Cornell is a world-renowned university based in Ithaca, New York. It offers nearly 80 different majors across its seven schools. In addition, it also offers one of the best online programs in the country. Whether it is finance, data science, or digital marketing, you can enroll in Cornell online courses to get a thorough and world-class education.
In this article, we will help you find the best online courses offered by Cornell University, both paid and free. Read on to find course descriptions, tuition costs, and course schedules to find the course that suits your needs.
About Cornell Online Courses
Cornell online courses cover a wide range of subjects, including computer science, marketing, human resources, public policy, healthcare, business, and real estate. Cornell University also offers online courses in partnership with several massive open online course (MOOC) platforms.
Depending on your educational and professional goals, you can enroll in the school’s online certificate program, credit courses, or professional training. The courses offered via MOOCs are open to all students regardless of their location. However, Cornell’s credit hour courses require students to meet its prerequisites.
Cornell also offers online summer and winter sessions open to everyone through the Cornell School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions (SCE). The SCE professional advancement programs are offered both online and on-campus for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as established professionals looking to expand their skillset.
Does Cornell Offer Online Courses?
Yes, Cornell does offer a wide variety of online courses via MOOC platforms and through its official eCornell websites. Depending on your preference, you can enroll in Cornell’s online courses on its SCE website or through popular MOOCs such as edX.
Cornell University also offers dozens of online certificate programs in association with its top colleges, including Cornell Tech, Cornell Law School, Cornell College of Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences.
You can enroll in these certificate programs to build a professional or academic career with business skills, analytical skills, tech skills, or data science skills. Cornell University’s online courses are offered in several delivery formats, including live in-person instruction, self-paced courses, and on-demand videos.
What Can You Learn in a Cornell Online Course?
Cornell online courses cover technology leadership, executive leadership, human resources management, and data analytics. The eCornell learning platform also offers artificial intelligence, machine learning, data privacy, and digital marketing courses.
The university offers more than 160 online programs for professional development. Currently, you can choose from 16 subject certification categories, including data science, technology, marketing, engineering, project leadership, and business and finance.
Does Cornell Offer Online Bootcamps?
No, Cornell University does not offer any online bootcamps directly. However, Cornell Tech funds The Data Incubator, a coding bootcamp that offers online and in-person tech bootcamps. You can enroll for bootcamps in data visualization with Python, applied machine learning, data science, Python for data science, data science for business, or artificial intelligence.
Best Cornell Online Courses
Below are the top 16 paid online certificate programs offered by Cornell University. We have included data science, business, finance, law, computer science, and web design programs. Be sure to choose the certificate program that suits your career preferences.
| Course Title | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Business Law Certificate Training | 2 months | $2,400 |
| Business Management Essentials Certificate Program | 3 months | $3,600 |
| Cybersecurity Certificate Program | 4.5 months | $3,600 |
| Data Science Essentials Certificate Program | 2 months | $3,600 |
| Data Science with SQL and Tableau Certificate Program | 3 months | $3,600 |
| Digital Marketing Certificate Program | 2 months | $3,600 |
| FinTech Financial Management Certificate Program | 2 months | $3,600 |
| HR Analytics Certificate Program | 2 months | $3,600 |
| Marketing AI Certificate Program | 2 months | $3,600 |
| Online Brand Management Certificate Program | 3 months | $3,600 |
| Online Business Economics Certificate Program | 2.5 months | $3,000 |
| Online Business Statistics Certificate Program | 4 months | $3,600 |
| Online Machine Learning Certificate Program | 3.5 months | $3,600 |
| Python Programming Certificate Program | 4.5 months | $3,600 |
| User Experience Design Certificate Program | 5 months | $3,600 |
| Web Design Certificate Program | 3 months | $3,600 |
Business Law Certificate Training
If you are interested in pursuing a career in corporate law, then this certificate program is a great addition to your professional portfolio. It covers the essentials of business law, business structures, and business taxes. This program is offered by the Cornell Law School and is taught by Cornell law professionals and experienced attorneys.
You will learn about structuring legal arguments, negotiating business contracts, employment law, financial structuring, and business transactions.
Business Management Essentials Certificate Program
For those of you who are interested in business management, business administration, or financial management careers, then this program is for you. You will learn about business administration, accounting, finance, marketing, business planning, and the global business landscape.
Cybersecurity Certificate Program
Cyber security is a growing field that is prevalent across all major online-based industries, whether it’s business, data science, software development, or healthcare. By enrolling in this cyber security certificate program, you can increase your chances of employment across a variety of thriving industries.
Throughout the program, you will learn systems security, machine authentication, human authentication, access control, and enforcement mechanisms and strategy. The program also covers network information systems, cybersecurity goals, protocol error identification, and systems vulnerability testing.
