These questions provide answers for learners enrolled in Penn's non-credit online offerings. If you have questions related to your user account on Penn's Online Learning Platform, please visit the Platform FAQ page.
If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a range of online options, both credit and non-credit. Review the options and decide which type is most interesting to you or best fits your goals. You can also search for a course or program by keyword or filter your search by field of study, credit or non-credit, and instructor.
No. While Penn MOOCs offered through our partner platforms may draw on material from courses taught on-campus, they are not equivalent to a for-credit course and completion of a MOOC does not constitute enrollment or credit at Penn. Coursera/edX verifies a learner’s completion of a course based on the requirements set by Penn MOOC course teams, but Penn is not able to verify learners’ completion due to privacy protections.Â
Most courses consist of 4-6 modules that could be completed in four to six weeks. Self-paced courses allow you to progress as quickly or as slowly as you would like. Coursera and edX also offer non-credit online learning programs that help you master a specific skill or topic. Some series are short, consisting of 3 courses completed over a few months. Other series include multiple courses that can take up to a year to complete. The home page for the course or program you’re interested in has that information detailed on it.
The cost varies, though a certificate is available for purchase in most courses. Some offerings have a free or audit option that allows for full access to the course while others require enrollment in a certificate track for full access. The home page for the course or program you’re interested in has that information detailed on it. Coursera and edX offer assistance for those who are not able to pay the full cost of the course.
Anyone over the age of 13 can enroll in Penn’s non-credit Coursera and edX courses. For additional options, explore Penn’s College of Liberal & Professional Studies site.
Penn alumni, current students, or staff do not have free access to these courses. Penn alumni may wish to participate in the Alumni Exclusive Online Course, available for a special alumni price. Penn staff may wish to check with their department to explore the possibility of using professional development funds to cover the course cost.
These options are non-credit and therefore are not interchangeable with for-credit courses even if the subject matter is similar.Â
Use the course search function on the Online Learning Platform to find information on online degree programs.Â
Please see each learning platform’s help centers: Coursera’s Learner Help Center and edX’s FAQs both have a host of helpful answers.