Learn to Code for Data Science with These 5 Free University Courses

Are you interested in pursuing a career in data science but don’t know where to start? With the rise of online learning, it’s now possible to acquire the necessary skills without breaking the bank. Top-tier universities like Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan have made their courses available online, and the best part is that they’re completely free.

The Cost of a Computer Science Degree

I spent around $30,000 on a 3-year computer science degree to become a data scientist. This was an expensive and time-consuming process. After graduating, I realized that I could’ve just learned all the necessary skills online instead.

5 Free University Courses to Learn Coding for Data Science

Thanks to the internet, you can now get an Ivy League education for free from the comfort of your home. Here are 5 free university courses I would’ve taken to learn coding for data science:

1. Harvard University — CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science

Harvard University

Harvard’s CS50 course is one of the most popular entry-level programming courses offered by the university. It takes you through the fundamentals of computer science, covering both theoretical concepts and practical applications. You will be exposed to an array of programming languages, like Python, C, and SQL.

2. MIT — Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

MIT

MITx’s Introduction to Computer Science and Programming is another introductory course designed to equip you with foundational skills in computer science and programming. Unlike CS50, however, this course is taught primarily in Python and places a heavy emphasis on computational thinking and problem-solving.

3. MIT — Introduction to Algorithms

MIT Algorithms

Once you’ve completed a foundational computer science course like CS50, you can take MIT’s Introduction to Algorithms learning path. This program will teach you the design, analysis, and implementation of algorithms and data structures.

4. University of Michigan — Python for Everybody

University of Michigan

Python for Everybody is an entry-level programming specialization focused on teaching Python. This is a 5-course learning path that covers the basics of Python, data structures, API usage, and accessing databases with Python.

5. Johns Hopkins University — R Programming

Johns Hopkins University

You might have noticed that every course so far focuses on Python programming. That’s because I’m a bit of a Python aficionado. I find the language versatile and user-friendly, and knowledge of Python is transferable to a broad range of fields beyond just data science. However, there are some benefits to learning R for data science. R programming was designed specifically for statistical analysis, and there are a range of specialized packages in R for parameter tuning and optimization that aren’t available in Python.

Learn Coding for Data Science: Next Steps

Once you’ve completed one or more courses outlined in this article, you will be equipped with a ton of newfound programming knowledge. But the journey doesn’t end here. If your end goal is to build a career in data science, here are some potential next steps you should consider:

1. Practice Your Coding Skills

I suggest visiting coding challenge websites like HackerRank and Leetcode to practice your programming skills.

2. Create Personal Projects

Once you’ve spent a few months solving HackerRank challenges, you will find yourself prepared to tackle end-to-end projects.

3. Building a Portfolio Website

After you’ve learned to code and created a few personal projects, you can display your work on a centralized portfolio website.