The 10 Smartest Online Courses You Can Sign Up For in June 2019

iStock/Deagreez
iStock/Deagreez / iStock/Deagreez

You don’t need scholarships, prior degrees, or even a physical classroom to further your education. Thanks to online education providers like edX, Udemy, and Coursera, you can take classes at home with just a computer and an internet connection. And with such vast course catalogs, the classes available online are often more diverse than what’s offered in a traditional academic setting. Here are some noteworthy courses you can sign up for in June 2019. (Both edX and Udemy are running sales for the beginning of June, so grab your spot soon.)

1. Hong Kong Cinema Through a Global Lens

Western viewers’ knowledge of Hong Kong cinema may be limited to Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, but the region’s impact on film goes deep. "Hong Kong Cinema Through a Global Lens" will teach you about the techniques and stars behind the movies of Hong Kong as well as their relationship to globalization. Filmmaking, race, migration, and even martial arts choreography are all touched upon in the course.

Sign up on edX for free. The optional certificate costs $50. Use the code SUMMER20 for 20 percent off through June 5.

2. AI for Everyone

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, it can be helpful for everyone—not just computer programmers and engineers—to learn about it. This class from Coursera focuses on the business aspects of AI. Lessons cover technical terminology, the limits and potential of AI, and the ethical and societal questions surrounding the emerging technology.

Sign up on Coursera for free. The optional certificate costs $49.

3. Learning How to Learn

This class from Coursera is a great first step for anyone looking to further their education. "Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects" aides you in your quest for knowledge. The curriculum includes memorization techniques, tips for battling procrastination, and guidelines for taking tests. The strategies taught in this course can be applied to any subject, whether it's science, sports, or the arts.

Sign up on Coursera for free. The optional certificate costs $49.

4. Forensic Psychology

This is the course all your hours spent listening to true crime podcasts have prepared you for. After taking "Forensic Psychology" on Udemy, you’ll be able to separate the facts from the myths surrounding the field. The class covers legal matters, such as the reliability of eyewitness testimony in court, as well as criminal psychology and the motivations behind violent crimes.

Sign up on Udemy for $12 (regularly $134). A certificate of completion is included in the price.

5. Cookie Decorating Season By Season

Some impressive cookie decorating techniques may be all it takes to push your baking game to the next level. In "Cookie Decorating Season by Season," cookie designer Annie York equips you with tips and tricks you can use to make fun, festive treats for any occasion. The course comes with access to free video lessons; all you have to provide are the icing and baked goods.

Sign up on Bluprint. The individual course is free, or you can get access to this and many other courses on the site with an $8 per month subscription.

6. The Science of Happiness at Work

There are already several online courses devoted to the science of happiness and well-being. This three-course program offered by UC Berkeley through edX focuses specifically on the science of being happy at work. Learn how to practice mindfulness, deal with stress, and build positive relationships at your workplace by signing up for this program.

Sign up for the three-course program on edX for $402.30, professional certificate included. Use the code SUMMER20 for 20 percent off through June 5.

7. Contemporary Manuscript Illumination of Herat

Herat, Afghanistan, is known for its stunning illuminated manuscripts. This course will teach you about the tradition of the art form in the ancient city while covering the technical aspects of how to make one. You’ll come away from the course with your very own illuminated manuscript you designed and decorated at home.

Sign up on edX for free.

8. Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch

If you’re interested in hacking but have no intention of breaking the law, learn how to hack the ethical way. "Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch" teaches you how to infiltrate networks and systems like a skilled black-hat hacker, and then shows you how to use that information to detect similar attacks and secure yourself against them. Lessons start at the beginner level, so you don’t need to be a computer whiz to enroll.

Sign up on Udemy for $12 (regularly $195). A certificate of completion is included in the price.

9. Writing Short Stories: The Essential Guide

Experiencing writer’s block? This course from Udemy may be what finally pushes you to get your story down on paper. Regardless of your experience level, you can sign up for the class and learn the basics of writing short fiction, from developing characters to finding an ending for your story.

Sign up on Udemy for $12 (regularly $95).

10. Origins of the Human Mind

The lessons in this course lean on both psychology and primatology. Comparative cognitive science is an area of study that looks at the cognitive qualities of modern primates to better understand how the brain evolved in human beings. By showing you how chimpanzees think and learn, the class aims to teach you something new about your own cognitive abilities.

Sign up on edX for free. The optional certificate costs $50. Use the code SUMMER20 for 20 percent off through June 5.

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