10 Best Columbia University Courses For Beginners in 2024
Columbia University has an incredible collection of free courses that you can take from home! This is a great way to explore the world of academia or to learn new skills.
Columbia University is among the top research universities in the world. As one of the eight prestigious Ivy League universities and one of the oldest universities in New York, Columbia offers undergraduates and graduate students several scholarly and professional fields of study. Due to its location in New York City, it capitalizes on the wealth of resources a great metropolis can offer.
For those outside the University who are seeking higher education or professional development, Columbia Online provides online courses in technical, social work, health technologies, environmental sustainability, leadership, and other professional development fields.
To help you choose the best MOOCs from Columbia University, we've sifted through all of them to find this listing of the best MOOCs from Columbia University you should explore before you launch your next learning adventure.
Keeping this in mind, here at Coursesity, we have curated some of the Best Online Columbia University Courses with certification. We hope the courses in this collection will serve as a good starting point for you.
Disclosure: Coursesity is supported by the learner's community. We may earn an affiliate commission when you make a purchase via links on Coursesity.
List of Best Columbia University Courses
- An Introduction To Writing Promotional Content In English
- Introduction to Financial Engineering and Risk Management
- The Bitcoin Basics
- Camera and Imaging
- React Basics for Beginners
- Machine Learning for Data Science and Analytics
- Angular for Beginners Course
- Learning Success
- Economics of Money and Banking
- Crisis Resource Management
1. An Introduction To Writing Promotional Content In English
Effective strategies for promotional content on social media, with a focus on advertising.
Organizations are increasingly producing content thanks to social media. Today, customers expect to receive news about companies, new products, and special offers via social media. During this course, you will learn how to use social media to create effective advertising content.
In this course, students will learn:
- effective strategies for promotional content on social media, with a focus on advertising.
- key points that we need to consider about the customer.
- the information needed in an advertisement.
- about some strategies for writing headlines.
- the use of story in advertising, with specific reference to ‘The Storybrand Framework'.
There are several important technical aspects of writing advertisements covered in this course. First, we will analyze how people buy and the emotional and logical thoughts they experience when they purchase something. It is also crucial to consider the customer journey. Then, based on the research results, we can prepare a customer avatar.
The course provides some practical information related to advertising alongside this essential background information. The purpose of this article is to present several headline formulas to assist you in creating effective ads. Using them is as simple as practicing a little bit.
Lastly, the course discusses the importance of stories in advertising. Having a framework to follow makes it easier for the writer to construct a story, so this course examines a helpful and straightforward story framework created by a very successful marketing organization.
- Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0
- Duration: 1h 57m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
2. Introduction to Financial Engineering and Risk Management
Offered by Columbia University. Introduction to Financial Engineering and Risk Management.
This course introduces fixed-income securities, derivatives, and the corresponding pricing models. In the first module, students will learn the basics of probability and optimization. Students will learn the mathematical foundations in this module.
This course includes:
- Course Overview
- Pre-Requisite Materials
- Introduction to Basic Fixed Income Securities
- Introduction to Derivative Securities
- Option Pricing in the Multi-Period Binomial Model
The second module covers issues surrounding derivative instruments and fixed-income securities. Following a brief discussion of interest rate term structure, we will introduce present value calculation on fixed-income securities.
The third module provides learners with an opportunity to engage in swaps and options and price them using the 1-period binomial model. Finally, in the final module, students will examine the Binomial and Black-Scholes models to understand option pricing in a multi-period setting. Moreover, the multiperiod binomial model will be illustrated using American options, futures, and forwards, along with assets with dividends.
- Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Duration: 18h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
3. The Bitcoin Basics
Learn the fundamentals of Bitcoin from a predominantly non-technical perspective.
Draper University and Zapchain have teamed up to offer this most comprehensive bitcoin course. Our goal is to make bitcoin more approachable so that more people will be motivated to innovate with Bitcoin since we believe bitcoin has transformative potential.
In this course, students will:
- understand Bitcoin as both a technology and a currency at a high level.
- get started with a Bitcoin wallet and make your first purchase.
- understand Bitcoin in relation to other forms of money and legacy payment networks.
- create a Bitcoin node.
With this course, you'll learn bitcoin fundamentals as well as meet some of the brightest minds in Silicon Valley, including entrepreneurs who've been funded with millions of dollars and the venture capitalists who have backed them. They will each share their unique insight into how bitcoin can change the world.
- Course rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (1,075 ratings total)
- Duration: 7h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
4. Camera and Imaging
Offered by Columbia University. This course is part of the First Principles of Computer Vision Specialization.
This course introduces the basics of imaging or creating a picture ready for consumption or processing by a human or a machine. The history of imaging spans several centuries. However, advances made in the last three decades have revolutionized the camera and greatly enhanced the robustness and accuracy of computer vision systems. As well as imaging fundamentals, we will analyze recent innovation in imaging that has had a profound impact on computer vision.
In this course, you will:
- learn how a camera works and how an image is formed using a lens.
- understand how an image sensor works and its key characteristics.
- design cameras that capture high dynamic range and wide-angle images.
- learn to create binary images and use them to build a simple object recognition system.
