Looking for a new job? A unique skill could easily set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants. Worked in the same position for a long time? Expertise in a new field could be the factor that gets you the promotion. And, even if you’re a senior-level manager who’s totally content, getting experience in an unfamiliar area shows your team how much you value growing your job skill set.
Like most other things, though, learning a new skill is easier said than done. Unless, of course, all the resources are handed to you.
Today, we’re doing exactly that. To make sure that you don’t spend hours searching for what to learn and where to learn it, we curated a list of 45 online classes from awesome resources across the web.
Whether you’re interested in programming, graphic design, speech writing, or conflict resolution, there’s bound to be a class for you.
P.S. All of these classes are free.
P.P.S. None of them take more than 10 weeks to complete, so be ready to add new skills to your resume before the end of the year!
Programming
1. An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1), Coursera
Anyone with a knowledge of high school mathematics is welcome to take this class, taught at Rice University. To make learning Python easy, instructors of this course built a new browser-based programming environment. You’ll learn to build simple, interactive games like Pong, Blackjack, and Asteroids.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 7-10 hours a week/ 5 weeks
2. JavaScript, Codecademy
Join more than five million students in learning JavaScript—the programming language of the web. You’ll develop everything from a simple “Rock, Paper, Scissors” game to a magic eight ball.
Duration: 8 weeks/ 5 lessons
3. Java Tutorial for Complete Beginners, Udemy
Just like the courses title says, this class is designed for anyone with no prior programming knowledge. As long as you have a desire to learn to code, you’re fit to take the class. And don’t get intimidated by the large number of lessons. Although 75 lectures are taught, most of them are under 20 minutes long, and the time commitment is perfectly manageable if distributed well across a few weeks.
Duration: 16 hours/ 75 lessons
4. Intro to Java Programming, Udacity
Java is the core language used in developing Android apps and is commonly used in back-end web development. If you’ve never programmed before but are interested in entering either of these fields, then this course is a perfect spot for you to start.
Duration: 6 weeks/ 5 lessons
5. Make a Website, Codecademy
Take this short, three-hour course to learn how to build a website from scratch using HTML and CSS. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of web development in the process.
Duration: 4 projects, 4 quizzes
6. Diploma in C Programming, ALISON
One of the most popular and widely used programming languages, C is commonly used to program operating systems such as Unix. Upon completing this course, you’ll learn everything from functions, methods, and routines to variables, arrays, and pointers.
Duration: 10-15 hours
7. Build Complete Web and Hybrid Mobile Solutions, Coursera
Taught by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, this course teaches you the essential elements of mobile development. Although no previous experience in HTML, CSS, and Javascript is necessary, the instructors note that it would be helpful to have some type of prior programming knowledge.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 5 courses
8. HTML5 Coding Essentials and Best Practices, edX
Anyone with a basic knowledge of HTML and familiarity with CSS is encouraged to take this course taught by the World Wide Web Consortium (also known as W3C). You’ll learn to use the new simplified HTML5 tags, animate fun web graphics, and practice coding techniques through multiple interactive exercises.
Duration: 6 weeks/ 6-8 hours a week
Design
This series of step-by-step videos will teach you Photoshop terms and definitions and get you started with using basic tools and techniques. You’ll start off by resizing and resampling images, then move on to correcting the colors of an image and removing unwanted information. You’d be surprised by how much you can learn in 90 minutes!
Note: free with trial
Duration: 1 hour, 31 minutes
10. Learn Adobe Photoshop From Scratch, Udemy
Udemy’s introduction course covers the basics so you can get started using Photoshop as soon as possible. Want to learn to use the marquee tool in detail, feather a selection, or refine edge command? You’ve come to the right place.
Duration: 8 hours/ 36 lectures
11. Adobe After Effects, Lynda
Adobe After Effects is a popular software program used to create motion effects and visual graphics for video. In Lynda’s tutorial videos, you’ll be introduced to the After Effects GUI and workspace and learn everything from importing and organizing files to understanding composition and video standards.
Note: free with trial
Duration: varies
12. Professional Logo Design in Adobe Illustrator, Udemy
Build a killer company brand by making a logo that stands out. Here’s how to use Illustrator to do it.
Duration: 7 hours, 22 minutes/ 45 lectures
13. Beginner’s Guide to Concept Sketching, Pluralsight
Concept sketching takes a number of different forms—from logos and layouts to characters and environment design. In this course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of each of these forms using Adobe Photoshop. These step-by-step videos move at an easy-to-follow pace to make sure that you understand the basic tools and techniques.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 1 hour, 31 minutes
14. Adobe InDesign Made Easy: A Beginners Guide to InDesign, Udemy
We know that 105 lessons seem like a lot—but the majority of these lessons are under 10 minutes. Designed by Infinite Skills, this course is a resource for anyone wanting to learn the powerful, often-intimidating page layout and design program. By the end of the class, you’ll be well versed in creating print and digital-ready documents in InDesign.
