Photo credit: www.classcentral.com
This article provides an overview of Harvard University’s CS50 lineup, which includes a total of 14 courses, 10 of which offer a free certificate of completion.
The CS50 journey commenced in 2012 with the introduction of CS50: Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Science. Over the years, CS50 has expanded into a robust brand, encompassing various subjects including Python programming, web development, and artificial intelligence.
In this article, we will detail the CS50 courses to help you find the right fit for your learning needs, while outlining how to earn a free certificate in most instances.
CS50: The Original Course
The original CS50 course is instructed by Harvard Professor David J. Malan. A review from Class Central in 2015 praised Professor Malan’s unique teaching style, describing it as revolutionary and infused with passion. This sentiment remains relevant today, as the course is continuously updated to enhance its content quality. If you’re interested in more detailed insights, a specific article about how to obtain your free certificate can provide further information.
Since its initial offering at Harvard in 2007 and its online availability via edX since 2012, CS50 has evolved into the largest on-campus course at Harvard, enrolling approximately 1,000 students each fall. It is also recognized globally as one of the most popular and highly rated online courses, amassing over 6.5 million enrollments.
The term “CS50” now signifies more than just a single course; it represents a broader educational brand that includes multiple courses addressing diverse topics for various audiences.
To navigate the Harvard CS50 offerings, I audited each course, engaged with their online communities, and communicated with course staff. Notably, Professor Malan often personally responds to emails, which adds a personal touch despite having over 100 staff members involved with the course. As the CS50 program continues to grow and adapt, this article will reflect those changes.
CS50: The Expanded Offering
The table below delineates the full offerings of CS50 courses, categorized into three levels. The majority provide free certificate options. You can click on any course or level to hop to that specific section.
Basic Course
Scratch serves as an introductory platform for those new to programming or uncertain about engaging with traditional computer science courses. It’s an ideal starting point.
CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Scratch (CS50S)
CS50S offers a beginner-friendly approach to programming through Scratch, a visual coding language. Rather than typing code, participants create programs by combining functional blocks similar to LEGO bricks. The course focuses on foundational programming concepts like variables, functions, and loops.
Led by Brian Yu, this course requires 2 to 6 hours of study weekly over a span of three weeks, offering various certificate options.
Core Courses
The core selections feature the original CS50 and its variations tailored for different learning objectives. Most learners will find one variant sufficient, although those engaging with a variation might consider taking the original CS50 for deeper insights.
CS50 Introduction to Computer Science
CS50 serves as Harvard’s gateway course into computer science, commencing with the basics of binary and advancing through low to high-level programming languages. Students explore critical areas including algorithms, data structures, and memory management, culminating in specialized topics such as artificial intelligence, web development, and cybersecurity.
Instructed by David J. Malan, this comprehensive course demands about 12 hours of study weekly over 12 weeks. It also contributes to edX’s professional certificate offerings.
For more details, feel free to refer to a dedicated article about the course on obtaining a free certificate.
CS50’s Computer Science for Lawyers (CS50L)
CS50L is tailored for legal professionals and students, emphasizing a broader understanding of the intersection between law and computer science while covering similar foundational topics found in CS50.
This course is taught by David J. Malan and Doug Lloyd, involving approximately 4 hours of study per week over 10 weeks, with various certificate options available.
CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals (CS50B)
CS50B caters to business professionals, emphasizing a high-level understanding and integrating content pertinent to modern business practices, such as cloud computing.
Also instructed by David J. Malan, this course aims for 4 hours of study per week across 6 weeks, offering several certificate options.
Specialization Courses
Specialization courses provide an in-depth exploration of specific topics, acting as complements to the foundational CS50 courses and enhancing understanding of the subject matter.
CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python (CS50P)
CS50P covers the basics of programming in Python, including core topics such as variables, functions, and file handling, while featuring practical exercises rooted in real-world applications.
Led by David J. Malan, this course requires about 6 hours of study per week over 10 weeks, with options for earning a certificate and contributing to edX’s Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Python Programming.
For additional details, consult the specific article on obtaining a free certificate for this course.
CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python (CS50AI)
CS50AI employs Python to delve into foundational concepts of artificial intelligence, starting with basic algorithms and knowledge models and advancing to complex topics such as optimization and machine learning.
Taught by Brian Yu, this course involves approximately 20 hours of study weekly over 7 weeks and includes certification options. It is also part of edX’s Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence.
CS50’s Web Programming with Python and JavaScript (CS50W)
CS50W concentrates on web app development, covering essential languages and frameworks like Python, JavaScript, Flask, and Django, along with hosting services such as GitHub and Heroku.
Under the guidance of Brian Yu, students will engage in about 8 hours of study per week over 12 weeks, with various certificate options available. This course is also part of edX’s Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Web Programming.
CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity (CS50CSec)
CS50CSec provides a comprehensive overview of safeguarding data and systems against contemporary threats, discussing practical cybersecurity principles and their real-world applications.
Led by David J. Malan, this course requires around 4 hours of study per week over a duration of 5 weeks and offers several certificate options, part of edX’s Professional Certificate offerings in Cybersecurity.
For further details, a dedicated article on how to earn a free certificate exists.
CS50’s Introduction to Databases (CS50SQL)
CS50SQL utilizes SQL to teach the intricacies of data management within relational databases, covering essential techniques in data modeling, manipulation, and optimization starting with SQLite and extending to PostgreSQL and MySQL.
Instructed by Carter Zenke, this course involves roughly 9 hours of study weekly over 7 weeks, with associated certificate options and is part of edX’s Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Databases using SQL.
For additional information, a separate article on earning a free certificate for this course is available.
CS50’s Introduction to R (CS50R)
CS50R, which launched on July 1, 2024, examines the R programming language, focusing on its applications in data science. The coursework covers RStudio, fundamental data structures, and techniques for data manipulation and visualization.
Carter Zenke leads this course, involving approximately 9 hours of study per week over 7 weeks, with a certification option. It is part of edX’s Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Data Science.
Courses without certificates
CS50’s Understanding Technology (CS50T)
CS50T offers a fundamental perspective on computing, starting with hardware basics and expanding to how the internet functions, website creation, and introductory coding concepts. Although retired and archived on June 30, 2024, its lectures remain accessible on edX and Harvard OCW. No certificates or problem sets are available for this course.
CS50 Beyond
CS50 Beyond serves as a precursor to CS50W, addressing web development in a more condensed format while retaining similar themes and engaging with different project requirements.
Taught by Brian Yu, this course demands about 5 hours of study weekly across a 12-week duration and is offered through Harvard OpenCourseWare (OCW). It features projects but does not confer a certificate.
CS50’s Mobile App Development with React Native (CS50M)
CS50M explores the development of mobile applications using React Native, covering critical concepts such as state and components, as well as deployment and testing processes.
Taught by Jordan Hayashi, this course requires around 8 hours of study each week over 13 weeks. Although archived since June 30, 2020, the lectures are still available on edX and Harvard OpenCourseWare, but certificates and problem sets are not provided.
CS50’s Introduction to Game Development (CS50G)
CS50G examines the tools and languages behind modern game development, utilizing frameworks such as Unity and programming languages like C# to create immersive 2D and 3D gaming experiences.
This course, instructed by Colton Ogden, requires about 8 hours of study per week over a 12-week timeline. Archived as of June 30, 2024, the lectures are still accessible on Harvard OCW, though this course does not offer certificates or problem sets.
Source
www.classcentral.com