Did you know that you have access to history courses from some of the top universities and institutes in the world right at your fingertips? Did you also know that they’re free or low cost?
Many top-rated universities and institutions offer online history courses and anyone is eligible to take them. Better yet, these courses also provide a certificate of completion (for a fee) when you complete the course with a passing grade. You can use these certificates to expand your knowledge, build your resume, and prove your skills to potential employers.
The following is a list of universities and institutions that offer online history courses:
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Website: www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/self-paced-courses
The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers more than 60 courses from their MA in American History program. The courses are taught by scholars from all over the country, and they cover a wide range of topics such as Black history, immigration history, women’s history, military history, government and civics, and more.
The courses are self-paced and feature lectures, seminars, and primary source readings. These courses are not free, but they cost less than $50, and they come with a certificate of completion for 15 hours of professional development credit. The courses are hosted on the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s website.
Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is the leading nonprofit, organization dedicated to promoting K-12 American history education while also serving the general public.
Harvard University:
Website: www.edx.org/school/harvardx
Harvard University offers several history or history-related courses each year. These courses cover topics such as women’s history, religious history, constitutional history, civic history, and more.
The courses are self-paced and require a time commitment of 2-3 hours a week. You can audit the courses for free, but a certificate of completion is also available for between $100 and $200, depending on the course.
The courses are hosted on the edX platform, which is an online education platform founded in 2012 by the administrators of MIT and Harvard.
Founded in 1636, Harvard is a private Ivy League research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest college in the United States and is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Columbia University
Website: www.edx.org/school/columbiax
Columbia University offers a few history courses or history-related courses each year. These courses include topics such as the American Civil War, Reconstruction, and women’s history.
These courses are self-paced and require a time commitment of two to six hours per week, depending on the course. You can take the courses for free, but a certificate of completion is also available for $50.
The courses are hosted on the edX platform. Founded in 1754, Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City.
University of Pennsylvania
Website: www.edx.org/school/pennx
The University of Pennsylvania offers a few history courses or history-related courses each year. These courses include topics such as the history of Hollywood, the history of medicine, medieval manuscripts, and world exploration and discoveries.
These courses are self-paced and require a time commitment of one to four hours per week, depending on the course. You can take the courses for free, but a certificate of completion is also available for between $29 and $169, depending on the course.
The courses are hosted on the edX platform. Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Smithsonian Institute
Website: www.edx.org/school/smithsonianx
The Smithsonian Institute offers a few courses on teaching history. These courses included topics such as teaching Native American history as well as understanding the various challenges associated with teaching history and how to use artifacts and museum objects to teach history.
These courses are self-paced and require a time commitment of one to three hours per week. You can take the courses for free, but a certificate of completion is also available for $69.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institute is a group of museums and education and research centers created by the U.S. government to preserve historical artifacts and educate the public on American history.
Yale University
Website: oyc.yale.edu/
Yale University offers several free introductory history courses through its Yale Open Courses website. The courses feature recordings of lectures taught by distinguished teachers and scholars on topics such as the American Civil War and the American Revolution. The website doesn’t offer credit or a completion certificate for the courses. Registration is not required.
In addition to history courses, these institutions also offer courses in many other subjects, such as math, science, computer programming, and more.
There are also other institutions on the edX platform, such as MIT, Cambridge University, Stanford, and more, that also offer courses besides history.
How to List Online Courses on a Resume:
Once you complete a course and earn a certificate, you can add the course to your resume to highlight your new knowledge and skills.
To list an online course, you can either list it under the “Education” section of your resume or you can create a dedicated “Professional Development” section.
List the course name, the platform/institution, indicate if the institute provided a certificate, and the completion date or date that the certificate was earned, and list any relevant skills or knowledge you gained from the course:
“Advanced Excel Techniques,” University of Pennsylvania, Certificate earned May 2023, gained proficiency in advanced Excel functions and data analysis.
You should also prioritize advanced or specialized courses over introductory ones. Recruiters and potential employers are more impressed by coursework that showcases a deeper understanding and advanced skill development.