The Python Open Source Data Science Degree

A curated list of free or low-cost courses from reputable universities and organizations that satisfy the same requirements as an undergraduate Computer Science / Data Science degree, minus general education. Updated for 2026.

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Learning How to Efficiently Learn

If it has been a while since you were in the classroom, this is mandatory. These are high-leverage meta-skills that pay dividends across every other course.

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Learning How to Learn	Deep Teaching Solutions	4 weeks	3-4 hrs/week	self-paced	none	Coursera
A Mind for Numbers (Book)	Barbara Oakley	—	—	—	none	Book

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Computer Science Basics

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
CS50x: Introduction to Computer Science	Harvard	12 weeks	10-20 hrs/week	self-paced	none	edX
CS50P: Introduction to Programming with Python	Harvard	10 weeks	10-20 hrs/week	self-paced	none	edX
Mathematical Thinking in Computer Science	UC San Diego	6 weeks	2-5 hrs/week	once a month	none	Coursera

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Programming

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Python for Everybody Specialization	U of Michigan	8 months	3-6 hrs/week	self-paced	none	Coursera
Python OOP & Design Patterns	Duke	4 weeks	4-6 hrs/week	self-paced	Python basics	Coursera
Software Engineering: Introduction	UBC	6 weeks	6-8 hrs/week	self-paced	Programming basics	edX

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Math

Single Variable Calculus

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
18.01x Single Variable Calculus	MIT	10 months	6-10 hrs/week	self-paced	pre-calculus	edX

Linear Algebra and Statistics

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Linear Algebra - Foundations to Frontiers	UT Austin	15 weeks	6-10 hrs/week	self-paced	pre-calculus	edX
Introduction to Statistics	Stanford	7 weeks	5 hrs/week	self-paced	none	Coursera
Statistical Learning	Stanford	9 weeks	5 hrs/week	self-paced	Linear Algebra, Stats	edX

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Databases

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
PostgreSQL for Everybody Specialization	U of Michigan	4 months	4-6 hrs/week	self-paced	Programming basics	Coursera
Databases: Relational Databases and SQL	Stanford	6 weeks	5-10 hrs/week	self-paced	none	edX
Vector Databases: from Embeddings to Applications	Weaviate / DeepLearning.AI	1 week	2-3 hrs	self-paced	Python basics	DeepLearning.AI

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Data Science

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Applied Data Science with Python Specialization	U of Michigan	5 months	7 hrs/week	self-paced	Python	Coursera
Data Science: Visualization	Harvard	8 weeks	2-4 hrs/week	self-paced	R basics	edX
Practical Data Ethics	fast.ai	4 weeks	4 hrs/week	self-paced	none	fast.ai

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Machine Learning and AI

This section is now a core requirement, not optional.

Foundations

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Machine Learning Specialization	Stanford / DeepLearning.AI	3 months	9 hrs/week	self-paced	Python, Linear Algebra	Coursera
Practical Deep Learning for Coders	fast.ai	10 weeks	8-10 hrs/week	self-paced	Python, some math	fast.ai
Deep Learning Specialization	DeepLearning.AI	5 months	4-5 hrs/week	self-paced	ML basics	Coursera

Large Language Models and Generative AI

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Short Courses	DeepLearning.AI	1-3 hrs each	1-3 hrs	self-paced	Python	DeepLearning.AI
Hugging Face NLP Course	Hugging Face	6 weeks	4-6 hrs/week	self-paced	Python, ML basics	Hugging Face
CS324: Large Language Models	Stanford	10 weeks	6-8 hrs/week	self-paced	Deep Learning	Stanford (free)
LLM Bootcamp	Full Stack Deep Learning	8 hours	self-paced	—	ML basics	FSDL

MLOps

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
MLOps Specialization	DeepLearning.AI	4 months	4 hrs/week	self-paced	ML basics	Coursera
Weights & Biases Courses	Weights & Biases	varies	self-paced	—	Python, ML	W&B

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Computing Systems

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Build a Modern Computer from First Principles I	Hebrew University	6 weeks	10-15 hrs/week	self-paced	none	Coursera
Build a Modern Computer from First Principles II	Hebrew University	6 weeks	10-15 hrs/week	self-paced	Part I	Coursera
Introduction to Operating Systems	Georgia Tech	8 weeks	5-8 hrs/week	self-paced	Part II	Udacity

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Computer Science Theory

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Algorithms, Part I	Princeton	6 weeks	6-12 hrs/week	once a month	Programming basics	Coursera
Algorithms, Part II	Princeton	6 weeks	6-12 hrs/week	once a month	Part I	Coursera
Automata Theory	Stanford	6 weeks	4-8 hrs/week	self-paced	Theory basics	Coursera

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Cloud Computing

Cloud is now a foundational skill for data scientists and engineers.

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Cloud Computing Foundations	Duke	5 weeks	4-6 hrs/week	self-paced	Linux basics	Coursera
AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials	AWS	6 hours	self-paced	—	none	Coursera
Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure	Google	1 week	8-10 hrs	self-paced	none	Coursera

Recommended Certification Path

Pursue one cloud provider certification (AWS, GCP, or Azure) at the associate level after completing the foundational course.

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DevOps and Containers

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Docker for Beginners	Docker	4-8 hrs	self-paced	—	Linux basics	Docker
Kubernetes for Developers	Linux Foundation	14 weeks	2-3 hrs/week	self-paced	Docker basics	edX
DevOps, DataOps, MLOps	Duke	7 weeks	4-6 hrs/week	self-paced	Programming basics	Coursera

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Computer Applications

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Cryptography I	Stanford	7 weeks	5 hrs/week	once a month	Linear Algebra	Coursera
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach	UMass	8 weeks	5 hrs/week	self-paced	CS basics	Free (textbook)

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Unix and Linux

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
The Unix Workbench	JHU	4 weeks	4 hrs/week	once a month	none	Coursera
Linux Command Line Basics	Udacity	1 week	5 hrs/week	self-paced	none	Udacity

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Open Source Development and Version Control

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites	Provider
Version Control with Git	Google	1 week	5 hrs	self-paced	none	Coursera
Open Source Software Development, Linux and Git Specialization	Linux Foundation	4 months	3-5 hrs/week	self-paced	some programming	Coursera
GitHub Actions	GitHub	1-2 hrs	self-paced	—	Git basics	GitHub Skills

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Recommended Learning Order

1. Learning How to Learn
2. CS50x → CS50P
3. Python for Everybody
4. Math (Calculus → Linear Algebra → Statistics)
5. Algorithms Part I & II
6. Databases
7. Computing Systems
8. Machine Learning Specialization
9. Practical Deep Learning for Coders
10. LLM courses (DeepLearning.AI short courses)
11. Cloud Computing + DevOps
12. MLOps

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What Changed from the Previous Version

• Added: Machine Learning and AI section (now a core requirement)
• Added: LLM / Generative AI subsection with Hugging Face and DeepLearning.AI courses
• Added: MLOps subsection
• Added: Cloud Computing section (AWS, GCP)
• Added: DevOps and Containers section (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Added: Vector Databases to the databases section
• Replaced: Individual edX CS50 links → direct Harvard links (more stable)
• Replaced: Database individual courses → consolidated specialization + modern additions
• Removed: IBM Data Science Certificate (superseded by more targeted offerings)
• Removed: Applied Cryptography (edX) — Cryptography I (Stanford) covers the same ground better