Free online courses in networking are offered by some real schools. Learn which networking courses are available, what topics they cover and which ones lead to real college credit.
Online Computer Networking Courses for Credit
Students interested in computer networking can find a variety of free courses available online, but these options generally don't lead to college credit. Students who want to earn credit for the classes they take might want to look for online options that charge a small fee in exchange for access to online lessons. These fee-based courses help students earn alternative forms of college credit.
Study.com offers this style of distance learning through its short, engaging video lessons and self-assessment quizzes. There are also free transcripts available. Both the transcripts and the video lessons can be used to earn college credit. Students interested in this path to college credit might find this Business 104: Information Systems and Computer Applications course useful. Some of the chapters in this course include:
Free Online Non-Credited Computer Networking Courses
The Computer Technology Documentation Project
The Computer Technology Documentation Project offers free networking tutorials for those interested in learning more about computer networking. The tutorials can be accessed from a Web page and are separated by chapters. However, the tutorials do not lead to college credit. The CTDP Protocol Summary provides students with a guide of protocols used for network routing, network management and host management. TheNetworking Tutorial provides information regarding TCP/IP network protocols, network architectures and other topics. Experience with networks is not needed. Students also are given references for additional information regarding networking.
Laynetworks
Based in India, Laynetworks is a non-profit organization that provides free information for students related to computer science, including specific topics on networking. The tutorials do not lead to credit, but students can access the information online for free on a Web page. The Subnetting tutorial provides background information on IP (Internet protocol) addresses and networking.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology allows students access to courses covering a variety of computer-related subjects. While taking these classes do not lead to credit, real course material is available, including assignments, exams, lecture notes and projects for free online. The availability of certain material may vary, however, because of the course. The Network and Computer Security course provides students with information regarding risk assessment, software protection, computer security and secure operating systems.
National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning
The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) is based in India and provides video lessons that can be streamed, downloaded or viewed on YouTube. NPTEL materials do not lead to college credit. The Computer Networks course consists of 40 videos, including topics such as network management, satellite communication, routing, wireless networks, cellular networks and network topology.
The Open University
The Open University offers courses that do not lead to credit. Classes are broken down into multiple lessons. Information from the Network Security course is offered through 10 lessions and covers network security, network vulnerabilities, firewalls, authentication, encryption and other subjects.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute provides free non-credit online courses for students in a variety of networking topics. Students can learn from class notes, slides, homework, streaming video and exams. By takingComputer Communication Networks, students can learn about routing, internetworking, network layers and other topics. Broadband and Optical Networks includes lessons in traffic engineering, optical transport networks and routing.
Teracom Training Institute
Teracom Training Institute specializes in providing free online course previews on telecommunication for students who are not engineers. The site's online tutorials offer free instruction, as well as serve as previews for more extensive courses that are provided for a fee. In Tutorial: Dynamic IP Addresses and DHCP, students can learn about IP addresses and their uses.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
This free OpenCourseWare course in networking and telecommunication features lessons in PDF format. While not earning credits, students can still access instruction in network topology, Web programming, communication systems, Web-based learning and other topics.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan offers this free online course with materials available for download. The course does not lead to credit, and students may not be able to access all features from the original course syllabus. In the Networked Computing: Storage, Communication, and Processing class, students can gain sound knowledge in areas sucn as data modeling, technologies on the Web, service-oriented architecture and information systems security.
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