CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

Overview

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This is CS50x , Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. An entry-level course taught by David J. Malan, CS50x teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. The on-campus version of CS50x , CS50, is Harvard's largest course.

Students who earn a satisfactory score on 9 problem sets (i.e., programming assignments) and a final project are eligible for a certificate. This is a self-paced course–you may take CS50x on your own schedule.

HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.

HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

Taught by

David J. Malan

Reviews

4.6 rating, based on 189 Class Central reviews

Start your review of CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

Anonymous

CS50 is fantastic. I read that it is the single most popular course at Harvard. People who aren’t even CS majors sign up to take the course. On campus, they have tshirts, free food, a hackathon, etc. You don’t get any of that on edX, but you do get…

CS50 is fantastic. I read that it is the single most popular course at Harvard. People who aren’t even CS majors sign up to take the course. On campus, they have tshirts, free food, a hackathon, etc. You don’t get any of that on edX, but you do get the following: a great IDE developed by CS50 TAs, a community of support on reddit, stackoverflow, facebook, twitter, etc., debugging tool (debug50), and a tool to immediately check if your pset solution is correct (check50). There is even a little fun CS50 tv show with little 2 min episodes after each lecture. I could go on. You don’t have to take notes on the lectures because there’s a webpage that has all the notes. There are short videos done by TAs explaining some of the concepts in more detail. There are walkthroughs that help you set up the pset solutions.
Billy Lim

A lot of effort can be seen to be placed in the production of lectures/shorts, making it very enjoyable and the concepts understandable. However, if you already know the concepts, the videos can seem overly-theatrical.
Chris Dziewa

I thought this was a great introduction to computer science. The instructor David Malan is one of the most charismatic instructors I've ever seen. The team behind this course did a phenomenal job in creating an extremely thought out curriculum with challenging and interesting problem sets. This is not an easy course but was well worth the effort.
Sanchali Singh

Really helpful, specially if you are looking forward for some extra and advance this is the thing. I opted for this course before my college to enhance my learning and to add new things to my skills and my upcoming resume.
Lokesh Pathe

its a begginer friendly course that is very simple and innovative. Students must complete this as soon as possible. it give you the overall understanding of coding and its concepts .
F. G.

I learned a lot in this course. It's an excellent (and challenging) introduction to programming that will give you a solid foundation to learn many other programming topics. Recommended!
Mike Santos

Great course, I was able to learn a lot in a short time, I thank Harvard for the excellent content, giving the opportunity to people like me who needed this knowledge.
Anonymous

This is CS50x , Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. An entry-level course taught by David J. Malan, CS50x teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming.
Md Mynul Islam

I thought it was all very relevant, appropriate for all degrees of learner, and was very useful. Access to the
materials are invaluable.
Hamoon Jamshidi Meydandar

I have tried many introductory courses/books/websites for computer science and programming. This one is my favorite.
It is challenging to complete the tasks, but they are designed so after you finish them, you will have a fantastic vision of a computer scientist.
Gita Pranisa Novyan

The presentation of the material presented was very clear and easy to understand, I gained a lot of new insights and knowledge.
Kgd Khdky

this is the best course to get your feet wet in CS.
when you finish the course you'll be amazed of how much new things you learned and how many challenging problems you solved and you'll also build a project to spice up your portfolio.
Anonymous

This is the best course for Computer Science at introductory level.
Giovana Ferreira

The course is beginner friendly, well rounded and has a great pacing for its formatting. I’m astonished at how much I learned with just one class and the teachers baggage shows in his teaching dynamic
Anonymous

This course is not for beginners. My husband is a computer programmer and used some of the problem sets as interview questions for new hires. There are better classes out there for true beginners.
Anonymous

amazing work. demanding but helpful and comprehensive.
Anonymous

One of the best online courses out there. Prof. Malan's enthusiasm makes computer science come alive. Highly recommended as a first course in computer science.
Abimael Gandara

Hi My Name is Abimael I´m first learner here in Class Central, hope this would be a great learning experience. I haven´t taken classes in a long time so hopefully we can finish this class and get a certificate (at a affordable price) and move on from there, thanks to Class Central for creating this place to learn free without charge. I am from Mexico we have moved forward on this matter with free education online from our best colleges hopefully other countries would soon have this going.
Batocabe, Nerds C.

CS50's Introduction to Computer Science offers a comprehensive journey into the world of coding. Through engaging lectures, problem sets, and projects, this course equips learners with fundamental programming concepts. Its dynamic approach, led by the charismatic David Malan, makes complex topics accessible to beginners while challenging seasoned programmers. From basic algorithms to web development, it covers a wide spectrum, fostering a holistic understanding of computer science. The supportive online community and vast resources further enhance the learning experience. CS50 not only teaches coding but also cultivates problem-solving skills crucial in the tech industry. A must for aspiring programmers.
Anonymous

I started the course two years ago. It was so dificult and demanded so many extra searchs that I found better to learn with books. Now I just returned to get the certificate. The idea is nice but you can find better matterials and better support for free on the internet. In the end have the certification with the name Harvard is a good thing.