Duration: 11 hours/ 105 lectures
Online Marketing
Want to find out more about major digital platforms, social and mobile search, and how online ads are priced and delivered? If so, then OPEN2STUDY’s Online Advertising course is perfect for you. Be prepared to learn how to set realistic and measurable campaign objectives, identify the steps involved in digital campaign planning, and understand the process of selling an online ad program.
Duration: 33 videos
16. Google Analytics, ALISON
One of the premier tools for analyzing web traffic, Google Analytics is useful whether you’re running a major international commercial website or managing a personal blog. At the end of this course, some of the skills you’ll have mastered include knowing how to see how well your paid keywords perform, determining the keywords that bring high value visits, and identifying problem areas in your campaigns.
Duration: 1-2 hours
17. Social Media 101, Social Media Quickstarter
Email marketing provider Constant Contact created this online tutorial to get you started on building your social media presence across all of the top social networks—from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.
Duration: 1 hour, 16 minutes
18. SEO for SEO Beginners, Udemy
Heard of SEO, but never got the chance to understand what it actually is? This is the course for you. Upon completing the class, you’ll become an expert on the three pillars of powerful SEO, resulting in you knowing how to get to the top of the search results.
Duration: 46 minutes/ 12 lectures
19. Diploma in E-Business, ALISON
This course will help all business owners increase their knowledge of what online marketing is and how to go about implementing a successful online marketing strategy. Concrete skills you’ll have by the end of the course include using AdSense and AdWords, analyzing revenue metrics and custom reporting, and navigating Google Analytics reports.
Duration: 6-10 hours
20. Getting Started With Email Marketing, Skillshare
In this class, MailChimp’s Allyson Van Houten teaches you how to craft an email marketing strategy that will help you achieve your business goals. Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or a part of a startup team, you’ll be able to learn from the bite-sized lessons packed with core email marketing concepts, guiding questions, and practical resources.
Duration: 1 hour, 11 minutes/ 14 videos
21. How to Get a Job Using Social Media, The Muse
The Muse partnered with digital powerhouse Mashable to create this class that will teach you how to integrate social media into your job search strategy. Apart from learning to establish your personal brand and network with people online, you’ll identify job opportunities via social media and turn leads into real-life job opportunities.
Duration: 5 days/ 5 lessons
Communication
22. Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution, Coursera
Taught by the University of California, Irvine, this course gives you the chance to strengthen your personal and professional relationships by addressing conflicts between individuals within organizations. More specifically, you’ll develop skills aimed at managing intercultural conflicts in today’s global society, and explore how factors like competing interests and power imbalances affect management strategies.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 4 weeks, 2-3 hours a week
23. Internal Communication Methods: Strategy and Tactics, Udemy
Learn from an internal communications expert in five minute sprints how to communicate better at work, write better emails, and create a culture of open communication.
Duration: 1 hour, 23 minutes/ 18 lectures
24. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, OPEN2STUDY
Does the idea of networking or resolving conflict make you cringe? If so, this course by Dr. Andrew Heys of Macquarie University could bring you renewed confidence. You’ll learn concrete skills like labeling different phases of negotiation and learning what to do in each phase, using a general framework for analyzing and resolving conflict, and bridging the gap between “knowing” and “doing” so that you can put the skills you learn into practice.
Duration: 40 videos
25. Public Speaking Essentials: How to Craft Your Personal Story, Udemy
This course aims to help you tell your story with confidence and poise. You’ll learn how to craft your speech and pitch it in a way that’s engaging and exciting.
Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes/ 33 lectures
26. Business Communication: Developing Effective Business Presentation Skills, ALISON
No matter where you are in your career, we’re guessing that you’ve become familiar with poorly made presentations. But not all presentations have to be that way—and that’s where this course comes in. Upon completing the class, you’ll know how to effectively engage and persuade an audience, develop an effective presentation by mapping its flow and creating aids, and assess the expectations of your audience.
Duration: 2-3 hours
27. Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator, Coursera
This Yale University course will help you become a better negotiator. You’ll leave the course better able to predict, interpret, and shape the behavior of people you face in competitive situations. Apart from that, you’ll learn to make ultimatums, avoid regret, and deal with someone who has a very different perspective on the world.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 9 weeks
Writing
28. Business Communication: Fundamentals of Business Writing, ALISON
Being able to express your thoughts and ideas through writing in a clear, concise, and efficient manner is crucial in the business world. Whether you’re sending an inquiry to a company or submitting a cover letter for a job application, how the letter is written and formatted can make the difference between having it taken seriously or not. That’s why this course aims to give you the skills—and the confidence—needed to write professionally in any situation.
Duration: 2-3 hours
29. How to Write an Essay, edX
Instructed by Professor Maggie Sokolik at University of California, Berkeley, this course focuses on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. You’ll learn strategies for writing longer texts and thesis statements and master the skill of writing effective introductions and conclusions.
