400 free online courses with credits that can count towards your degree
These days, more and more universities are offering for-credit programs via MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses. What started with a small number of degree programs, such as the iMBA from the University of Illinois (Coursera) and Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (Udacity), has given way to dozens of MOOC-based programs that can confer university credit.
Many of these new programs are essentially partial degrees, for example, edX’s MicroMasters, which can result in credit amounting to around one semester of a master’s degree. A small number of courses are also the same courses used by on-campus students. The catch (and yes, there is a catch) is that in most cases, in order to convert MOOC coursework into university credit, you have to be enrolled in a program at a university. And that usually means going through an admissions process and paying tuition.
Still, it is significant that the general public can audit the very same courses that paying students are taking for credit. Class Central recently made a list of all the courses we could find that are part of for-credit programs and are still free to access. Our search turned up almost 400 courses from 50 different universities, on topics spanning technology, business, the arts, and engineering.
Notably, the two-degree MOOC-based degree programs previously mentioned (iMBA and OMSCS) are both available to audit in their entirety. Below is the full list of for-credit MOOCs that you can still access for free.
Business (150 courses)
Digital Analytics for Marketing Professionals: Marketing Analytics in Theory
Digital Branding and Engagement
Inspiring and Motivating Individuals
Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis
Digital Marketing Channels: The Landscape
Managerial Accounting: Tools for Facilitating and Guiding Business Decisions
Foundations of Everyday Leadership
Inferential and Predictive Statistics for Business
Digital Marketing Channels: Planning
Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making
Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager
Product Management with Lean, Agile and System Design Thinking
Marketing Analytics: Price and Promotion Analytics
Marketing Analytics: Marketing Measurement Strategy
Global Strategy I: How The Global Economy Works
Corporate Finance I: Measuring and Promoting Value Creation
Creativity Toolkit I: Changing Perspectives
Designing the Organization: From Strategy to Organizational Structure
Applications of Everyday Leadership
Strategic Innovation: Building and Sustaining Innovative Organizations
Managing the Organization: From Organizational Design to Execution
Digital Transformation Strategy
Platform Strategy for Business
Evidence-Based Practice in Management
Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Planning
Supply Chain Technology and Systems
Manufacturing Systems Analysis
Topics in Engineering Management
Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Design
Marketing Analytics: Products, Distribution and Sales
Marketing Analytics: Competitive Analysis and Market Segmentation
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk
Financial Accounting: Foundations
Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics
Investments I: Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation
Investments II: Lessons and Applications for Investors
Accounting Analysis II: Accounting for Liabilities and Equity
Accounting Analysis II: Measurement and Disclosure of Liabilities
Global Impact: Cultural Psychology
Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets
Accounting Analysis I: The Role of Accounting as an Information System
Strategic Innovation: Managing Innovation Initiatives
Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces
Global Impact: Business Ethics
Entrepreneurship II: Practices and Approaches
Global Strategy II: Doing Business in The Global Economy
Sustainable Business Enterprises
Entrepreneurship I: Principles and Concepts
The Digital Economy: Finance for Business Growth
The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight
Management and Leadership: Leading a Team
The Digital Economy: Success through Market Segmentation
Management and Leadership: Well-being and Welfare at Work
Management and Leadership: Planning Your Personal Development
Business Fundamentals: Customer Engagement
Finance Fundamentals: Managing the Household Balance Sheet
Finance Fundamentals: Investment Theory and Practice
Business Fundamentals: Project Management
The Digital Economy: Effective Supply Chain Management
Finance Fundamentals: Financial Services after the Banking Crisis
Finance Fundamentals: Financial Planning and Budgeting
Business Analytics for Data-Driven Decision Making
Driving Digital Innovation through Experimentation
Communicating in a Global Context
Managing People from a Global Perspective
States and Markets in the Global Economy
Leading in a Complex Environment
Innovation: From Plan to Product
People Management for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship: DO Your Venture
Accounting for Decision-Making
Adaptive Leadership in Development
Evidence-Based Global Management
Evidence-Based Stakeholder Marketing
Evidence-Based Technology Management
Evidence-Based Management Foundations
Evidence-Based Project Management
Financial Management in Organizations
Financial Accounting for Corporations
International Project Management
Best Practices for Project Management Success
Reputation Management in a Digital World
Strategic Management: From Intuition to Insight
Thinking & Acting like an Entrepreneur
Innovation & Creativity Management
Strategic Management: From Insight to Decision
Competitive Advantage: Using Information to Build Business Success
What Influences Property Values?
