs using Java — one of the most popular programming languages in use today.
- Learn to Program: The Fundamentals (Programiz)
This course is a great first step into programming, and it’s free! Learn how to code in Python, a language that can be used for everything from web apps to desktop applications.
- Free Online Courses for Learning Python (Learn the Basics of Python from the Web)
The Python Tutorial is an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn about this popular programming language. There are also many other tutorials available online that can help you get started with Python.
- Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using JavaScript (MIT OCW)
This introductory course covers the basics of computer science and programming using JavaScript, including variables and data types, expressions and operators, conditional statements, loops, functions and objects, arrays and strings — all in an effort to prepare students for more advanced material in later courses in this series on computer science and algorithms.
- Fundamentals of Computer Science: The Beauty and Joy of Computing (Harvey Mudd College via edX)
This course is designed for those who are interested in learning the basics of computer science. Students will learn about algorithms, data structures, problem solving and programming in Python. These skills can be applied to a wide range of careers, but are particularly useful for those pursuing careers in software engineering or data science.
- Learn Python 3 The Hard Way! A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming (LearnToProgram LLC via Udemy)
This course teaches students how to program using the popular Python language. It features a number of practical projects that allow students to apply their new skills in real world settings.
- Machine Learning Foundations: A Case Study Approach (Johns Hopkins University via Coursera)
Machine learning is an area of artificial intelligence that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. In this course, students will learn about machine learning concepts such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning and reinforcement.
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Udemy
Artificial Intelligence is one of the most popular subjects in all of technology, and it’s only growing more important. You don’t have to be a programmer to understand the basics, though — this course will teach you what you need to know about AI so that you can be confident about it in future discussions.
- Learn Python the Hard Way from Udemy
Python is one of the most common programming languages out there, and it’s also one of the easiest to learn if you’re new to coding. This course will take you through everything from basic syntax all the way up to common algorithms and data structures that are used across many different programming languages. It’s not easy, but finishing it will give you a solid foundation on which to build your programming career.
- The Complete Android N Developer Course: Beginner to Advanced (Android Nougat 7)
This course will take you from a basic level of knowledge of Java and programming to building Android apps. It is designed for both absolute beginners who have never coded anything before, as well as students who have some experience but are new to Android development.
- The Fundamentals of Machine Learning with Python – Hands On
In this course, you’ll learn the core concepts behind machine learning and how it can be applied to real world problems. You’ll start with an introduction to Python, NumPy, Pandas and Matplotlib, which are all used for data science and machine learning applications. Then you’ll learn about the various types of machine learning algorithms that are available today. Finally, we’ll talk about how these algorithms work in practice using real world examples from Kaggle competition data sets.
- The Complete Web Developer in 2018: Zero to Mastery from Udemy
The course first offers a crash course on HTML and CSS, then moves on to more advanced topics like JavaScript, Bootstrap and AngularJS. It also covers more specialized topics such as responsive design, user authentication, databases and web security.
- Computer Science 101: Computer Science Introduction for Non-Majors from University of California, San Diego on edX
This course offers an introduction to computer science principles and concepts that can be applied in any field. You’ll learn how computers work, how they can be programmed and how they interact with the world around them. 5. Intro to Programming Using Python from University of Toronto on Coursera This course is designed to teach you how to program using Python 3, a programming language that’s easy to learn but powerful enough for industrial-strength applications.
- Python for Everybody (Part 1) from University of Michigan on Coursera
This is the first part of two-course series on Python programming language by University of Michigan. The course teaches you how to program in Python and how to solve problems with it. You’ll learn how to write programs, create functions, use control flow statements like loops and conditionals and work with strings.
- Introduction to Programming with MATLAB from University of Colorado Boulder on edX
This course aims to provide students with an introduction to programming using MATLAB as a tool for solving real-world problems in engineering, science, and mathematics without requiring prior experience with computer programming or mathematics beyond secondary school algebra. At the end of this course you will be able to write basic programs using MATLAB syntax and have an understanding of how to use it as a problem-solving tool.
- Web Development Fundamentals (HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript) for Beginners with Rob Percival & Ben Nadel
This course is a comprehensive introduction to web development. You’ll learn the latest standards and practices used in modern web development, including HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. The course is designed for beginners with no previous experience, but it also has plenty of content for intermediate developers who want to brush up on their skills. The course is divided into sections that cover everything from the basics of working with code to advanced topics like AJAX, JSON, server-side programming and more.