Data Science Essentials Certificate Program
This certificate program is for data science novices looking to gain foundational data science and data visualization skills. The program covers datasets with R, data visualization, relationships measurements, data cleaning, and Tidyverse. The program curriculum also includes statistics, data interpretation techniques, and exploratory data analysis.
Data Science with SQL and Tableau Certificate Program
This is an intermediate data science certificate program that focuses on SQL and Tableau. It is best suited for entry-level data scientists, business analysts, software developers, marketing analysts, and aspiring data professionals. You will learn relational databases, querying data with SQL, data visualization with Tableau, and data drive with Tableau.
By the end of the program, you will be able to create a relational database with SQL, manipulate data, and create data visualizations from raw datasets.
Digital Marketing Certificate Program
If you want to become a digital marketer, this certificate program is a great place to start. The program covers the digital marketing landscape, advertising, marketing objectives, content marketing, and the development of marketing plans. You will also learn to integrate data management platforms and customer analytics to execute an optimal digital marketing strategy.
FinTech Financial Management Certificate Program
If you are an entry-level financial consultant, venture capitalist, or FinTech professional, then adding this financial management program to your portfolio is worth it. It covers FinTech disruptions, FinTech trends, cryptocurrencies, ledgers, and blockchain technology. You will also learn to use a Bitcoin wallet and the functions of several other cryptocurrencies.
HR Analytics Certificate Program
The human resource management field isn’t simply limited to financial management and employee management, but also involves data analytics. You will also learn to make data-driven decisions relevant to human resources. It covers the foundations essential to HR analytics, talent acquisition strategies, applied predictive analytics, and HR initiatives.
Marketing AI Certificate Program
The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly growing and it also applies to business, marketing, deep learning, engineering, and software development fields. This program covers the integration of artificial intelligence in the marketing sector. You will learn marketing automation, artificial intelligence, digital media opportunities, and digital marketing transformation.
By the end of the program, you will have the expertise to use artificial intelligence tools to transform the digital marketing field.
Online Brand Management Certificate Program
This brand management certificate program is aimed toward marketing, brand management, public relations, and business leadership professionals. This program is offered in association with Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and will teach you the frameworks of brand marketing.
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You will learn about brand purpose, brand strategy, brand positioning, brand planning, brand activation, and brand measurement aspects to execute an optimal marketing strategy.
Online Business Economics Certificate Program
For all aspiring or entry-level economists, as well as financial management professionals, this business economics certificate program is worth looking into. It provides an in-depth overview of cost-benefit analysis, supply and demand, resource allocation, and microeconomic concepts.
You will learn opportunity cost, scarcity examination, price analysis, equilibrium, market analysis, price prediction, competition modeling, and monopolies comparison.
Online Business Statistics Certificate Program
If you want to advance your career in data science, economics, statistics, or business intelligence, then this business statistics certificate program is for you. The program covers quantitative data, descriptive statistics, statistical probability, inferential statistics, multivariable comparison, statistical forecasting, and applications of statistics.
By the end of the program you will be able to use descriptive statistics for business solutions, and use statistical analysis to forecast data and market trends.
Online Machine Learning Certificate Program
If artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, and deep learning interest you, then this certificate might be for you. This online machine learning program is best suited for programmers, data analysts, developers, and software engineers looking to add machine learning skills to their portfolios.
You will learn problem-solving with machine learning, probability distributions, linear classifiers, decision trees, machine learning models, neural networks, deep learning, and Kernel machines.
Python Programming Certificate Program
Python is one of the most popular and easy-to-learn programming languages and applies to several tech-based fields including data science, software development, and artificial intelligence. This Python programming certificate is a beginner-friendly program that is apt for aspiring developers and programmers.
The program covers introductory Python, user-defined functions, currency converter development, program flow, data structures, and datasets audit.
User Experience Design Certificate Program
If a career in user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design is your goal, then this certificate program is worth exploring. Students of this program will learn human-centered design, user research, user personas, UX concept development, prototyping, UX feedback, and usability evaluation.
The program curriculum also includes a user experience design project, where you will conduct user interviews, create user personas, and create a UX design concept. This well-rounded project will be a great addition to your UX/UI design portfolio.
Web Design Certificate Program
This web design certificate program is apt for aspiring UX designers, web designers, and programmers. The program covers front end web development, HTML, CSS, responsive design, user experience design, user interactivity, and HTTP. You will also learn JavaScript, jQuery, visual design, and web development.
Eight Best Free Cornell Online Courses
| Course Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations | Self-Paced |
| Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching | 8 weeks |
| An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching | 8 weeks |
| Networks, Crowds, and Markets | 10 weeks |
| The Science and Politics of the GMO | 5 weeks |
| Structuring Business Agreements for Success | 5 weeks |
| Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom | Self-Paced |
| Wiretaps to Big Data: Privacy and Surveillance in the Age of Interconnection | 6 weeks |
Cornell University also offers a variety of free courses in partnership with EdX.org. The courses cover topics in engineering, marketing, STEM, business, data science, and politics. You can have challenging discussions and answer other students’ questions in the course discussion boards.
