Best online courses and certificate programs to master new skills in 2022
It’s safe to say that just about everyone is ready for this ongoing pandemic to end. For many of us, the last two years have been one they’ll never forget, but it’s important to look forward and move forward.
While we hope you’ve started planning out some of your New Year’s resolutions in the last week or so, it’s still not too late to create some goals in 2022! And, if one of them is to learn something new (perhaps with one of our favorite online cooking classes), we’ve got you covered.
From Coursera and Rosetta Stone to MasterClass and Skillshare, these platforms have an endless array of options for you to learn from. Be sure to note that if one of the classes listed has a monthly price, you may be able to access other classes on that same platform during the time of your membership. Who doesn’t love more opportunities to learn?
Ahead, we listed the 30 best online courses in a variety of different categories to help expand your horizons and broaden your mind. Learn how to code, sing, cook, build a fashion brand, dance and so much more. The best part? You’ll learn new skills and feel inspired to achieve some of your goals head-on.
Click to jump to specific classes:
Computer Classes
This 10-course learning course is great for those who want to learn more about HTML, JavaScript and JPEG. It teaches you coding basics so it’s great for beginners or even pros looking to brush up on their skills with more than 120 hours of training.
Adobe Illustrator is used by millions for digital graphics, illustrations and typography. This beginner-friendly class is a great way to explore the field or even take a hobby to the next level. The course includes 41 video tutorials that cover the fundamentals. An added bonus? The instructor, Eric Vasquez, is an art director and designer with experience working for Nickelodeon, WWE, MLB, Oxygen, Spike TV and more.
3. University of Colorado Boulder Excel Learning Course, $49 a month
Excel can be super intimidating but since so many professionals use it on a daily basis, it’s good to stay in the know. This beginners course aims to have you explore the popular spreadsheet program, tackle data management tasks, develop column charts, pie charts, edit worksheets, columns and rows and format cells in just 24 hours.
Language Classes
Rosetta Stone offers a variety of language courses to teach many different languages for all learning levels. Languages include Spanish, French, Italian, German, English, Dutch, Greek and many more.
2. UC Davis Basic Spanish Course, $49 a month
The University of California, Davis’ learning course on Coursera helps beginner Spanish students to build a working vocabulary of 1,500 of the most used words and phrases.
Music & Dance Classes
1. Christina Aguilera Singing Lessons, $15 a month
Learn how to sing with none other than Christina Aguilera in a MasterClass course for just $15 a month. You’ll learn warm-up exercises, breath control, vibrato, her signature growls and hear Christina break down her biggest hits.
2. Misty Copeland Ballet Course, $15 a month
Learn from the ground-breaking Misty Copeland, who is the first African American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Through MasterClass, she will teach you all about developing a deeper appreciation for ballet and the language of dance. From pliés to partners, Misty demonstrates her techniques and teaches you to own your movement, own who you are and do the dance only you can do.
3. Usher Art of Performance Class, $15 a month
Eight-time Grammy winner Usher is another entertainer you can learn from. In his MasterClass course, he reveals the technical skills, career lessons and breakthrough advice that he has used to captivate audiences for over 25 years.
4. Berklee College of Music Guitar For Beginners Course, $39 a month
Berklee College of Music’s beginner guitar course on Coursera will help you grasp the essentials needed to begin playing acoustic or electric guitar. You’ll learn an easy approach to get you playing quickly, through a combination of exploring the instrument, performance technique and basic music theory.
Cooking, Wine & Nutrition Classes
1. Gordon Ramsey Cooking Classes, $15 a month
Learn how to cook with none other than the chef king: Gordon Ramsey. In his MasterClass course, the seven-star Michelin chef takes you into his home kitchen to learn everything from kitchen setup and buying the freshest ingredients to constructing unforgettable dishes. In addition to learning new recipes, you’ll learn all about taking your cooking to the next level.
2. Stanford Nutrition Course, $39 a month
Since so many of us use the new year to get healthy and get back into shape, this nutritional course taught by a professor at Stanford could be a great way to get the job done. In this course, learners will be given the information and practical skills they need to begin optimizing the way they eat.
