online science courses

Top 20 Online Science Courses in 2024

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One of the best ways to quickly advance in a brand-new subject is by enrolling in online science courses, regardless of whether your goals are to advance your career, return to school, or simply learn something mind-blowing. If you’re anything like us, you’re constantly searching for fresh approaches to develop your abilities.

Additionally, you can now take classes from the convenience of your couch thanks to the Internet. However, there are a lot of time-wasters online, so we did the research and compiled a list of nine online science courses from esteemed institutions like MIT, Harvard, and UC Berkeley.

Through the online learning platform edX, they are freely accessible and transformative. Check them out and make sure you’re learning something the next time you spend a few hours online procrastinating.

online science courses

 

Why Should You Enroll in Free Science Courses Online?

One of the broadest fields that tries to explain how the world functions is science. A few of the specializations and programs of study in science include physics (the study of the physical world), chemistry (the study of chemical interactions), biology (the study of living things), social science (the study of human behavior in groups), geology (the study of the earth), and medical science (the study of healthcare methods). However, there are some common presumptions held by all of these disciplines, such as the idea that knowledge can be discovered through experimentation and data gathering.

The main approach used in all scientific fields is the scientific method, which is applied in places like practical study labs and college science courses. Both a testable query and a prediction of how the test will turn out are developed by scientists. The results are then checked to see if the prediction holds true. The results are then examined, and researchers decide whether their original hypotheses for their main question were accurate. The results are then published so that other researchers can take them into account in the future.

In disciplines like physics, psychology, computer science, and biology, online science courses can be helpful as introductory classes. However, for later laboratory work, you will typically want to transfer to a traditional campus. You can learn how to respond to queries like these by taking an online science course:

  • How can I control the factors in my experiment that can provide false results?
  • What exactly is physical object interaction?
  • What elements of some ecosystems around the world are most important?
  • What are some of the challenges that arise in practice when creating artificial intelligence?
  • What are the most prevalent mental disorders?

The caliber of your preferred college and its teachers should be taken into account while choosing an online scientific course. Do the majority of the academics here hold doctorates in science? Do students at this school who take online courses and those who take classroom courses have equal access to the faculty? Is the science you’re interested in taught at this university well-known? It can be easier to decide whether the school you select is a suitable fit for you if you have the answers to these questions.

 

Top 20 Online Science Courses that are Accredited

A list of free online courses from prominent colleges worldwide has been created by us. They are offered without charge and consist of lecture notes, video lectures, practice problems, and other tools for teaching science. These online scientific course materials can be a useful approach to determine your interest in science, but they do not give you access to prominent scientists with whom you can consult.

1. Super-Earths and Life

It is one of the shorter online science courses offered by Harvard University. What you will learn: Would there ever be life beyond Earth? Everything you need to know about the search for extraterrestrial life—including where to look, how it might have started, and how we’ll find it if it exists—will be covered in this course.

  • The host institution is Harvard University.
  • The following session starts on January 10.
  • Weekly time commitment: 3-5 hours

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2. Quantum Mechanics for Everyone

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. What you will discover Everyone interested in quantum mechanics should take this four-week MOOC (massive open online course). Because no complex mathematics are needed, it is suited for all fans, yet quantum theory is taught without “dumbing down” any of the subject matter. It’s one of the most exciting ways to spend the holidays.

  • The host institution is Georgetown University.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • 7–10 hours per week are required of you.

 

3. Scientific Methods and Research

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will discover It’s possible that this will be one of the most crucial topics to research in a post-fact world. The course teaches you how to assess and discuss scientific articles as well as how to distinguish between good science and bad research.

  • The host institution is Ural Federal University.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • Three to four hours each week are required.

 

4.  Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (part 1)

It is one of the shorter online science courses offered by Harvard University. We all want to be great cooks, but it can be challenging to know where to start. This course, which employs scientific and engineering principles to help you create culinary pleasures in your kitchen, was developed in collaboration with top chefs and Harvard experts.

  • The host institution is Harvard University.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • Weekly time commitment: 5-7 hours

 

5. Introduction to Computer Science

It is one of the shorter online science courses offered by Harvard University. What you will discover The language of the future is programming, yet it is not technically a science. For those who have never programmed before, this is the finest course to take as an introduction to computing. It will instruct you on a number of languages, including C, PHP, JavaScript, SQL, CSS, and HTML.

