Free Online Distributed Computing Courses & MOOCs

Coursera

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 1 (Coursera)

CS: Theory CS: Information & Technology

Dive into the core concepts that power today's cloud computing systems. This introductory course covers essential techniques, algorithms, and design philosophies for building scalable and efficient cloud solutions. From understanding clouds to mastering MapReduce and exploring NoSQL stores, this course is designed for those eager to grasp the fundamentals of distributed systems.

Jun 8th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Programming Cloud Algorithms

Coursera

Rice University

Distributed Programming in Java (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering CS: Programming

Discover Distributed Programming in Java with this comprehensive course designed for industry professionals and students alike. Learn essential concepts and apply them using frameworks such as Hadoop, Spark, Sockets, RMI, Kafka, MPI, and more to develop efficient distributed applications in Java 8. Boost your ability to handle large-scale data processing and improve application performance.

Jun 8th 2026

4 Weeks

Programming Java MPI

Coursera

The University of Sydney

Blockchain Scalability and its Foundations in Distributed Systems (Coursera)

CS: Information & Technology

Dive into the world of Blockchain scalability with this expert-led course from Coursera. Gain a deep understanding of the foundational principles of distributed systems and learn how to secure and scale your blockchain applications effectively. Explore consensus mechanisms, identify vulnerabilities in mainstream blockchains, and discover strategies for creating robust, scalable blockchain solutions.

Jun 8th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Algorithms Networks Computer Science

Coursera

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2 (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering CS: Theory

Dive deep into the foundational principles of cloud computing with 'Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2'. This comprehensive online course explores critical distributed system concepts like Clouds, MapReduce, key-value stores, and more. Learn how to leverage these fundamental techniques to build scalable and efficient cloud-based solutions.

Jun 1st 2026

5-12 Weeks

Programming Cloud Algorithms

Coursera

Vanderbilt University

Programming for a Networked World (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering

Embark on an exciting journey into the world of computer programming with 'Programming for a Networked World'. This beginner-friendly course uses NetsBlox, a unique block-based visual programming tool designed to make learning fun and accessible. Dive deep into modern computer science principles such as networking, internet protocols, and distributed computing systems.

Jun 1st 2026

5-12 Weeks

Programming Computer Networking Computer Programming

Coursera

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Programming Reactive Systems (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering Computer Science

Discover the fundamentals of reactive programming and learn how to implement robust, scalable, and resilient systems with this comprehensive online course. Specializing in Scala, you'll explore event-handlers, concurrent systems using Akka Actors, stream processing with Akka Streams, and more to build responsive applications that can handle varying workloads.

May 18th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Handling Data Workload Optimization Stream

Coursera

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Programming Reactive Systems (Scala 2 version) (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering

Dive into the world of reactive systems with our Programming Reactive Systems (Scala 2 version) course on Coursera. This course will equip you with the skills to build scalable, resilient, and responsive applications using Scala and Akka. Explore event-driven programming, actors, asynchronous computations, and more.

May 18th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Programming Scala Cloud Computing

Coursera

University of California, Davis

Distributed Computing with Spark SQL (Coursera)

Data Science

Expand your SQL expertise into the realm of distributed computing with our 'Distributed Computing with Spark SQL' course. Designed for those familiar with SQL, this comprehensive program will guide you through understanding and utilizing Apache Spark's powerful capabilities in handling large-scale data processing and machine learning tasks efficiently.

Jan 13th 2025

4 Weeks

Computing SQL Machine Learning

Coursera

Intel Corporation

Fundamentals of Parallelism on Intel Architecture (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering

Dive into the world of parallel computing with our Fundamentals of Parallelism on Intel Architecture course. Whether you're a developer, researcher, or enthusiast, this course will equip you with the knowledge to harness the power of multi-core processors effectively. Gain access to a cluster of cutting-edge Intel Xeon Phi architecture processors and apply your learning through practical programming exercises.

Mar 6th 2023

5-12 Weeks

Programming OpenMP Parallel Computing