What are the best computer networking courses on Coursera?

Top networking courses include Computer Communications from the University of Colorado and Google's Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking . These cover key topics like network protocols, IP addressing, DNS, routing, and cybersecurity .

Can I learn computer networking for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many networking courses offer a free audit option, which lets you access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To earn a certificate or complete assessments, you’ll need to pay or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a computer networking course?

You’ll learn how data moves across the internet , how networks are designed and secured, and how to troubleshoot common connectivity issues. Courses often cover TCP/IP , firewalls , VPNs, switches, and wireless networks.

Do I need a technical background to start learning about computer networks?

No prior experience is required for most beginner-level networking courses . They introduce concepts step by step and are suitable for learners looking to build a solid foundation in IT or computer science .

Can Coursera’s networking courses help me get a job in IT?

Yes. Networking is a core skill in many IT roles, including technical support , systems administration , and cybersecurity . Completing a course or certificate program can help you build job-ready skills and prepare for industry certifications like CompTIA Network+ or Cisco’s CCNA .

Top Computer Network Courses - Learn Computer Network Online

Find the Best Computer Network Course for Your Goals

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accelerated Computer Science Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Graph Theory, Development Environment, Engineering Software, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Debugging, Program Development, Database Systems, Database Theory, Network Routing, Theoretical Computer Science, Data Storage
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado System
Fundamentals of Network Communication
Skills you'll gain: Digital Communications, OSI Models, Network Protocols, TCP/IP, Network Routing, Network Architecture, Network Planning And Design, Computer Networking, Network Model, System Programming, Data Integrity
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Python for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Processing, Relational Databases, JSON, Database Design, SQL, Network Protocols, Databases, Web Services, Restful API, Data Modeling, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Data Import/Export, Software Installation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
277K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Data Science: Foundations using R
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Version Control, Statistical Analysis, R Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Science, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Programming, Ggplot2, Big Data, Git (Version Control System), Data Integration, Knitr, Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Statistical Reporting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
48K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, SQL, Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Jupyter, Data Literacy, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Mining, Data Cleansing, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Pandas (Python Package), Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
143K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Python Data Structures
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Python Programming, Programming Principles, Data Import/Export, Data Manipulation, Development Environment, File Management
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
97K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
DeepLearning.AI
Advanced Computer Vision with TensorFlow
Skills you'll gain: Computer Vision, Tensorflow, Image Analysis, Applied Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Feature Engineering, Artificial Neural Networks, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Data Processing, Network Architecture
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
520 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM Full-Stack JavaScript Developer
Skills you'll gain: Istio, Node.JS, Software Development Life Cycle, Server Side, MongoDB, Application Deployment, CI/CD, Cloud-Native Computing, React Redux, NoSQL, Kubernetes, Restful API, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), Cloud Applications, Containerization, GitHub, HTML and CSS, Ajax, Interviewing Skills
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Programming Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Algorithms, Pseudocode, Computational Thinking, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Software Testing, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
Skills you'll gain: Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Software Installation, Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
231K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
DeepLearning.AI
Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Skills you'll gain: Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Supervised Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Performance Tuning
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
123K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM DevOps and Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Continuous Integration, Software Development Life Cycle, Linux Commands, Agile Software Development, Unit Testing, Cloud Computing Architecture, Application Deployment, Test Driven Development (TDD), Gherkin (Scripting Language), Jenkins, Kubernetes, Bash (Scripting Language), Cloud Services, Git (Version Control System), DevOps, Jupyter, Grafana
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
60K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months