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- The California Institute of Tech is one of the top 10 universities in the world.
- Caltech offers free online courses through e-learning platforms edX and Coursera.
- The free online classes span topics from machine learning and economics to astronomy.
Ranked as the 7th best college in the world in 2021 by US News, The California Institute of Tech is a renowned science and engineering research institution, boasting 32 Nobel prize winners. It also manages several astronomical observatories and research labs, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA.
Like many top colleges, CalTech offers some of its courses for free through e-learning edX and Coursera, joining prestigious universities like MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, and Cornell, among many others.
CalTech’s online offerings span topics from astronomy and machine learning to economics and quantum theory, some of them requiring undergraduate knowledge in math or science.
7 free CalTech online courses:
This in-depth, intro astronomy course explores what we know about the universe so far, including planetary systems, stars, galaxies, black holes, quasars, and larger structures.
The Science of the Solar System
Using undergraduate-level mathematical and science principles, this course aims to explore aspects of the solar system such as the latest Mars news, the outer solar system, and even the potential of extraterrestrial life.
Learning From Data (Introductory Machine Learning)
Ideal for students with some programming experience and knowledge of Basic probability, matrices, and calculus, this course covers the theory, algorithms and applications of machine learning.
Principles of Economics with Calculus
For those with a basic understanding of calculus, this course shows you how to apply quantitative models to economic principles to solve real-world problems, such as predicting changes in market prices or the values of new products.
Pricing Options with Mathematical Models
For those with working knowledge of calculus, statistics and probability, this course teaches students how to use mathematical modeling for pricing financial derivatives and managing risk in financial markets.
Getting started in cryo-EM
Best for those with at least college-freshman-level math, physics, and biochemistry knowledge, this course teaches you the basics of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) including the anatomy of electron microscopes and the fundamentals of Fourier transforms and image formation.
Quantum Cryptography
For students with undergraduate knowledge of linear algebra, probability, statistics, and basic quantum theory, this course covers quantum effects, such as quantum entanglement, to implement security within cryptographic tasks.
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