Hospitality and Tourism Technology and Innovation
Managing Marketing in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Managing Human Resources in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Financial Planning for Creative Careers
Global Issues in the Construction Industry
The Global Business Environment: Evolution and Dynamics
Data Analysis for Decision Making
Strategic and Transformational IT
The Dream of Streaming: Rethinking the Role of On-Demand Entertainment
An Introduction to the Assessment of People at Work
An Introduction to Financial Management in Construction and Basic Accounting Conventions
The Importance of Project Management in the Global Construction Industry
Computer Science (58 courses)
Creative Applications of Deep Learning with TensorFlow
Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 1
Text Retrieval and Search Engines
Cloud Computing Applications, Part 1: Cloud Systems and Infrastructure
Introduction to Computer Vision
Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2
Introduction to Operating Systems
Introduction to Computing using Python
Computability, Complexity & Algorithms
High Performance Computer Architecture
Knowledge-Based AI: Cognitive Systems
Software Architecture & Design
Cloud Computing Applications, Part 2: Big Data and Applications in the Cloud
Cyber-Physical Systems Security
Compilers: Theory and Practice
Algorithmic Design and Techniques
String Processing and Pattern Matching Algorithms
Software Construction: Object-Oriented Design
Software Engineering: Introduction
Software Construction: Data Abstraction
Cloud Computing for Enterprises
Cybersecurity and Privacy in the IoT
Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)
Cyber Security for Small and Medium Enterprises: Identifying Threats and Preventing Attacks
Decision-Making for Autonomous Systems
Multi-Object Tracking for Automotive Systems
Sensor Fusion and Non-linear Filtering for Automotive Systems
Business Problems and Software Solutions
Data Science (28 courses)
Digital Analytics for Marketing Professionals: Marketing Analytics in Practice
Pattern Discovery in Data Mining
Cluster Analysis in Data Mining
GT Introduction to Analytics Modeling
Statistics and Probability in Data Science using Python
The Genomics Era: the Future of Genetics in Medicine
Health Informatics in the Cloud
Data Analysis and Visualization
Big Data Analytics in Healthcare
Data, Models and Decisions in Business Analytics
Graph Algorithms in Genome Sequencing
Dynamic Programming: Applications In Machine Learning and Genomics
Big Data Analytics Using Spark
DNA Sequences: Alignments and Analysis
Proteins: Alignment, Analysis and Structure
Statistical Analysis in Bioinformatics
Computational Thinking and Big Data
Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics: Molecular Techniques
Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics: Next Generation Sequencing
Art & Design (35 courses)
Introduction to Programming for Musicians and Digital Artists
Sound Production in Ableton Live for Musicians and Artists
Graphic Design History: An Introduction
Charting the Avant-Garde: from Romanticism to Utopic Abstraction
Generative Art and Computational Creativity
Introduction to User Experience
UX Design: From Concept to Wireframe
Principles of Designing for Humans
UX Research at Scale: Analytics and Online Experiments
UX Design: From Wireframe to Prototype
Piano I: Introduction to the Piano & Staff
Idea Development: Create and Implement Innovative Ideas
Creating and Sustaining an Innovation Culture
Design Thinking and Creativity for Innovation
Design Thinking: Prototyping and User Testing
Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication
Design Thinking: Empathizing to Understand the Problem
The Practical History of Typography
Making Meaning: An Introduction to Designing Objects, Part I
North Indian Classical Music I: Fundamental Elements
Digital Drawings: Points, Lines, Curves
Exploring the Mixed Reality Landscape
Cardin to Castelbajac: Style in French Fashion
Introduction to Motion Design: Animated GIFs
Introduction to Digital Fabrication and Technical Design
Engineering (23 courses)
Artificial Intelligence for Robotics
Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis
Circuits and Electronics 2: Amplification, Speed, and Delay
