If you want to study online, Coursera is the right place to begin. It is a creative and effective platform that offers thousands of learning programs up to a degree level. Today, we evaluate whether Coursera is worth it by exploring its pros and cons.
But the bottom line is that most of its courses are flexible and relevant to the job market. Coursera partners with hundreds of universities around the world to offer learning opportunities to students.
Is Coursera Worth It?
Coursera provides a global open online course in various disciplines, specializations and degrees. Since it is on an open platform, every course will differ in-depth and quality of information.
Coursera is worth it because it offers courses that will boost your knowledge base and assist you in acquiring more skills.
Also, it is an avenue to further your career. Moreover, Coursera has more than four thousand courses, which makes it have value for the money paid.
Once through, you will get certificates that you can present to employers and other educational institutes. Students get engaging and entertaining content that makes them become experts in specific fields.
Features that Make Coursera Worth it
Most of the courses last for about four to twelve hours which you can complete in a work’s time.
1. Courses
One will access the courses around video lectures, readings, online quizzes, and practice exercises.
You have an option to select more than 3200 courses presided by top instructors from various colleges and universities.
Once you complete the course, you will get an electronic version of the certificate at a fee. Such certificates will not offer you professional or academic credits.
Most of the free courses cover a wide range of subjects ranging from social sciences to mathematics.
2. Specialization
Another level above courses is ‘specializations.’ Such specializations will take some weeks before completion, which may last between one to three months. One will focus them on a specific skill.
A specialization entails a group of selected courses within a specific topic. For example, if you opt for data science, you can specialize in studying with a course related to the same. After completion, you will get a certificate.
The free trails take seven days. After that, you have to part with $ 39 every month.
3. Professional Certificate
Another package is professional certificates which take up to six months. The primary purpose is to boost career potentials. Finally, Coursera also offers degrees in collaboration with different universities.
This certificate will provide the necessary skills and experience to facilitate your relevance in the market. After paying for the course, you have to pass the program before getting the final certificate.
You should inquire about the institution or organization you want to recognize the Coursera certificate before presenting it.
The user gets a free version for seven days before you begin to pay $39 every month.
4. MasterTrack Certificate
One can get such programs in a modular format. It is a way of earning career credentials at a cheaper rate. In this module, you will interact with peers and get live expert instruction.
Some of the subjects you will encounter under this program are digital marketing, management, engineering, and constructional design. The course lasts between four to seven months at $2000.
5. Degree
You can get the same degree as the one you will get in other institutions when you begin to study online at your pace.
Coursera offers different degrees which revolve around Information Technology and business.
Coursera partners with reputable institutions such as Yale University to offer affordable bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
There is a 7-day free trial before you begin to pay. If you opt for a monthly plan, it costs $59. A yearly plan goes at $399.
A Review of Pros and Cons of Coursera
Advantages of Coursera
1. Speed
The student who enrolls for Coursera on this platform takes a short duration to complete the study. The only difference is that the student experience differs from that you will encounter in campus classes.
Also, it can take a more extended period to complete a degree suppose that works for you. That means that Coursera is a flexible course that you can’t dare to overlook.
2. Expert-Level Instruction
You will get experts who will impart skills and knowledge to enable you to tackle related challenges in real life. These professionals hold relevant academic credentials to prove that they are equal to the task.
More importantly, the hiring process of these professionals is of a high standard; hence no novice will get a chance to teach on this platform. Coursera partners with various universities to offer the right input to the courses taught.
3. Interactive Platform
Coursera is an active platform where you can take your course on your terms at your convenient time. You have a chance to interact with instructors, fellow learners, and course materials.
There are discussion boards on this platform where students can help one another to understand some assignments and other quizzes. Students can talk to their instructors concerning the course materials.
4. Certificates
Coursera offers certificates that can affect your career positively. Precisely, you can land a job in some organization when you present such certificates.
They will open new doors for you to advance in your career in a great way. Since they are adding more universities to this program, the certificate is gaining more recognition.
Disadvantages of Coursera
1. Application Process
The only frustrating aspect about Coursera is one cannot select a course, pay, and enroll immediately. You have to apply before you get admitted to a particular program.
The waiting game has to be part of the procedure. That can be a disadvantage to one who wants to begin instantly.
2. Limited Assessment Opportunities
It is challenging to complete an assignment and get immediate feedback from instructors. When you are doing a regular course, you will not get the input on time, which can be frustrating. Another thing I some of the assignments could be self-graded.
FAQs on Coursera
Is Coursera Legit?
Coursera is a legit platform since it offers a variety of courses that are acceptable in the job market. Coursera partners with renowned Universities to offer better courses that equip students with the right skills and knowledge. It can be a legit option whenever you want to learn new things at your own pace.
Is Coursera Free?
Before you subscribe to a particular program, you will get a free trial for seven days. You will get a clue of what the entire course carries when you go through this seven-day course. Also, there is a certificate program that is also free.
Is it worth getting a Coursera certificate?
Any certificate course from this platform is worth your attention. Since coursera offers legit courses, be confident that all the certificates are valuable to various employers who recognize them. You should not hesitate to pursue a course on this platform if you want to further your career.
Do employers care about Coursera?
Yes, employers recognize any certificate from Coursera because it has the backing of various institutions that partner with it. The student will get the right skills and knowledge to effectively work in a related field in the job market. For that matter, you should present the certificate to any prospective employer.
Are Coursera certificates respected?
Yes, most of the accredited certificates from Coursera are worth taking. Most employers know and understand that they are valid certificates. You should not be shy of taking any course level as discussed in this write-up since it is credible.
Is it worth putting Coursera on my resume?
Yes, there is no harm in adding the courses you did in Coursera to your resume. Since they are legit courses, many employers will still value them and understand your academic profile. More importantly, they enrich your resume just in the same way you would do to any course you did in the university.
