10 Genius Online Courses You Can Sign Up For in July 2019

For students, summer can mean a welcome break from formal education. But some dedicated knowledge junkies will still be hungry for more information. Fortunately, online education providers like edX, Udemy, and Coursera offer a wide array of e-classes that can keep your brain busy all season long. Here are 10 of the most interesting online courses you can sign up for starting in July.

1. Foundations of Positive Psychology

Not all psychology revolves around unearthing repressed emotions and examining mental struggles. In this specialized course taught by Martin E.P. Seligman and presented by the University of Pennsylvania, students will have an opportunity to explore how positive psychology can enrich and improve both your personal and professional life. It would be an excellent follow-up for those who loved Yale's wildly popular online happiness course.

Sign up on Coursera and enjoy a seven-day free trial. Access to the specialization course is $79 per month. A certificate of completion is included in the price.

2. American Sign Language Level 1

Many people learn a second language to better communicate and relate to others, but don't forget that not all languages are spoken. This novice guide to American Sign Language covers all the basics, including letters, numbers, expressing feelings, colors, and more. By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate an entire short story using only their hands.

Sign up on Udemy for $13. A certificate of completion is included in the price.

3. Mindfulness and Resilience to Stress at Work

Professional stress got you down? Learn a number of proven strategies to cope with work obstacles in this course provided by the University of California, Berkeley, including the practice of mindfulness, or experiencing life on a moment-by-moment basis. You’ll find yourself more relaxed, more productive, and far more equipped to handle Mondays. (And if you like it, we also recommend UC Berkeley's Science of Happiness at Work edX professional certificate.)

Sign up on edX for free. The optional certificate costs $149.

4. Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology

For more than 50 years, Star Trek has proven to have cultural influence far beyond its small-screen beginnings. Explore how Gene Roddenberry’s science-fiction saga has inspired real science and acted as a powerful metaphor for contemporary political issues by celebrating diversity.

Beam up on edX for free. The optional certificate costs $40.

5. Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you struggle to check off all of your professional obligations, consider a lesson in productivity with this tutorial on time management, goal planning, and the act of minimizing things than slow you down. University of California, Irvine instructor Margaret Meloni will help you learn and apply smart work habits that will last a lifetime.

Sign up on Coursera and enjoy a seven-day free trial. Access to the specialization course is $39 a month. A certificate of completion is included in the price.

6. Psychology of Popularity

Does being well-liked translate into personal and professional success? This course taught by Mitch Prinstein, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of the book Popular, will explore how popularity can affect your adult life, what it means to be popular, and how you can adopt (or avoid) certain traits that can influence your likeability.

Sign up on Coursera for free and get access to all materials except graded items. The optional certificate costs $49.

7. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics

Musically-inclined? Learn the tips and techniques that can help you compose a winning piece of music by understanding what makes for successful lyrics with this class offered by Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music. Methods for rhyming, line lengths, and other nuances are all covered.

Sign up on Coursera for free and get access to all materials except graded items. The optional certificate costs $49.

8. Learning How to Learn

While it might sound redundant, taking the right approach to learning requires a little bit of learning. This guide will teach you how the brain absorbs and retains information, memory tricks to help you store valuable knowledge, and tips for understanding even the most complicated subjects.

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

9. Fundamentals of Graphic Design

Learn how graphic designers influence the world around us with this comprehensive course offered by the California Institute of the Arts for people looking to develop their own visual skill set. You’ll become proficient in font types, colors, visual patterns, and other compositions that can turn good graphic design into iconic work.

Sign up on Coursera for a seven-day free trial. Access to the specialization course is $49 a month. A certificate of completion is included in the price.

10. The Ultimate Drawing Course

Admire artists but have trouble drawing a straight line? Brush up on your illustration skills with this primer on the building blocks of art, from recognizing and drawing geometrical shapes to understanding shading and perspective. Don’t forget a paper and pencil.

Sign up on Udemy for $13. A certificate of completion is included in the price.

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