Unlock Your Free CS50 Certificate: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you've decided to learn how to code and discovered CS50, one of the best online courses available. You also found out that you can earn a certificate, but the moment you sign up on edX, you're asked to pay a fee. In this article, I'm going to show you how to get around that and obtain your certificate for free.

The edX Enrollment Process

Let's get right into it. First, search for "cs50" on Google and click on the first result, which should be the official Harvard website. To enroll, you are directed to edX.

1. Click on the link to learn more, which takes you to the edX platform.
2. Click on "Enroll."
3. Register for an edX account. You can skip the optional marketing questions.

You will eventually land on a page that asks you to pay. Instead, look for the option to access the course for free and click on that.

Bypassing edX for Coursework

At this point, you can take the course, watch the lectures, and do everything via the CS50-specific pages. You don't need to pay for anything.

When you start the course and watch the first lecture, you will need to find the problem set. Clicking on the problem set link will redirect you to a different page that is not part of the main edX website. You can continue the rest of the course through this new page without ever needing to go back to edX.

Occasionally, the system might ask you to log into edX to confirm your account and keep track of your score, but your primary interaction will be with the CS50 course page.

Completing Assignments and Submitting Your Work

Follow all the instructions provided on the CS50 page. It will tell you specifically what you need to do for each week.

For example, to start from week zero: 1. Click on "Week 0" in the navigation. 2. Watch the lecture. 3. Review the additional materials, which often repeat concepts from the lecture for reinforcement. 4. Click on the "Problem Set" and follow the on-screen instructions. This might include tasks like installing Google Chrome and implementing a Scratch project.

Submitting via GitHub

The instructions will guide you on how to submit your work. This process typically involves using GitHub.

1. Create a GitHub Account: If you don't have one, go to GitHub and create a free account.
2. Authorize CS50: You will be given a link to authorize the CS50 application with your GitHub account.
3. Follow Submission Steps: The page will provide precise instructions on how to submit your assignments through GitHub to the CS50 server.

This submission process is somewhat related to edX for tracking purposes, but you don't need to use the edX interface for your work.

A Typical Week's Workflow

You will repeat this process for every week of the course. Let's take the Python week as an example:

1. Watch the Lecture: If you don't understand the material the first time, remember you can always watch it again.
2. Review Section Materials: This section provides additional information you might need to complete your homework.
3. Practice Problems: Work through the practice problems to solidify your understanding.
4. Complete the Lab: The lab provides a hands-on project with detailed instructions.
5. Submit Your Work: Follow the submission instructions for the lab and the problem set.

This same structure applies all the way through to the final project.

Claiming Your Free Certificate

Once you have completed all the requirements, look for a link on the left side of the course page that says "CS50 Certificate."

Clicking on that link will allow you to get a certificate that comes directly from the CS50 team. The page provides all the details you need: - What you need to do to get the certificate. - How to claim it.

Free vs. Verified Certificate

The page also explains the difference if you wanted a "verified" certificate from edX. A verified certificate is the exact same thing as the free one, with one exception: you have to submit a copy of your driver's license or passport to prove your identity.

It is not "verified" in the sense that someone monitored you to ensure you knew all the material. You are essentially paying for an identity verification step for a certificate you can otherwise get for free.