Below are the top eight free Cornell online courses you can enroll in to advance your career.
A Hands-On Introduction to Engineering Simulations
This hands-on engineering simulation introductory course is best suited for mechanical engineering, physics, and software professionals. It covers real-world engineering problems and Ansys simulation software.
You will learn finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, Ansys fluent, structural mechanics simulations, mathematical models, and engineering analysis approaches.
Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching
If you are a STEM major or professional, you must know the significance of evidence-based learning in the field. This course covers that plus it offers project-based learning that allows students to use their problem-solving and inquiry-based skills.
You will learn teaching strategies, strategy incorporation, and pedagogical strategies. This course is a great learning resource for STEM educators.
An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching
This is another introductory course that covers evidence-based STEM teaching strategies. This course is targeted towards undergraduate STEM educators. It covers learning mental models, course design elements, learning objectives, and teaching strategies. Although this course is based on STEM teaching, it also applies to non-STEM educators.
Networks, Crowds, and Markets
The Networks, Crowds, and Markets course offered by Cornell University is an interdisciplinary program that provides insight into the connection between the economic, societal, and technological sectors.
You will learn graph theory, graph theory tools, game theory, strategic behavior analysis, auction design, network routing, web advertising, and social marketing. The course also covers market strategic behaviors, market relationship study, and social network information analysis.
The Science and Politics of the GMO
This course covers the foundations of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), agricultural challenges, and biotechnology. If you are interested in pursuing a career in biotechnology or genetic engineering, then this GMO course is for you. You can opt to enroll in the paid version of this course for $49 and get access to graded assignments and a verified certificate.
Structuring Business Agreements for Success
This course applies to a variety of fields including business law, entrepreneurship, and business management. The course will teach you how to successfully draft a business agreement contract. You will learn foundational contract principles, contract law, risk assignment, contract covenants, price adjustments, and contract provisions.
Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom
This is another course that is aimed at aspiring or entry-level educators. Cornell University offers this course to train educators on efficient ways to teach a diverse classroom.
It covers inclusive course design frameworks, implications of social identities, evidence-based pedagogical strategies, and discipline-specific approaches. The course is offered by the Cornell Center for Teaching Innovation.
Wiretaps to Big Data: Privacy and Surveillance in the Age of Interconnection
For those of you who are interested in big data and data privacy topics, this might be the course for you. It covers cellular technologies, data surveillance, and metadata collection. You will learn the ethical and moral components of data collection, functions of networking technologies, privacy laws, cryptography, security decisions, and the impacts of data collection.
How to Choose an Online Course from Cornell
If you are wondering how to choose an online course from Cornell, keep reading to find the five essential factors to consider during your course search process. Bear in mind that the significance of each factor will vary depending on your personal preferences and professional goals.
- Course cost. The most important factor to consider while choosing an online course from Cornell is the price factor. The online certification programs offered by the university can be quite pricey, so be sure to choose a course that suits your financial preferences. You can also look into the university’s financing plans to make this decision.
- Course length. The length of the course is another factor you need to consider while choosing a course. An online certification program can last for four to five months and require you to commit eight to 10 hours per week. So, it is important to choose a course that matches your schedule.
- Course curriculum. The course curriculum is a major factor that everyone should consider while choosing a course or a certification program. Be sure to choose a course that matches your professional goals, your educational background, and provides you with the in-demand skills needed for success in your respective field.
- Course delivery. Along with the course duration, you should also consider the course delivery method. This factor is dependent on your preferred learning style. For those of you who learn best on your own, a self-paced course is the best option. If you learn best under supervision, then an instructor-led course is probably a better choice.
- Class size. Class size is another important factor to consider while choosing an online course. If you want ample one-on-one time with the instructors, you are better off choosing a small class group.
Are Online Courses at Cornell Worth It?
Online courses at Cornell are worth it for those who are looking to earn a verified certificate from a prestigious university in the data science, business administration, programming, or marketing fields. However, these online certifications programs can be pricey and require students to commit a few months of their time.
Cornell Online Courses FAQ
Cornell University offers online courses, certification programs, and professional development training on its executive education unit, also known as eCornell. You can also search on edX.org to find free courses offered by Cornell.
Yes, Cornell online courses offered on its eCornell and SEC websites are open to everyone. However, there are online credit courses offered by the university that might require students to meet certain prerequisites.
Depending on your educational goals and professional aspirations, you can learn data science, engineering, real estate, and public policy. You can also learn skills in education, mathematics, statistics, digital marketing, business, law, computer science, or programming in Cornell online courses.
Yes, Cornell online courses can be expensive, and its certification programs cost range between $2,000 and $4,000. But the university offers dozens of free courses on edX.org.
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