  • The host institution is Harvard University.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • A minimum of 100 hours must be invested in total.

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6. Climate Change: The Science

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will learn: Win every discussion with skeptics of global warming going forward. The hard scientific facts of climate change will all be taught to you, along with how to communicate those truths to anyone. Also, you will discover what may be done to stop global warming.

  • The host university is the University of British Columbia.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • Two to five hours each week are required.

Link To Online Course Website

 

online science courses

7. Introduction to Astrophysics

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will learn: From black holes and exoplanets to the fascinating science of gravitational waves, it seems like we learn something new about the universe every day. But how do scientists make sense of everything? You will learn the principles of astrophysics in this course so that you can better comprehend the incredible occurrences that shape our universe.

  • The host university is École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • 2-4 hours per week are required of you.

 

8.  The Extremes of Life: Microbes and Their Diversity

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will learn: Life on Earth is considerably stranger than we ever believed; scientists have found organisms in some of the most distant regions of the world that can endure extremely high radiation levels and only consume air as food. Find out more about the fascinating microbes that live on Earth and why they are so important to our future.

  • The host institution is Kyoto University.
  • The following session will start on December 21.
  • Two to three hours each week are required.

 

9.  Cell Biology: Mitochondria

It is one of the shorter online science courses offered by Harvard University. You will learn that mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell! Scientists are now beginning to understand more about the origins and functions of these remarkable organelles, which are crucial for our body’s ability to produce energy and maintain overall health. For those of you biologists out there, it’s perfect.

  • The host institution is Harvard University.
  • The following session can start whenever you’d like because it’s self-paced.
  • 2-4 hours per week are required of you.

 

10.  The Science of Everyday Thinking

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will learn: Science will instruct you on how to reason, argue, and make better decisions. Understand about the psychology behind our thought processes and how assumptions, judgments, and expectations are created. It’s the only course that will positively affect your life and make it significantly better.

  • The host institution is the University of Queensland.
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • Time commitment: twice weekly

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11. Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe

This is one of the Top 20 short online science courses that may be taken for college credit. What you will learn: Scientists continue to be perplexed by many aspects of the Universe, despite the fact that we are learning more about it every day. We still don’t know whether extraterrestrial life exists in space, what the majority of the Universe is comprised of, or why the Big Bang happened. And these aren’t small problems. In contrast to what you may have read in popular media, this course will help you comprehend these riddles more thoroughly.

  • The host institution is ANU (Australian National University).
  • You can start the next session whenever you wish (this is a self-paced course).
  • Weekly time commitment: three hours

 

12. Anatomy: Gastrointestinal, Reproductive, and Endocrine Systems

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. What you will learn: The human body is an amazing machine, and this course will show you how three of its most vital systems work on a fundamental level. For anyone who has ever been interested in anatomy or medicine, this is a lot of fun.

  • The host institution is the University of Michigan.
  • The following session will start on February 27.
  • Two to three hours each week are required.

 

13. Oregon State University campus Chemistry Courses Online

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. This wonderful public university offers laboratories for engineering, pharmacy, chemistry, nursing, and biology majors as well as General Chemistry I and II. Chemical engineering, pre-med, pharmacy, and dentistry majors can also take organic chemistry.

 

14. CalCampus Computer Assisted Learning Center

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. Although this private company does not grant degrees, it does offer regionally authorized online college courses that nurses, pharmacists, and nutritionists can utilize to fulfill degree requirements or professional licensure requirements. College Chemistry I and II lab classes, as well as Biology I and II lab courses, are all available online through CalCampus. Nursing students and medical professionals may also be interested in two more hard-to-find courses with lab components: microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

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15. The Georgia College Systems eCore Chemistry with Lab Online

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. For Chemistry I and II’s lab component, the Georgia State University system has partnered with a private corporation called eCore. The rigor demanded for scientific, pre-med, and health majors is met by these courses, which are approved for lab majors.

 

16. Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science (Coursera)

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. Religion and Science is the topic of the third course in the Philosophy, Science, and Religion Online series. Five subjects will be covered throughout the course, and a subject-matter specialist will present each one.

