The Open Source Computer Science Degree
A curated list of free university courses that together cover a standard CS degree.ForrestKnight/open-source-cs
- Stars
- 23.8k
- Forks
- 3.3k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- —
- Last update
- 1.4 years ago
- Type
- Learning resource
No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.
What it is
This is a list of free online courses from universities such as MIT, Stanford, Princeton, and Harvard, grouped into topics like programming, math, systems, theory, and applications. The author says the courses together meet the requirements of an undergraduate computer science degree, excluding general education. People use it as a self-directed study path in place of enrolling in a degree program.
- Pick a starting course in the Computer Science Basics section and follow the listed prerequisite chain
- Plan a multi-month study schedule using the listed weekly hour estimates
- Find a free Algorithms or Operating Systems-adjacent course to deepen theory knowledge
- Use the Unix section to learn command-line basics before programming courses
Great for
- Self-taught learners who want a structured order of study
- Students looking for free supplements to a degree or bootcamp
- Developers who want to fill gaps in theory such as algorithms or systems
- People who prefer self-paced study and can keep their own schedule
Not ideal for
- People who need an accredited credential, since the README describes courses, not a degree, and does not mention certificates
- Absolute beginners who have never written code, because several courses list prerequisites like basic programming knowledge
- Anyone wanting a single tutorial, since this is a list of many separate courses with varying formats
How to get it
- 1
Read it online
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ForrestKnight/open-source-cs - 2
Run it
- Open the README on GitHub and read the Computer Science Basics table
- Sign up for the first course, such as Harvard's CS50x, on its linked platform
- Work through the course at the listed weekly effort
- Move to the next course in the listed prerequisite order
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Follow the prerequisite column to build a valid learning order instead of picking courses at random
- Match your weekly time to the Effort column so you can plan realistic milestones
- Start with the Unix and Computer Science Basics sections if you are new to programming
- Pair the theory sections with the programming sections to see algorithms applied in code
Downloads
Strengths
- Courses come from well-known universities and are free to take or audit according to the list's framing
- Each entry lists duration, weekly effort, and prerequisites, which helps with planning
- Prerequisite links show a sensible order from basics through theory and applications
Trade-offs
- Many links go to third-party affiliate or tracking URLs, and some courses may require paid certificates; the README does not say which
- Course availability and schedules can change, and the README's frequency information may be out of date
- The list is curated by one person and the README does not explain how courses were chosen beyond their being reputable
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open-source-cs (this) | 23.8k | Learning resource | intermediate | 1.4 years ago | Self-taught learners who want a structured order of study |
| computer-science | 211k | Learning resource | advanced | 4 months ago | Self-motivated adults who want a structured path through CS fundamentals |
| javascript-algorithms | 197k | Learning resource | beginner | 3 months ago | Students learning core computer science concepts in JavaScript |
| ciencia-da-computacao | 21k | Learning resource | beginner | 6 months ago | Brazilian Portuguese speakers who want a structured self-study computer science curriculum |
| tech-interview-for-developer | 17.7k | Learning resource | beginner | 1.4 years ago | Korean-speaking junior developers preparing for technical interviews |
| professional-programming | 51.7k | Curated list | beginner | 10 days ago | Software engineers who want to build professional habits and broader engineering judgment |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.