CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

Harvard University via edX

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Details

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Provider

edX
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Certificate

$219.00 Certificate Available
Duration & workload

12 weeks, 6-18 hours a week
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English, Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Portuguese, Swahili, Telugu, Turkish, Chinese

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Overview

This is CS50x , Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. An entry-level course taught by David J. Malan, CS50x teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. The on-campus version of CS50x , CS50, is Harvard's largest course.

Students who earn a satisfactory score on 9 problem sets (i.e., programming assignments) and a final project are eligible for a certificate. This is a self-paced course–you may take CS50x on your own schedule.

HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.

HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

Taught by

David J. Malan

Reviews

4.6 rating, based on 172 Class Central reviews

Start your review of CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

Billy Lim

A lot of effort can be seen to be placed in the production of lectures/shorts, making it very enjoyable and the concepts understandable. However, if you already know the concepts, the videos can seem overly-theatrical.
Chris Dziewa

I thought this was a great introduction to computer science. The instructor David Malan is one of the most charismatic instructors I've ever seen. The team behind this course did a phenomenal job in creating an extremely thought out curriculum with challenging and interesting problem sets. This is not an easy course but was well worth the effort.
Kidanemariam Abebe

This course is not for beginners. I wanted to learn programming for fun, to understand what my husband does, and learn something new at a leisurely pace. But introduction means nothing, you jump right into problems sets that are extremely challenging
Anonymous

Not free they charging for certificate. I was really hoping for it to be free so I can just have a good skill and certificate. But they only giving video lecture for free but not certificate 😭.
Hamoon Jamshidi Meydandar

I have tried many introductory courses/books/websites for computer science and programming. This one is my favorite.
It is challenging to complete the tasks, but they are designed so after you finish them, you will have a fantastic vision of a computer scientist.
Leek

wonderful course also interesting I love how many information I can get in a free course ! so lovely and again thank you
Anonymous

If you have done some programming and want to gain a deeper understanding about how computers work and what the code you write actually makes a computer do, this is a great place to start. This course deserves the praise it gets. I learned a lot from it and really enjoyed it!
Kgd Khdky

this is the best course to get your feet wet in CS.
when you finish the course you'll be amazed of how much new things you learned and how many challenging problems you solved and you'll also build a project to spice up your portfolio.
Anonymous

This is the best course for Computer Science at introductory level.
Anonymous

This course is not for beginners. My husband is a computer programmer and used some of the problem sets as interview questions for new hires. There are better classes out there for true beginners.
Anonymous

amazing work. demanding but helpful and comprehensive.
Kirubel Getnet

it's good course and this is a big responsiplity thanks for give this chance for me and please add the cyber securityh or ethical hacking course with free thanks forr all
Anonymous

One of the best online courses out there. Prof. Malan's enthusiasm makes computer science come alive. Highly recommended as a first course in computer science.
Vikash Kumar

I’ve just today completed CS50x and my review would be - a tough ride, absolute life changing course with a lot to offer anyone prepared to tackle the challenge head on. It’s not an easy course, & will take a lot of willpower to get through it. But…

I’ve just today completed CS50x and my review would be - a tough ride, absolute life changing course with a lot to offer anyone prepared to tackle the challenge head on. It’s not an easy course, & will take a lot of willpower to get through it. But I do feel I’ve gained a really solid grounding in programming & CS fundamentals as a result of choosing the “hard way”.

I knew nothing about programming 9 months ago, have no college education & if I can do it anyone can. Have just finished building my first piece of software - a web application in Python Flask, Bootstrap 5, and Javascript. Submitted tonight & the certificate has just arrived.

Made it at last! Would totally recommend the course to anyone who wants to really understand what programming is all about.
Hemant Sharma

Buttercup Pansies completed this course, spending 30 hours a week on it and found the difficulty to be hard. They were not kidding when they said the course was "demanding". I spent at least 2 hours daily working on the course and each course week…

Buttercup Pansies completed this course, spending 30 hours a week on it and found the difficulty to be hard.

They were not kidding when they said the course was "demanding". I spent at least 2 hours daily working on the course and each course week took me a month to complete. It was exhausting a lot of the time. The problem sets are designed in such a way that one is forced to read and do further research to accomplish them. The sense of satisfaction I gained from completing each problem set was tremendous and even though the learning curve is steep (to say the least), I am now comfortable in my understanding of the basics of computer science and in coding in C. The web design module was probably the most fun even though for me personally it was the most demanding.
Mohamed Ahmed Fettet

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Modugu Mallika

This online computer science course surpassed all expectations. From foundational concepts to intricate algorithms, the course skillfully navigates the vast landscape of CS. With a blend of engaging lectures, hands-on projects, and interactive quizzes, it ensures a comprehensive understanding. The instructor’s clarity, paired with a well-structured curriculum, makes challenging topics accessible to both novices and seasoned learners. Moreover, the course forums foster a collaborative community, encouraging peer-to-peer learning. In an era flooded with online resources, this course stands out, offering a holistic, immersive, and enriching CS learning experience. Highly recommended!
Roni Rahman

CS50's Introduction to Computer Science is a highly regarded online course that offers a comprehensive introduction to computer science concepts, programming languages, and algorithms. Taught by Harvard professors, the course covers topics such as C, Python, SQL, web development, and more. Through engaging lectures, problem sets, and projects, students gain a strong foundation in computer science that can be applied to a variety of fields. The course is also highly accessible, with no prior programming experience required. Overall, CS50's Introduction to Computer Science is a fantastic course for anyone looking to gain a strong understanding of computer science fundamentals.
Anonymous

contemplating all the theoretical material I was going to receive about how computers work and the software involved in the machine I use everyday to get work done. I skimmed over the course description but did not give it much attention. I was simp…

contemplating all the theoretical material I was going to receive about how computers work and the software involved in the machine I use everyday to get work done. I skimmed over the course description but did not give it much attention. I was simply searching for a computer science introductory course and nothing more. I had gone through half of Introduction to Computer Science and Programming using Python on edX and got hooked on the programming language because of its straight-forwardness. I simply gave up that course because I was more interested in coding than I was in the theory. Eventually I realized I needed more information about the machine that was “magically” allowing me to program. In retrospect, I don’t feel guilty for not paying much attention to the description page, which used the word “demanding”. This would most likely have put me off taking the course, as I might have thought it was heavy on theory – not an appealing prospect.
Miguel López

It helped be to learn and reinforce concepts during my school time and since then I recommend it to everyone.

Engaging lectures, lots of extra material like the shorts and the activities around the course (puzzle day, live sessions, seminars, etc.)

The problem sets are fun and interesting and the infrastructure for working on them is good since you can get automated feedback.

It has several active communities from where you can get support, particularly on Discord.