Harvard Online’s Most Terrifying Courses

Published October 31, 2024

Courses Mentioned in this Post: Data Science Principles, Strategic Execution for Public Leadership, Building Personal Resilience, Managing Happiness, Masterpieces of World Literature, CS50's Introduction to Computer Science, Web Programming, and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Sure, ghosts and vampires are scary, but have you ever done something outside of your comfort zone?

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We’re in a spooky mood here at Harvard Online, and we can’t think of anything scarier than doing something new and uncomfortable. Through our online courses, learners can take the leap and step into learning something new from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

Many of our learners use our courses to dive into curiosities outside of their careers or standard education. Our courses also help learners transition into jobs in different industries that they may have never thought possible.

Trying something new and different can be scary, but we’re here to identify the key courses that provide a contrast to common career paths… even if the thought of them is a little terrifying.

If you’re a software engineer…

Does the idea of diving into literature or writing give you goosebumps?

Humanities courses can help us all be more empathetic and creative, especially in such logical work as software engineering and computer science. Start with our Introduction to Digital Humanities course which combines a technical, logic-driven approach to research with the inquisitive nature of humanities. Dive into Masterpieces of World Literature to explore how great writers refract their world or explore our Poetry in America series, which analyzes thematic features of integral poets throughout American history.

If you’re a writer…

Have you ever considered what data science does in our world?

You’ve probably heard the term “data science” but might not really know what it entails. Data science is all around us, from health care to government and more. By understanding simple foundational topics in our (nearly code- and math-free!) Data Science Principles course, you can start to think critically about applications of data in the real world. Once you’ve grasped the concepts of data science, you can dive deeper into our Data Science Professional Certificate series or pivot to a more mathematical course like our course Calculus Applied!

If you’re a doctor…

You might have more in common with Beethoven than you think.

Opera and music performances aren’t all that different from performing in the operating room. Get an understanding of how classical composers and musicians like Beethoven, Handel, Monteverdi, and Stravinsky crafted their legendary pieces through our Classical Works courses. Expand your artistic journey by analyzing baroque and classical works from Handel and Mozart in our 18th-Century Opera course.

If you’re a musician…

Computer science might be for you.

While music lends itself well to creativity and right-brain thinking, computer science can also be very creative despite being logic-based. Consider enrolling in one of our most popular Harvard Online courses, CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science, to start understanding what computer science really is and how programming can be a true art. If you dip your toe in and want even more, try out one of CS50’s subsequent courses to learn Python, web programming with JavaScript, cybersecurity, AI, Scratch, or SQL.

If you’re a business leader…

Check in on your mental health and happiness.

Taking care of your team is an admirable approach for any leader, but it’s equally important to check in on your own mental health and happiness. Everyone can benefit from an environment where mental health is prioritized and nurtured. Learn how to manage anxiety and mental health in our course Building Personal Resilience, and explore the science of happiness through our course Managing Happiness, led by author Arthur Brooks.

If you’re an individual contributor…

Learn how to manage a workforce.

Being a manager or leading a team isn’t for everyone, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning what it takes to be a leader. Join Harvard Kennedy School faculty and former Pentagon Chief of Staff Eric Rosenbach in our course Strategic Execution for Public Leadership, where learners explore how leadership strategies are developed and how to gather input from relevant stakeholders. Then, explore what it takes to be a leader in the modern workplace through our course Remote Work Revolution for Everyone and learn how to excel in the virtual work landscape.

Getting out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be that scary with our remote Harvard Online courses – many of which are self-paced and free to audit. To explore more course offerings, check out our course catalog.