Best University of Pennsylvania Online Courses

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Contributor, Benzinga
August 26, 2020

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Coursera offers online courses from the University of Pennsylvania to give you the Ivy League experience at your fingertips. The classes are free, and there are options for all skill levels to choose from. 

Benzinga has compiled the top selections to make it easier to find a course that works for you. 

Quick Look: Best University of Pennsylvania Online Courses

Take a glimpse at the best University of Pennsylvania online courses from Coursera: 

What Makes a University of Pennsylvania Online Course Great?

You may want to consider Coursera for the University of Pennsylvania for many reasons. 

Includes Bonus Resources

Not only will you be taught by an accomplished professor and subject-matter expert, but you will also have access to bonus resources to help you fully grasp the essentials of the course. Most options feature bonus readings, projects, quizzes and video lectures to provide you with an exceptional virtual learning experience. 

Self-Paced

If you enroll in an online program directly through the University of Pennsylvania, you may be forced to meet pressing deadlines that don’t quite work for your busy schedule. But Coursera doesn’t work this way — you have the freedom to watch lectures and complete coursework whenever you see fit. 

Affordable

Don’t spend thousands on a course. These online courses from the University of Pennsylvania are free. Keep in mind that if you want the class to count towards a certificate or degree program, you may have to pay a fee to upgrade your enrollment. 

Our Top Picks

Read on for a list of the top courses. You will notice that we’ve included a description of who the class is for and what it covers. This information is included to help you evaluate the options with ease and make an informed decision. 

Best University of Pennsylvania Online Courses

Here are the top University of Pennsylvania online courses found on Coursera. 

1. How to Apply to College

Who it's for: Individuals who plan to apply to college soon

Price: Free

Confused about the college search, application or selection process? Look no further than this course to help you navigate every stage of the process and prepare you for a successful transition to college. 

How to Apply to College is led by Eric J. Furda, Dean of Admissions and Dr. Sean Verren, President of Steppingstone Scholars Inc. It includes 6 modules: 

  • Starting the Journey to College
  • Self-Assessment and Telling Your Story
  • Paying for College 
  • Exploring College Campuses: What to Consider 
  • The Pieces of the College Application 
  • Transitions to College 

Each module features a series of videos, supplementary readings and quizzes to provide you with a holistic online learning experience. 

Expect to spend 22 hours working through the material. 

Enroll now

2. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content 

Who it's for: Aspiring and current marketing professionals 

Price: Free

You’ll discover proven strategies marketing professionals use to create content that captivates their target market in just four hours. These techniques can be applied to brands, ideas and products to help them get noticed and succeed in the marketplace. 

Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content consists of 4 segments: 

  • What Makes Ideas Sticky?
  • How Social Influence Shapes Behavior
  • The Power of Word of Mouth 
  • Social Networks 

You will learn how to make ideas stick and what it really takes to increase your influence. There are also lessons on leveraging the power of word of mouth and social networks to achieve your desired results. 

The class is taught by Marketing Professor Jonah Berger. 

Enroll now.

3. Microeconomics: The Power of Markets

Who it's for: Economics students 

Price: Free

Microeconomics: The Power of Markets is a popular course offering facilitated by Senior Economics Lecturer Rebecca Stein. She introduces students to the microeconomic theory of markets. You will discover how this theory works, why it’s necessary and its core functions. 

Here’s a look at the course syllabus: 

  • The Concept of Scarcity
  • Specialization and Trade 
  • Supply and Demand
  • Understanding Markets: Elasticities, Market Surplus, Efficiency and Equity 
  • When Government Intervenes 

Instruction is provided through video lectures and supplementary readings. You’ll also complete quizzes during each segment to assess your comprehension of the material. 

It takes approximately 15 hours to finish the class. 

Enroll now

4. Introduction to Dental Medicine 

Who it's for: Dental students and individuals interested in dental education

Price: Free

When you enroll in this course, you will get an overview of dental medicine. The instruction provided is designed to engage, educate and excite students so they can improve the overall health of their patients and others they may serve in the community. 

You will receive detailed insights on the scope of dentistry and current trends in the field. Plus, you’ll find lessons on the jaw, mouth, pathology, tooth anatomy and various treatment options. 

Introduction to Dental Medicine includes 4 sections:

  • Introduction to Dental Medicine and its Relation to Public Health
  • Form and Function of the Oral Cavity 
  • Comprehensive Evaluation of Dental Patient Needs
  • Most Common Dental Diseases Affecting Teeth and Periodontium 

The class is co-facilitated by Dr. Uri Hangorsky, associate dean for academic affairs, Dr. Thomas P. Sollecito, professor and chairman of oral medicine and Dr. Eric Stoopler, associate professor of oral medicine. 

