Ariana Cardozo
Content Writer At Gradehacker
Best Harvard Free Courses
We all know that Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Briefly, let’s talk about this university’s beginnings. It was founded in 1636. And actually, it was the first college founded in the United States!
This is a private Ivy League school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it educates over 32,000 students yearly.
Harvard is among the best universities of all time. Others that also go hand-in-hand are Stanford University, Columbia University, UC Berkeley, Cambridge University, Yale University, Oxford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia, University of Houston, University of Washington, Duke University, and more.
Harvard university is known for offering some of the most challenging courses in the world. Students here learn about different fields, such as medicine, law, engineering, economics, political science, history, literature, philosophy, and computer science.
They also study subjects like mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, art, music, dance, theater, architecture, and film.
As you can see, yes, it has everything!
This university also offers some of the best career opportunities in the world. Many graduates find jobs in companies like Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple.
If you think the only way to learn something from Harvard is by being a student there, then you are mistaken!
As you read in this blog’s title, Harvard offers free courses you can take whenever you like!
Here at Gradehacker, we are the non-traditional adult student’s most trusted resource. We want to help you achieve more extraordinary things in your education, so we are sharing the best Harvard free courses for you.
So let’s get right into it!
About Harvard Free Online Courses
Harvard University offers online courses, allowing you to study at home without traveling anywhere.
If you’re interested in pursuing an online class, check out Harvard’s online course catalog to see the available options.
The school partners with the popular edX platform to offer free and paid courses alongside an edX Learning Experience.
These courses include Harvard Extension School, which lets students earn a professional education or college diploma virtually.
As you can probably imagine, Harvard University offers many online courses. From classes like Introduction to Computer Science to specialized programs such as the Master of Public Health program.
These courses are designed to help students advance their career goals while earning credits toward a degree.
Courses are offered across 11 different subjects, including Art & Design, Business, Education & Teaching, Health & Medicine, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and more.
And who teaches these courses? Turns out, the classes are taught by faculty members from Harvard University and partner institutions worldwide.
Students enrolled in Harvard online courses receive access to the same high-quality lectures, assignments, exams, and discussion forums found in traditional classroom settings.
Harvard Free Courses on Computer Science & Programming
This course is designed to teach students how to program computers.
What Will You Learn?
You’ll start learning about introduction to programming and basic programming language syntax and move into topics such as abstractions, algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented programming.
In addition to teaching you how to code, it’s also meant to help you understand how to think logically about problems.
This is definitely a good way to learn about the art of programming.
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 10-20 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 11 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
Yes! It’s free, and there are no prerequisites to enroll.
When you finish the course, you will receive a Course Certificate but no college credits.
For $199, you can add a verified certificate.
In this course, students build real-world web applications while learning how to write code, debug problems, deploy applications online and acquire better programming skills.
Students work in teams to develop responsive apps across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
What Will You Learn?
You’ll learn to write code in Python and JavaScript, create reusable components, deploy applications to production environments, learn about artificial intelligence, and more.
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 6-9 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 12 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
It’s totally free! And you can add a Verified Certificate for $199.
Harvard Free Courses on Art & Design
In this course, the culture and civilization of ancient Egypt, including the role of religion, architecture, and art, are part of what it includes.
What Will You Learn?
You will learn about ancient Egypt’s history, hieroglyphic writing, pharaonic architecture, royal statuary, principles of architecture, and more!
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 2-4 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 8 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
Yes, it is! However, there are prerequisites, and this is an introductory course.
Harvard Free Courses on Mathematics
The course virtually visits people in different fields, including economics, engineering, education, medicine, and more, to explore how calculus and mathematics models are used in their daily lives.
What Will You Learn?
Basically, this course teaches you how to apply calculus to real-world problems such as economics, education, statistics, and medicine.
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 3-6 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 10 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
It’s really free, but remember that it will only give you a course certificate.
For $139, you can add a verified certificate.
Harvard Free Courses on Science
Einstein revolutionized our understanding of space, time, matter, energy, and gravity.
His theories changed the way we see the world around us. Yet his ideas are still misunderstood today. In fact, many people don’t even know what he did.
In this free online course, Einstein’s revolutionary thinking is explained on how it has shaped modern science and culture.
What Will You Learn?
You’ll learn about his early scientific career, including his groundbreaking research on light and electromagnetism.
Then, you’ll follow him through his later years, where he became involved in politics, philosophy, and religion.
Finally, you’ll discover how his ideas continue to influence our lives today.
Other famous physicists like Niels Bohr, Wolfgang Pauli, Max Born, and more are mentioned.
By the end of this course, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the power of science and the importance of physics in shaping our future.
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 2-3 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 14 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
As you read it, yes! And for $150, you can get a verified certificate.
Harvard Free Courses on Health and Medicine
This course teaches you how climate change impacts our public health and also teaches you ways to understand how to mitigate and adapt to the impact of the situation.
It allows you to listen to experts with possible solutions regarding climate change and recommendations.
What Will You Learn?
You’ll learn about air quality, nutrition, infectious diseases, human migrations, how greenhouse gasses affect our health, and more!
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 3-5 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 7 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
Yes! And for $149, you can get a verified certificate.
Harvard Free Courses on Education & Training
This course is designed to help early childhood educators understand the importance of quality programs and interventions in supporting children’s development.
It includes a mix of video lectures, readings, assignments, quizzes, and discussion boards. Throughout the course, there are opportunities to interact with instructors and fellow students, ask questions, and receive feedback.
Sounds pretty great, huh?
What Will You Learn?
You’ll gain knowledge about the latest research findings related to child development, including brain science, attachment theory, and developmental psychology.
And you will also learn about the impact of early learning experiences on later school success and explore ways to support children’s social-emotional growth and academic achievement.
The examination of the different models of teaching and learning is also included.
Finally, you’ll learn about global issues affecting young people today, such as poverty, migration, and climate change.
Course Duration
This course requires you to commit to 1-3 hours per week. To complete it, it will take you around 7 weeks.
Is It Really For Free?
Like all the ones we have mentioned before, it is! A certificate of completion is available after you finish the course, and you can add a verified certificate for $99.
Are Free Harvard Courses Worth It?
Whether you want to learn something new, brush up on skills you already have, or just relax and enjoy yourself, the internet offers many options for getting the information you seek.
In total, there are 106 free Harvard University courses. We mentioned a few, but there are others where you can also learn: design thinking, intellectual enterprises, computational thinking, modern astrology, American politics… and even Chinese philosophy!
The truth is there is a wide range of all these courses that allow you to learn from some of the most renowned professors in the world. So why not take advantage of this?
They are perfect for non-traditional students because no money is involved, and the courses are 100% free! Besides the fact that there is no serious time commitment either.
All you have to do is enroll! At least give it a try. This is a chance to learn deeply about exciting things, and there’s nothing to lose.
Remember to count on Gradehacker to help you out! From individual essays to entire college classes, we’ll help you accelerate your degree and earn that diploma much sooner!
If you are looking for free, good-quality courses, check out these blog posts:
If you are looking for free, good-quality courses, check out these blog posts:
Ariana Cardozo
Ariana Cardozo is a screenwriter with a passion for film, writing and theater. She is a content creator for our blog, Youtube channel and Instagram. She loves helping non-traditional students by sharing the best tips to make their college experience easier.