The first part of the course examines how an image is created using a camera with a lens. In this chapter, we explore the optical properties of cameras, such as their magnification, F-number, depth of field, and field of view. Our next section describes solid-state image sensors (CCD and CMOS) and their key properties such as resolution, noise characteristics, and dynamic range. Our goal is to explain how image sensors are used to sense color and capture images with a high dynamic range.
In certain structured environments, images can be thresholded to produce binary images from which various geometric properties of objects can be computed and used to recognize and locate objects. Last but not least, we look at the fundamentals of image processing - how to develop tools to process a captured image in a way that makes it easier to analyze (denoising and deblurring) and use by computer vision systems.
- Course rating: 4.9 out of 5.0
- Duration: 12h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
5. React Basics for Beginners
This course will teach you the following topics: Introduction to React, Creating React App, Creating React Components, Rendering data in React Components, Virtual DOM, Load Bootstrap in React, and Update React Component State.
In this course, you will:
- learn the basics of React.
- understand what is React.
- learn to create a Simple Web App using React.
Requirements: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap.
- Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 (110 ratings total)
- Duration: 1h 54m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
6. Machine Learning for Data Science and Analytics
Learn the principles of machine learning and the importance of algorithms.
As the field of machine learning grows, it is used to search the web, place ads, score credit, trade stocks, and many other applications.
In this course, students will learn:
- what machine learning is and how it relates to statistics and data analysis.
- machine-learning utilizes computer algorithms to find patterns in data.
- using data patterns to make decisions and predictions in healthcare with examples from genomics and preterm birth.
- how to uncover hidden themes in vast arrays of documents using topic modeling.
- data preparation, handling missing data, and creating custom data analysis solutions for different industries.
- basic and frequently used algorithmic techniques including sorting, searching, greedy algorithms, and dynamic programming.
The course introduces students to machine learning and algorithms in the context of data science. Using predictive analytics, you will develop a basic understanding of machine learning principles. In addition, you will understand why algorithms play a vital role in Big Data analysis.
Course rating: 159,500 total enrollments
Duration: 5 weeks (7-10 hours per week)
7. Angular for Beginners Course
A quick introduction to the Angular framework, focusing on its most commonly used parts.
This course is a beginner-friendly introduction to the Angular framework. Our first step in this course will be setting up your development environment, and then we will do a quick scaffolding of a small Angular project from scratch using the Angular CLI.
In this course, you will learn:
- code in the GitHub repository with downloadable ZIP files per section.
- feel comfortable using the most commonly used features of the Angular framework.
You will gain a practical grasp of the Angular framework through this course. By the end of this course, you will be able to navigate through the code of an existing Angular application, and you will be able to create custom components.
- Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 (2,668 rating total)
- Duration: 2h 26m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
8. Learning Success
Learn successful strategies that will help you achieve your academic goals, allowing you to make the most of your college education.
In this course, you will learn effective and practical study techniques to help you succeed in your college studies. The following strategies, such as note-taking and active reading, time management, and the ability to understand how you learn, will allow you to succeed academically and make the most of your college education.
In this course, you will learn:
- Metacognition and academic mindset.
- foundational academic and study skills for attaining academic success in college.
- proven tips for students taking STEM and other technical courses.
- strategies for more compelling reading, writing, test preparation, and time management.
You can use the online curriculum in many ways, including starting with an introductory lesson and finishing with a self-directed experience. In addition to academic success strategies, we invite you to utilize this resource as a tool for flipped classroom pedagogy or even as a companion text for on-the-ground transition courses.
- Duration: 10 weeks (2-4 hours per week)
9. Economics of Money and Banking
Learn the Economics of Money and Banking from Columbia University.
In the last three or four decades, the institutions that comprise the modern monetary system have evolved significantly. In this course, the Institute for New Economic Thinking attempts to revive some forgotten traditions in monetary thought that have recently become relevant to start the process of new economic thinking.
This course includes:
- Introduction
- Banking as a Clearing System
- Banking as Market Making
- Midterm review and exam
- International Money and Banking
- Banking as Advance Clearing
- Money in the Real World
- Final Exam
By revitalizing and updating some forgotten traditions of monetary thought that have become increasingly relevant, this course attempts to start a process of new economic thinking.
- Course rating: 4.9 out of 5.0 (1,283 ratings total)
- Duration: 33h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
10. Crisis Resource Management
Learn the skills critical for effective teamwork in a crisis situation with a focus on preparation, decision-making, and reflection across multidisciplinary teams.
In the United States alone, at least 100,000 deaths occur each year due to poor crisis resource management. The course will provide you with the tools you need to make effective decisions and manage teams in a crisis, especially teams of strangers, which is a common experience for many health workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical professionals can practice their skills through real-life examples and simulations in the course.
In this course, you will learn:
- the controversies and evidence related to crisis resource management.
- the history of crisis resource management in the context of the aviation industry.
- factors that affect the performance of complex tasks (Individual, Team, Environment).
- the principles of crisis resource management in the health care environment.
- identification of crisis resource management principles during simulation of health care crises.
This course makes CRM concepts accessible, moving away from theoretical and abstract presentations of the topics. In addition, it contextualizes medical experiences through real-life examples or simulations. Students, residents, and fellows in health care are often not exposed to the concept and application of CRM in practice in global healthcare environments. Through this online course, we will examine cultural influences on these principles.
Duration: 12 weeks (3-6 hours per week)
