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10 Sources for Free Online Technology Courses

Free online courses in technology are offered by real schools. Learn which technology courses are available, what topics they cover and which ones lead to real college credit.

Take Free Courses. Earn Real College Credit.

Most free courses don't lead to college credit. Education-Portal.com's free courses do!

Here's how it works:

  1. 1. Watch free video lessons.
  2. 2. Pass an exam to earn real college credit.

Education Portal

In the Information Systems and Computer Applications course, students have the opportunity to learn about topics like hardware and systems technology, systems software, application software, Internet connectivity and information systems in organizations. This course is taught through online videos, and students can also access the video transcripts. After completing this course, students may pursue college credit by taking the College Board CLEP exam. Students should check with their prospective institution to ensure that this credit is accepted.

Harvard University

In the Computer Science 50 course, lecture topics include source code, JavaScript, computer security, HTTP, HTML and computer forensics. Students have the opportunity to learn through lectures, problems and other resources. Quizzes with answers are also provided for students to practice their knowledge. The final project outline PDF is also included.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In the Practical Information Technology Management course, students learn about information technology logistics, managing information technology in businesses and information technology project management. The Database, Internet, and Systems Integration Technologies course can provide students with skills in software development, application development, system integration, system security, data modeling and databases. Students can also practice with course exams, since solutions are provided.

The Information Technology Essentials course covers topics in hardware and operating systems, software development, electric commerce, networks and computer security. The Introduction to Computer Science and Programming course provides students with a fundamental overview of programming using handouts, slides and lecture videos. However, students need to install the Python programming language and the IDLE interpreter to follow the programming instructions.

Computer System Engineering is a course containing video lectures, projects, assignments and exams. Students can learn about software and hardware engineering, networks, virtual memory, encryption and security.

University of California - Berkeley

In the Computer Science 169 course, students are able to learn about designing software systems, project management and programming. This course is composed of recorded lectures, most of which are more than an hour in length. Taught by Professor Armando Fox, these lectures are available on YouTube.

University of California at Davis

The University of California at Davis course materials can be accessed online through a web page. Students can also find instruction on Linux installation if they choose to install the free software. The Unix and Linux Tutorial Center course materials provide students with information on topics like Unix process management, bits and bytes, C programming, recursion and signals.

University of Michigan

The Introduction to Information Studies course provides students with handouts and lectures. These materials contain information about intellectual property, computer and network architectures and computer hardware. There are 27 lectures that are podcast, and some include PowerPoint presentations or PDF files.

Earn Real Credit from Free Courses

While the free courses above don't award credit directly, you can earn credit by passing an exam and transferring credit to your college. There are two widely recognized and affordable options for exams that award credit.

Option #1: CLEP Exams

The College Board's 33 CLEP exams allow you to test out of your general education requirements. Credit is accepted at 2/3 of colleges and universities in the U.S.

Option #2: Excelsior College's Credit-by-Exam

Excelsior College offers over 40 exams that lead to transferable credit. You can also earn three full degrees by taking free online courses and earning your credit by exam.

Learn how Education Portal Academy will pay you to earn credit!

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26 Popular Schools

The schools in the listing below are not free but are popular choices among our users. Tuition and costs will vary across programs and locations. Be sure to always request tuition information before starting a program.