by The Muse Editors
Reposted from The Muse
Learning a new skill helps your career. Period. And it’s true no matter who you are. Skill building is a great addition to, or alternative for, full-time experience if you have limited time this summer. A unique skill could easily set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants. Expertise in a new field could be the factor that gets you the promotion. Devoting even a few hours every week to advancing your career with an online class can be a big advantage.
The Muse curated a list of 47 online classes from awesome resources across the web. The best part? All of them are free. Whether you’re interested in learning programming, graphic design, writing, or a new language, there’s bound to be a class for you. Here are some examples:
Programming:
Learn HTML, Codecademy. HTML is a foundational coding language for displaying content on websites. Even if you don’t want to be a coder, if you work with websites in any way, HTML knowledge is sure to come in handy. You can view the lessons for free, but you’ll need to upgrade to Pro to earn a certificate of completion. (Don’t worry, there’s a free trial!)
This Is How You Make iPhone Apps, Udemy. This course will teach you how to create apps and submit your first fully functional app to the App Store before the end of the day.
Design:
Beginner’s Guide to Image Editing in Photoshop, Pluralsight. Learn the basics of photoshop, including introductory terms, definitions, tools, and techniques. You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn about image editing in 90 minutes! Note: free with trial
Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Coursera. With this class from CalArts, you can learn the basics of design and color theory as well as the fundamental building blocks of graphic design: imagemaking, typography, composition, color, and shape. Access to, and basic knowledge of, Adobe Creative Suite will help you in this class, but it’s not mandatory.
Online marketing:
Internet Marketing for Smart People, Copyblogger. Copyblogger presents a systematic and simple approach to implementing effective online marketing with this email course. By registering, you’ll also score instant access to 14 ebooks on content marketing, copywriting, keyword research, and many more topics.
Getting Started With Google Analytics, Udemy. This training class will teach you the basics of Google Analytics—Google’s own powerful website traffic tracker. You’ll also learn how to take your traffic data and use it to inform your business plans.
Communication
Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution, Coursera. Taught by the University of California, Irvine, this course explores how increasing communication and interaction across the globe can affect interactions both within a business and between businesses. You’ll develop skills aimed at managing intercultural conflicts in today’s global society and communicating with people who have a different background than your own.
Public Speaking Essentials: How to Craft Your Personal Story, Udemy. This course will help you tell your personal story with confidence and poise. You’ll learn how to craft a speech and deliver it in a way that’s engaging and exciting.
Writing:
High-Impact Business Writing, Coursera. Being able to clearly and effectively communicate your thoughts in writing is invaluable for the workplace. You’ll also learn how to avoid common writing mistakes and correct them when they do happen.
Start Writing Fiction, FutureLearn. Intended for anyone with an interest in fiction writing (with no prior experience necessary), this course teaches you how to develop plots and characters, conduct research, and reflect on and edit your work. You’ll also hear other writers talk about their processes to help you develop your own. Note: free with trial
Growing and running a business:
New Venture Finance: Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs, Coursera. This University of Maryland course will help you understand the basics of how to secure funding for a new business venture. You’ll learn about venture capital and different kinds of investors as well as how to find and secure them.
Competitive Strategy, Coursera. Taught through Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, this class teaches students that all business decisions are interdependent—including how you can affect competitors and how competitors can affect you—and dives into how to use game theory to gain an advantage in a market.
Law:
Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy, Coursera. If you care about the environment and want to get involved in protecting it, this beginner course is a great place to start. Learn about existing legal issues governing pollution, water law, endangered species, toxic substances, environmental impact analyses, and environmental risk.
Copyright made easy, Udemy. This class, which was designed by a licensed attorney, gives you a full introduction to copyright law. It’s especially helpful for anyone who creates content such as websites, articles, or videos.
Cyberwar, Surveillance, and Security, edX. This course, taught through the University of Adelaide, will help you understand the issues and debates surrounding online security. You’ll learn about the laws that govern internet privacy and surveillance as well as the implications of massive data collection by internet providers and tech companies.
Fundamentals of Business Law, ALISON. Take this course if you’d like to learn about the important principles in business law. You’ll study everything from the different types of business ownership to financial status and taxation.