Duration: 5 weeks/ 5-6 hours a week
30. Introduction to Journalism, FutureLearn
Calling everyone interested in journalism: This course taught by the University of Strathclyde Glasgow could be the perfect class for you. Run by a team of internationally renowned scholars and journalism practitioners, the class gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the professional world of reporters and editors. The six topics are: what makes a good story, writing news, writing features, opinion writing, politics and journalism, and investigative journalism.
Duration: 6 weeks/ 4 hours a week
Note: A date hasn’t been set for this course yet.
31. 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 your ideas and reflect on the writing and editing process. You’ll hear other writers talk about their approaches to research and consider different plot strategies.
Duration: 8 weeks/ 3 hours a week
32. Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens, Coursera
This course, designed by instructors from the University of Melbourne, will teach you the basics of news writing, how to interview people to gain crucial information, how to develop your sources, and how to use your legal rights to access public information. You’ll explore the ethics behind journalism practice and conduct a mock investigation into local government.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 6 weeks/ 4-6 hours a week
33. Mini Grammar Tests, Udemy
You can’t convince someone in your writing if things are spelled wrong or formatted incorrectly. Which is why this bite-sized course is perfect for people who want to perfect their grammar and wow employers (or their boss) with impeccable language.
Duration: 1 hour, 49 minutes/ 15 lectures
34. Journalism for Social Change, edX
Taught by University of California, Berkeley’s professor Daniel Heimpel, this course aims to teach students how to use journalism and media as an implement of social change. You’ll learn to report so that your work can drive political will toward positive policy solutions and gain strategies for becoming an effective change agent yourself.
Duration: 2-4 hours a week
Entrepreneurship
35. Becoming an Entrepreneur, edX
This class will kick-start your entrepreneurial path by teaching you the mindset and skills needed to succeed in the space of business.
Duration: 6 weeks/ 1-3 hours a week
36. How to Build an Online Business: A Complete Business Plan, Udemy
Instructed by online entrepreneur Mike Omar, this course aims to help you make money while you sleep (no, we’re not joking). The course materials were designed to make you $5,000 per month in passive income earnings. What’s more, the skills you learn in this course will allow you to build all kinds of online businesses in the future.
Duration: 11 hours, 22 minutes/ 24 lectures
37. Growth Strategies for Business, ALISON
This course is created for anyone who is interested in starting his or her own company or wants to learn more about the factors involved in growing a business. You’ll gain knowledge of the changes, transformations, strategies, and mistakes that need to be considered when growing a business internationally.
Duration: 2-3 hours
38. Scaling Operations: Linking Strategy and Execution, Coursera
This Northwestern University course will teach you how to make strategic decisions that are grounded in operational reality. You’ll learn how to build and evaluate the “operating system” of a firm to maximize value. At the end of the course, you’ll be able to create an effective, actionable plan that will scale your department or organization.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 5 weeks/ 2-4 hours a week
39. Entrepreneurship and Family Business, OPEN2STUDY
Interested in learning about entrepreneurial characteristics and psychology, intrapreneurship, or family businesses? If any of these topics sound exciting to you, then enroll in this OPEN2STUDY course. You’ll study everything from the role of power and politics in businesses to managing the family while managing the business.
Duration: 40 videos
40. Entrepreneurship: Idea to Launch With Entreprenvy, Udemy
No matter who you are, you can launch a business from scratch (that is, if you put in the work). This class is a great place to start, from idea generation to market analysis to building your business model.
Duration: 1 hour, 26 minutes/ 13 lectures
Law
41. Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy, Coursera
If you care about the environment and want to start getting involved in change, 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.
Note: free with trial
Duration: 6 weeks/ 4-6 hours a week
42. Forensic Psychology: Witness Investigation, FutureLearn
Using videos of real witnesses, this course explores the psychology of eyewitness testimony. You’ll get to see whether your investigative skills are as proficient as those of police officers and try to solve different crimes using evidence from cameras that go behind the scenes of police investigations. (While not applicable to most professions, it sounds like a lot of fun.)
Duration: 8 weeks/ 3 hours a week
43. 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 legal requirements and legal recommendations to financial status and taxation.
Duration: 1-2 hours
44. Copyright Made Easy, Udemy
Designed by a licensed attorney, this class gives you a comprehensive introduction to copyright law. At the end of two hours, you’ll understand the benefits that intellectual property brings and learn how to apply copyright law to your content.
Duration: 1 hour, 36 minutes/ 8 lectures
45. Cyberwar, Surveillance, and Security, edX
This course, taught by the University of Adelaide, will help you understand the competing tensions of laws related to privacy and national security. You’ll learn the nature and consequences of cyber-activism and cyberwar, as well as the purpose and impacts of global networked surveillance technologies.
Duration: 6 weeks/ 2-3 hours a week