Enroll now

5. Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society 

Who it's for: New designers

Price: Free

Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Karl T. Ulrich brings you this introductory course on design essentials. Its primary goal is to make you a better designer and improve your overall design performance. 

Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society includes these sections: 

  • Introduction to Design
  • Customer Needs and Drawing Solutions
  • Design Concepts
  • Concept Selection and Prototyping
  • Aesthetics
  • Final Project Submission

You’ll view a host of video lectures to grasp design fundamentals and weekly challenges to gauge whether you fully understand the vital concepts and can apply them in your work.

Prepare to spend 22 hours on the course.  

Enroll now

6. Orchestrating Whole Classroom Discussion 

Who it's for: Instructors who want to lead more productive classroom discussions

Price: Free

Are you tired of your in-class discussions going nowhere? If you’d like to motivate your students to engage in more insightful talks with their peers, this course is for you. 

Orchestrating Whole Classroom Discussion sheds light on the most effective ways to prepare for discussions to achieve the outcomes you want in your classroom. 

Here’s what you can expect to learn while enrolled: 

  • What is Discussion? Why Discuss?
  • Setting Goals and Establishing Norms for Discussion
  • Preparing a Text for Discussion
  • Preparing Students for Discussion

The course is co-instructed by Pam Grossman, Dean and George and Diane Weiss professor of education at the Graduate School of Education, and Assistant Professor Lisa M. Barker from Towson University. 

Enroll now

7. The Oral Cavity: Portal to Health and Disease 

Who it's for: Dental and other healthcare students and professionals

Price: Free

The Oral Cavity: Portal to Health and Disease explores the relationship between dentistry and medicine. It includes a series of videos featuring medical specialists who share an overview of a specific disease and dental educators who cover oral manifestations of the same disease and its implications. 

Instruction is also provided by Thomas P. Sollecito, Eric Stoopler and Uri Hangorsky. Take a look at the course syllabus: 

  • The Interplay Between Medicine and Dentistry
  • Pain Management: Approaches and Challenges 
  • Diabetic Patients and Their Care
  • Endocrine Disorders: Understanding Thyroid Cancer and Osteoporosis

Expect to spend 16 hours watching the videos. 

Enroll now

8. Microeconomics: When Markets Fail 

Who it's for: Economics students 

Price: Free

Another exceptional offering from Rebecca Stein, senior lecturer: Microeconomics: When Markets Fail delves into market imperfections. You will also learn more about why markets fail and how to apply remedies, like antitrust policy, government intervention or regulation. 

She divides the course into these segments: 

  • Costs and Profits + Perfect Competition
  • Monopoly
  • Externalities + Public Goods
  • Asymmetric Information and Inequality

Throughout the class, you will view the vital concepts in practice through a series of current events introduced in weekly exercises. 

It takes approximately 12 hours to get through the video lectures, supplementary readings and quizzes. 

Enroll now

9. Modern and Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”)

Who it's for: Poetry enthusiasts

Price: Free

Join Kelly Professor and the Director of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing Al Filreis as he walks you through modern and contemporary U.S. poetry. This course focuses on experimental verse from Emily Dickson, Walt Whitman and other poets who’ve used this technique over time. 

Modern and Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”) features the following segments: 

  • Whitman and Dickinson, two proto-modernists
  • Whitmanians and Dicksonians
  • The Rise of Poetic Modernism: Imagism
  • The Rise of Poetic Modernism: Williams
  • The Rise of Poetic Modernism: Stein
  • The Rise of Poetic Modernism: Modernist Edges 
  • Communist Poets of the 1930s
  • The Harlem Renaissance
  • Frost 
  • Formalism of the 1950s
  • Breaking Conformity: The Beats
  • The New York School
  • Some Trends in Recent Poetry: L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E
  • Some Trends in Recent Poetry: Chance
  • Some Trends in Recent Poetry: Conceptualism and Unoriginality 

The poems are discussed individually, so you should allocate at least 77 hours in your schedule to complete the course. 

Enroll now

Find the Perfect University of Pennsylvania Online Course 

When you’re ready to move forward, consider a course from our list of recommendations. You can enroll with confidence, knowing they are led by top instructors that offer useful resources to help you succeed. 

The classes are also self-paced, so you can take as much time as you need to work through the material. Most importantly, you will be one step closer to meeting your educational or career goal when you reach the finish line.

Southern New Hampshire University Online

SNHU Online Offers:

  1. Flexible schedules
  2. Affordable tuition
  3. Online tutoring
  4. Access to electronic research materials
  5. Specialized academic advising
  6. Supportive online community

Learn more at SNHU.