With many of us spending a lot more time at home, we also end up having a lot more free time. This is an opportunity to do new things. For those who love learning, this can mean more time for free online learning courses.
If you are one of these people, you will be glad to know that you can take advantage of Harvard free online courses. The university offers a bunch of courses like programming that people from all over the world can take.
However, any responsible student should be fully prepared to enter such ventures. If you want to take a free Harvard online course in programming, here are some of the things you should know.
What to Expect from a Free Harvard Online Course
You Have a Variety of Courses to Choose From
Programming can be applied in a range of industries. Some of the most obvious ones include software development, web development, and gaming sectors. However, you can definitely code for different fields.
Harvard offers different focused courses. For example, in CS50’s Introduction to Game Development, students can learn about 2D and 3D game dev to create games similar to Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon.
Other courses available include CS50 Web Programming with Python and JavaScript, Introduction to Computer Science, CS0 for Lawyers, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python, Intro to Linear Models, and Matrix Algebra, and Statistics and R.
It Takes a Few Weeks or Months
Harvard online courses can take a few weeks or months to be completed depending on the type of subject you’re taking.
Each course may require a certain time commitment from you each week, ranging from 2 to 30 hours per week depending on the load and difficulty of the subject.
In choosing a course to take, make time to thoroughly check the syllabus to ensure that you won’t encounter personal or professional scheduling conflicts.
To avoid feeling overwhelmed with managing work, life, and school, try mapping out a semester or two with courses you can handle.
You Can Pace Yourself
The beauty of taking Harvard online courses is that you can work at your own pace. You can work around your schedule provided you do the tasks on time and still participate in the required discussions.
However, this doesn’t mean you can slack off. To succeed, time management is a critical component, especially in an online setting. Because courses on this platform are still quite rigorous, the time commitment required from you is still the same.
If you anticipate having a much busier week ahead, make sure to plan accordingly. Don’t forget to look through the assignments and syllabus, as well as schedule study sessions to prevent procrastination.
A Fee Applies to Get a Certificate
There are a number of Harvard online courses that are available for free or at a much lower cost compared to traditional brick and mortar schools.
While some subjects may be taken for free, something you may want to consider when choosing a course is that getting a certificate of completion comes with a starting price of around $90 depending on the course.
Likewise, bear in mind that since online courses are not degree programs per se, awardees will not be able to participate in commencement activities or bear alumni status.
Conclusion
Harvard online courses provide opportunities for professional and personal development.
For those who are looking to enrich their lives by further education, checking out courses from this Ivy League school might be a great start to your desired advancement.
