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Not everyone has the luxury of going to study at university.
On the one hand, it is expensive, being the most important factor when people decide not to go to university. The second is that many people don't know what they want in life and it can be difficult to make that decision at such a young age.
If you are someone who has been in this situation or is currently in this situation but still wants to level up and improve your skills to get the job you want without having to pay expensive tuition fees, this article is for you.
Harvard University – CS50
Harvard University is a well-known and popular cutting-edge university. We have heard about them in movies, from our teachers, etc. The amazing thing is that you can now start your learning journey with them for a fraction of the price.
Courses are free when you sign up for the free audit tracker. However, if you want to complete the task and get a certification, you will have to pay a fee. But this rate is nowhere near what you would pay for tuition fees: it ranges from $50 to $300.
So what are the courses?
CS50 Introduction to Computer Science
Link: Informatic introduction
If you are someone who wants to start your data profession but is hesitant to pursue a bachelor's degree in Computer Science due to cost, this is for you.
In this Introduction to Computer Science course, you will learn about the art of programming and computing. You will open your mind and learn to think algorithmically to solve programming problems. You will review concepts such as abstraction, algorithms, data structures, software engineering, web development, and more.
It doesn't stop there!
You will also become familiar with programming languages such as C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, and HTML.
You will engage with a community of like-minded students who come from different backgrounds and, in the end, you will be able to develop and present your final project to your peers.
CS50 AP Computer Science Principles Programs
Link: AP Computer Science Principles Program
Does the introductory course not seem enough to you?
Don't worry – check out the AP Computer Science Principles Program, which also includes 'Introduction to Computer Science' and another in-depth 'Understanding technology' course. In the 'Understanding technology' course, you will learn about the Internet, multimedia, security, web development and programming.
The objective of this course is that it is aimed at high school students. It is understood that there is a high demand for technology professionals, but young people cannot simply afford to enter the industry due to expensive tuition fees.
This is where the program comes in, where you can get cutting-edge university knowledge and resources for a discounted price of £369 (at the time of writing).
If you are not a high school student but still want to take these courses, you will need to register for them separately:
CS50 Computer Science for Business Professionals
Link: Computer Science for Business Professionals
Let's say you don't want to become a software engineer or data scientist and you're currently enjoying your position. You could be a manager, product manager, or founder, but the way things are moving in the tech industry, it would be good for you to understand the world of computing.
In this Computer Science for Business Professionals course, you will take a top-down approach and learn the high-level concepts and design decisions related to the technology industry with respect to computing.
The main areas you will focus on are computational thinking, programming languages, Internet technologies, web development, technology stacks and cloud computing.
CS50 Introduction to Python Programming
Link: Introduction to programming with Python
Or maybe you want to start doing it. Start learning to program from day one.
The CS50 Introduction to Computer Science course has a more general focus on computer science and different languages. In Introduction to Programming with Python, you'll learn the most popular language for general-purpose programming, data science, and web programming.
You'll learn how to read and write code, find and fix bugs, extract data, and write unit tests. Learn about functions, arguments, variables, types, conditionals, Boolean expressions, and more. It is not necessary to have previous programming experience to take this course.
The exercises included in this course are real-world programming problems, so you can get a realistic idea of the world as a Python programmer.
Wrapping it up
And there you have it. 4 courses, very similar but aimed at different groups and different objectives. Once you have a good understanding of the path you want to follow, you will know what exact course you need to improve your skills and land the job you want.
nisha arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and KDnuggets editor and community manager. She is particularly interested in providing professional data science advice or tutorials and theory-based insights into data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wants to explore the different ways in which artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. Nisha, a great student, seeks to expand her technological knowledge and her writing skills, while she helps mentor others.
