These 6 Free Online Programs to Help You Totally Change Careers
You know how the old saying goes: Never stop learning. And thanks to advances in technology, gaining access to education is easier (and cheaper!) than ever. Another perk to free online education? Getting one step closer to making your career goals even more of a reality. So whether you’re ready to quit your day job and embark on your new career path or just want to get a leg up on the way to your dream job, these six programs are here to help. Oh, and did we mention they’re free too?
1. edX: This non-profit offers interactive courses from more than 90 of the world’s top universities and institutions. Think MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell and Columbia. Big time names, ladies. This online portal lets students take courses or fulfill missing credits to supplement an in-classroom education. Courses come with verified certificates and covers topics like money management, decision making, critical thinking and positive psychology — all of which can help expand your point of view and potentially steer you in the direction of a new career.
2. Coursera: Looking to dip your toes into the water before making a full-fledged career 180? Or maybe you want to challenge your thinking in ways your nine-to-five isn’t hitting on? Whatever your reason, Coursera is the answer. This online platform allows users to take the world’s best courses — covering everything from business to nutrition — for free. If you find a niche you’re really into, you can spring a few bucks to access more in-depth course options.
3.Duolingo: Sure, you may have struggled through Spanish or French in high school, but the benefits of knowing a second language can’t be denied. Insert Duolingo. Focused solely on helping you learn a new language, Duolingo is available on desktop and as an iOS and Android app. You’ll have so much fun taking their game-focused, bite-sized lessons, you’ll forget you’re actually learning something new along the way.
4. Codecademy: If you’re good at group projects or just see the incredible value in knowing basic HTML and CSS skills in today’s workforce, Codecademy might be for you. Free to access, this platform believes that the best way to learn is to just jump in, so you can expect lots of hands-on activities and real-life applications.
5. Khan Academy: The Khan Academy wants you to know one thing: You can learn anything. And their robust class offerings cover everything from math, art, science, computer programming and everything in between, from kindergarten to college level. Plus, they’ve partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences and MIT to offer users even more specialized content.
6. Open Yale Course: Yale. What? Like it’s hard? Now you can find out for yourself. These free introductory courses are offered by Yale professors and scholars, and are available via video, transcript and audio. While you won’t actually earn any college credit for completing the classes, you will get access to some of the nation’s top educators and coursework.
Thinking about expanding your education horizons? Tweet us how @BritandCo!
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