  • Origin of the Universe, Science, and Religion (Tim Maudlin, NYU Professor)
  • Part 2 of Buddhism and Science (Professor Graham Priest, CUNY)
  • Evolution and Design (Dr. Kevin Scharp, St Andrews)
  • Problems of Evolution in Sin Suffering and Redemption (Dr. Bethany Sollereder, Oxford)
  • Humanity’s Individuality in Science, Religion, and Ethics (Professor David Clough, Chester)
  • The host institution is the University of Edinburgh.
  • The program lasts six weeks.
  • Availability: 3 hours each week
  • Cost: EUR 44.00

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17.  Philosophy of Science (Coursera)

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. For the past four centuries, scientists have worked to provide us a comprehension of the world around us. Throughout this time, science seems to have achieved considerable advancements. But is this improvement real or just a mirage? If this is the case, how has this advancement been made? This four-week seminar will cover these important issues.

The scientific community’s self-correcting nature, the relationship between science and religion, the positive and negative influences that values can have on science, and the role of the public in directing the scientific enterprise are some of the specific topics that will be covered. Other topics include how scientists generate knowledge through observations, scientific objectivity, and its failures, experiments, and simulations. The curriculum comprises;

  • Week 1: Introduction and Basic Illustrations
  • Week 2: Study Techniques
  • Week 3: Science Objectivity
  • Week 4: Values in Science
  • The host institution is the University of Pennsylvania.
  • The program runs for four weeks.
  • Total time commitment: 12 hours
  • Price: 40.00 €

 

18.  Protists: Evolution and Ecology of Microbial Eukaryotes (Coursera)

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. The creation of a comprehensive image of protistan variety is the aim of this course. We shall highlight the key eukaryotic evolutionary stages. This course will trace phylogenetic affinities in protistan lineages to reveal the principal branches of the eukaryotic life tree. This course will explore the movement, food acquisition, digestion, osmotic pressure regulation, and life cycle of free-living and parasitic unicells. We’ll also look into how protists interact with their surroundings and flourish biologically.

The definition of protists, sarcodines, slimmolds, flagellates, ciliates, apicomplexans, microsporidians, current phylogeny, life histories of free-living and parasitic protists, and evolutionary trends will all be covered in this course. Students will receive a week of lab exercises as part of this online course’s optional on-campus extension. Light microscopy will be used to examine, investigate, and record live samples as well as fixed mounts of gregarines, coccidians, foraminiferans, radiolarians, heliozoans, and naked and testate amoebas.

The following is included in the course syllabus:

  • Fundamentals in Week 1
  • Amoeboid Protists, Week 2
  • Third week: Flagellates
  • Fourth week: Apicomplexans
  • Fifth week: Cilates
  • Week 6: The Development of Eukaryotic Protists
  • The host institution is Saint Petersburg State University.
  • The program lasts 5–12 weeks.
  • 1 to 4 hours per week are required.
  • Price: 40.00 EUR per month

online science courses

19. Challenging Forensic Science: How Science Should Speak to Court (Coursera)

This is a free online science course with a certificate of completion and is one of the authorized online science courses for college credit. The purpose of this course is to promote forensic science critical thinking. Most people nowadays are in awe of the technological potential that forensic science offers. They believe that forensic evidence is infallible and offers factual conclusions with complete confidence. This course goes beyond the traditional picture popularized by TV shows like CSI and is taught by professionals in the field. It educates the public on the techniques’ limitations while avoiding alarmism in an effort to advance effective forensic science administration in the criminal justice system.

Since that uncertainty is a fundamental component of forensic science, it helps participants understand the importance of probabilistic thinking in the discipline. The course is structured as a series of not-certainty causes célèbres that may or may not have led to injustices. Some of these instances were examined as part of case reviews at the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Lausanne.

  • The host institution is the University of Lausanne.
  • The program runs for five weeks.
  • 17 hours are required.
  • Price: 40.00 EUR per month

 

20. The Science of Stem Cells (Coursera)

This is among the free online scientific courses with completion certificates and among the approved online science courses for college credit. Learn about the history and fundamental biology of stem cells, as well as cutting-edge research methodologies and how stem cells may one day lead to the development of personalized treatment, in this five-part online course. You can learn more about the moral ramifications of stem cell research and therapy from Museum scientists, leading medical researchers, and a panel of bioethics experts. Find out what has been achieved, what obstacles still need to be overcome, and what medical advancements might be in the horizon.

  • The program runs for five weeks.
  • 10 Hour Time Commitment
  • Price: 40.00 EUR per month

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