Taking a computer science course at Stanford is a great opportunity that you should definitely take advantage of if you have an interest in computer science. Stanford, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, offers a great introduction to academia and the tech world. Enrolling in their computer science program provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge research, faculty, and a vibrant tech ecosystem. 

In this post, we’ve detailed how you should go about picking the right course for you and 5 of the best computer science courses at Stanford! 

While thinking about which course is a good fit for you, you should: 

• Define Your Focus: identify your specific interests within computer science—be it machine learning, software engineering, or cybersecurity. Clarify your goals, whether they involve research, industry, or entrepreneurship.

• Examine Syllabi and Prerequisites: look at the syllabi to understand content, teaching methods, and assessment types. Check prerequisites to ensure you have the necessary foundation to be adequately prepared..

• Consult Advisors for Personalized Guidance: Schedule a meeting with your high school counselor or computer science teacher to get tailored advice based on your background and goals. 

• Tap into Student Experiences: do your research and read up on online forums, class review sites, and Stanford's testimonials for firsthand student experiences. This will allow you to consider feedback on professors, coursework, and practical applications.

1. Stanford Code In Place (CiP)

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: April 10

Program Dates: April 24 - June 10

Eligibility: Everyone is eligible

Code in Place  teaches students the fundamentals of computer programming using Python  and has applications across various fields of study from humanities and social sciences engineering.

The syllabus is broken up into 6 weeks of material starting with control flow with karel and moving on to more advanced topics like lists, dictionaries, and graphics. You will also be able to attend weekly sessions where you meet with a small group of other CiP students to learn various coding concepts in synchronous meetings. This course is a great option for beginner level coding students who have no prior experience. There are no prerequisites and everyone is welcome to take it!

2. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: February 1

Program Dates: June 26 - July 14

Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students (rising 10th graders during the summer)

Stanford's AI 4 ALL program is an initiative that combines cutting-edge academic exposure with personalized mentorship and hands-on research projects. The program consists of online lectures led by Stanford faculty in computer science, artificial intelligence, and related fields. 

AI 4 ALL  focuses on personal growth with small group mentoring sessions with AI faculty and senior researchers. Beyond the technical realm, you will learn from online lectures delivered by professionals in career and personal development. 

Social events with Stanford AI graduate students further enhance the experience, allowing you to network with those in the field. You will also contribute to the discourse on AI's societal impacts through AI research projects, guided by graduate students and postdocs in computer science and AI.. By the end of the program, you will have gained new technical skills and learned about the ethical and social implications of AI and computer science. Additionally, all students receive a certificate of achievement upon completion of the program. 

3. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging Summer Research Internship (AIMI)

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: March 31

Program Dates: June 17-28, 2024 (Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Pacific Time)

Eligibility: Students must be at least 14 years old and be a California resident.

One AIMIs goals is committed to advancing AI research in medicine for public good, promoting health equity and excellence in healthcare. To further this, they launched the Summer Research Internship for high school students  who are interested in exploring technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare. 

During this two-week virtual program, you will learn the fundamentals of AI in healthcare through lectures, research projects, and mentoring activities with Stanford researchers. An extended independent research internship opportunity may be available for interested program participants. This is a great opportunity for you if you’re looking to pursue AI in the future because you will have the opportunity to network with professionals who are currently in the field and participate in AI research.

4. Stanford Computer Science 101 (CS101)

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: Rolling Basis

Program Dates: 6 weeks at 4-6 hours per week (Self-paced)

Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to participate in this. 

CS101 is a self-paced course that teaches students with no prior experience the essential ideas of computer science. CS101 focuses on simplifying computer science concepts and making them accessible. 

Through the program, you will experiment with short bits of computer code to explore the power and limitations of computers. CS101 also provides you with a general background on computers today - what is a computer, what is hardware, what is software, what is the internet. You will gain exposure to the nature of computers and code, what they can and cannot do, and how computer hardware and software works.You will also be exposed to how digital images and  how structured data works, 

CS101 has a lab component where participants play with short bits of computer code, on their way to understanding the nature of computers. At the end of the course, students will receive a certificate. If you would like to dive into the world of computer science but have very minimal background knowledge, this is a good course to take to learn the fundamentals. 

5. Stanford Online: R Programming Fundamentals

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free 

Application Deadline: Rolling

Program Dates: Self Paced

Eligibility: Everyone is eligible

This course covers the basics of R,  a free programming language and software environment used for statistical computing and graphics. R is widely used by data analysts, statisticians, and data scientists around the world so if you are looking to explore data science in the future, this course is something worth pursuing. 

The course covers an introduction to R, from installation to basic statistical functions and you learn to. work with variable and external data sets, write functions, and hear from one of the co-creator of the R language, Robert Gentleman.

You will also engage in modules covering foundational concepts such as data manipulation, visualization, and statistical analysis using R. The curriculum includes coding exercises, real-world applications, and interactive elements to ensure a practical understanding of the language. Stanford provides you with access to resources such as lecture videos, reading materials, and online forums for discussion and collaboration. 

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

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