Circuits and Electronics 3: Applications
Manufacturing Process Control: Variation Modeling and Control
Practices in Engineering Management
Introduction to Manufacturing Systems
Manufacturing Process Control: Process Modeling and Optimization
Robotics: Kinematics and Mathematical Foundations
Robotics: Vision Intelligence and Machine Learning
Robotics: Dynamics and Control
Robotics: Locomotion Engineering
Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies
Solar Energy: Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Microgrids
Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion
Electric and Conventional Vehicles
Road Traffic Safety in Automotive Engineering
Model-Based Automotive Systems Engineering
Introduction to Building Information Modelling
Social Sciences (33 courses)
Firm Level Economics: Markets and Allocations
Firm Level Economics: Consumer and Producer Behavior
Country Level Economics: Policies, Institutions, and Macroeconomic Performance
International Human Rights Law
Global Studies: Risks and Threats in International Relations
International Humanitarian Law
Social Work Practice in Community Organization, Management and Policy/Evaluation
Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change
Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups
Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work
Federal Taxation I: Individuals, Employees, and Sole Proprietors
Federal Taxation II: Property Transactions of Business Owners and Shareholders
Country Level Economics: Macroeconomic Variables and Markets
Taxation of Business Entities II: Pass-Through Entities
Taxation of Business Entities I: Corporations
Critical Development Perspectives
Long-term Financial Management
Human Rights Activism, Advocacy and Change
Human Rights Theory and Philosophy
Introduction to Psychology: The Psychology of Learning
Introduction to Psychology: Sensation and Perception
Introduction to Psychology: The Psychology of Personality
Introduction to Psychology: The History and Science of Psychology
Introduction to Psychology: Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Psychology: Biological Psychology
Global Studies: The Future of Globalization
Introduction to Emergency Planning and Preparedness
Emergency Management: Risk, Incidents and Leadership
Personal Development (8 courses)
Creativity Toolkit II: Creative Collaboration
Business Fundamentals: Effective Networking
Business Fundamentals: Effective Communication
Evidence-Based Business Communication
Becoming Career Smart: How to Sell Yourself
Emotional Intelligence at Work
Programming (9 courses)
Database Systems Concepts & Design
Android App Development for Beginners
Professional Android App Development
Monetize your Android Applications
Java Fundamentals for Android Development
Health & Medicine (14 courses)
Nursing in Crisis? Exploring Current Challenges
Healthcare Research: For Healthcare Professionals
Healthy Futures: How Can We Create the Most Effective Healthcare System?
Healthcare Finance, Economics and Risk
Essentials of Lifestyle Medicine and Population Health
Population Health: Disease Prevention and Management
Health Informatics Technology in Population Healthcare Analytics
Principles of Health Law and Regulatory Issues
Fundamentals of Advocacy in Health Policy
Leading Organizational Change in Healthcare
Applying Leadership and Strategy Fundamentals in Healthcare
Science (15 courses)
Introduction to Sustainability and Development
Introduction to Humanitarian Aid
The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development
Energy Principles and Renewable Energy
Low Emission Technologies and Supply Systems
Biobased Principles and Opportunities
Social Welfare Policy and Services
Biobased Processes & Implementation
How Does the Body Use DNA as a Blueprint?
Education & Teaching (9 courses)
Leading Ambitious Teaching and Learning
Improvement Science in Education
Case Studies in Continuous Educational Improvement
Designing and Leading Learning Systems
Instructional Design and Technology: Learning Theories
Instructional Design: Digital Media, New Tools and Technology
Introduction to being a Teaching Artist
Humanities (1 course)
Global Studies: Cultures and Organizations in International Relations
Mathematics (1 course)
Linear Algebra Refresher Course
A version of this post originally appeared on Medium.