open-source-cs — questions and answers

Question 1

What is this?

Accepted Answer

This is a curated list of free online courses from top universities (MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Duke and others) organized so that completing them covers the same material as an undergraduate Computer Science degree, minus general education requirements.

Question 2

Is this an actual university degree program or just a reading list?

Accepted Answer

It's not an accredited degree — it's a self-study roadmap of real, free MOOCs organized into seven category tables (Basics, Programming, Math, Systems, Theory, Applications, Unix) that mirror the structure of a CS degree's coursework.

Question 3

Where should I start?

Accepted Answer

Start with Harvard's 'Intro to Computer Science' course, which lists no prerequisites, then work through the Programming, Math, Systems, Theory, Applications and Unix tables roughly in order.

Question 4

Do I need any programming experience before starting?

Accepted Answer

No — the entry-level courses like Harvard's intro course and Duke's 'Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software' explicitly require no prerequisites, though later courses build on earlier ones in the same table.

Question 5

Does finishing this list give me a real degree or certificate?

Accepted Answer

No, this is a self-directed study plan rather than an accredited program, so completing it doesn't grant an official university degree or transcript credit.

Question 6

What subjects does the curriculum cover?

Accepted Answer

It's split into seven categories: CS Basics, Programming, Math, Systems, Theory, Applications, and Unix, covering things like Java, calculus, linear algebra, algorithms, machine learning, cryptography, and the Linux command line.

Question 7

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

Accepted Answer

Largely yes — many entries list another course in the same table as a prerequisite (for example 'Programming Languages, Part B' requires 'Part A'), so each table is meant to be followed roughly top to bottom.

Question 8

Are all the courses in this list free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the README explicitly describes the collection as 'a curated list of free courses' pulled from schools like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and Princeton.

Question 9

Why use this instead of paying for a bootcamp or degree?

Accepted Answer

It lets you work through the same core CS topics — programming, math, systems, theory, and applications — using free university-level MOOCs instead of paying tuition for a formal degree.

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software	Duke	4 weeks	4-8 hours/week	twice a month	none
Java Programming: Arrays, Lists, and Structured Data	Duke	4 weeks	4-8 hours/week	twice a month	Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software
Object Oriented Programming in Java	Duke	6 weeks	4-6 hours/week	every week	Java Programming: Arrays, Lists, and Structured Data
Data Structures and Performance	Duke	6 weeks	6-10 hours/week	every week	Object Oriented Programming in Java
Java Programming: Principles of Software Design	Duke	4 weeks	4-8 hours/week	twice a month	Java Programming: Arrays, Lists, and Structured Data
Java Programming: Build a Recommendation System	Duke	4 weeks	3-6 hours/week	once a month	Java Programming: Principles of Software Design
Programming Languages, Part A	UW	5 weeks	8-16 hours/week	once a month	Object Oriented Programming in Java
Programming Languages, Part B	UW	3 weeks	8-16 hours/week	once a month	Programming Languages, Part A
Programming Languages, Part C	UW	3 weeks	8-16 hours/week	once a month	Programming Languages, Part B

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Calculus 1A: Differentiation	MIT	12 weeks	6-10 hours/week	self-paced	pre-calculus
Calculus 1B: Integration	MIT	15 weeks	6-10 hours/week	self-paced	Calculus 1A: Differentiation
Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series	MIT	8 weeks	6-10 hours/week	self-paced	Calculus 1B: Integration
Linear Algebra - Foundations to Frontiers	UT Austin	15 weeks	6-10 hours/week	self-paced	pre-calculus
Introduction to Probability and Data	Duke	5 weeks	5-7 hours/week	twice a month	none
Intro to Statistics	Udacity	8 weeks	5-7 hours/week	self-paced	none

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris	Hebrew University of Jerusalem	6 weeks	5 hours/week	twice a month	basic programming knowledge
Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris II	Hebrew University of Jerusalem	6 weeks	10-15 hours/week	once a month	Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines	Princeton	10 weeks	2-5 hours/week	once a month	Calculus 1A (all), basic programming
Algorithms, Part I	Princeton	6 weeks	6-12 hours/week	once a month	Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines
Algorithms, Part II	Princeton	6 weeks	6-12 hours/week	once a month	Algorithms, Part I

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Software Engineering: Introduction	UBCx	6 weeks	8-10 hours/week	self-paced	Java Programming: Build a Recommendation System
Machine Learning	Stanford	11 weeks	5-7 hours/week	twice a month	Linear Algebra - Foundations to Frontiers
Database Management Essentials	CU	7 weeks	4-6 hours/week	twice a month	basic programming & CS knowledge
Cryptography I	Stanford	7 weeks	5 hours/week	once a month	Linear Algebra - Foundations to Frontiers & Introduction to Probability and Data

open-source-cs README

The Open Source Computer Science Degree

Computer Science Basics

Programming

Math

Systems

Theory

Applications

Unix

Courses	School	Duration	Effort	Frequency	Prerequisites
Linux Command Line Basics	IBM	1 week	12 hours/week	self-paced	none
The Unix Workbench	JHU	4 weeks	4 hours/week	once a month	none