3. UC Davis Wine Tasting Course, $79 a month
If you love wine and want to learn all about how it’s created, consider this UC Davis Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques for Wine Analysis course. You’ll learn about the history of wine, explore every type of wine and so much more.
Writing Classes
These days, you can do just about everything on a computer. That being said, it’s important to have good typing skills. Whether you’re a beginner or can type without looking at the keyboard and want to brush up on your skills, this Udemy course can benefit all types.
2. Shona Rhimes Writing For TV Course, $15 a month
It’s safe to say the “Grey’s Anatomy” creator knows a thing or two about creating great television. In her screenwriting class, Shonda teaches you how to create compelling characters, write a pilot, pitch your idea and stand out in the writers’ room. You’ll also get original pilot scripts, pitch notes and series bibles from her shows.
3. Wesleyan University Creative Writing Course, $49 a month
The Wesleyan University Creative Writing Course on Coursera covers elements of three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay and memoir. You’ll learn all about how to create a compelling story including composing a gripping plot, making memorable characters and writing in a descriptive style.
Art & Fashion Classes
If you dream of creating your very own fashion brand, then we highly recommend taking Diane von Furstenberg’s MasterClass course. She built one of the world’s most iconic and enduring fashion brands and will teach you just about everything she knows about creating a successful brand. You’ll learn how to create a visual identity, build loyalty, stay true to your vision and how to launch your product.
2. The Museum of Modern Art Virtual Classes, $39 a month
The MOMA offers seven different courses with Coursera including Modern Art & Ideas, Fashion as Design, Abstract Painting, Photography and more.
3. Marc Jacobs Fashion Design Course, $15 a month
Marc Jacobs is another affluent and well-known designer you can learn so much from. In his MasterClass course, the 11-time CFDA Award winner will teach you his hands-on process for creating clothes that push boundaries and set trends. Learn about his construction techniques, how he creates unique shapes and silhouettes and how you can develop your own ideas from the first sketch to the final piece.
Anna Wintour, the Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Artistic Director of Condé Nast, has been driving our cultural conversation and inspiring so many for more than 30 years. In her MasterClass course, the fashion and media icon and gives us access to her world. Get a front-row seat to see how Anna finds talent, makes bold decisions, evolves a brand and how to lead with impact from a visionary creative leader.
5. Michigan State Photography Basics Course, $49 a month
If you have a passion for taking photos but don’t know where to start, consider taking this photography basics course at Michigan State University. Whether you’re working with a smartphone camera, a DSLR or a compact camera, you’ll learn all about how to gain control of exposure and understand the fundamentals of composition, while exploring creative concepts that make worthwhile photos you’ll be proud of for years to come.
6. Bobbi Brown Makeup & Beauty Course, $15 a month
Calling all beauty lovers! If you can’t stop spending your money at Sephora and Ulta, then it may be time to take a course about makeup and beauty with none other than Bobbi Brown. In her MasterClass course, Bobbi reveals how you can be confident in your own skin and shares her expertise in step-by-step tutorials while using models with a range of skin tones. You’ll learn how to choose the right foundation, do a smoky eye and a statement lip and take your look from day to night.
Interior Design Classes
1. Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design, $15 a month
Award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler has her own debriefing on what it takes to make a beautiful home. Laid out to make your space “more beautiful, creative and inspiring,” this MasterClass homes in (literally) on finding sources of inspiration, starting a project and working with a given room.
2. Corey Damen Jenkins Teaches Interior Design, $15 a month
If you’re interested in dynamic styling ideas, bold hues and luscious textures, look no further than Corey Damen Jenkins’ MasterClass. As an acclaimed interior designer, he instructs on curating a stylish space, mixing and matching patterns and even customizing your window patterns, among other niche topics.
3. Interior Design Basics: Simple Steps to Your Perfect Space, $32 a month
You have an empty bookshelf and a blank wall — what do you do? Well, for starters, you can take Lauren Cox’s Skillshare class. She’s a design program manager at Havenly and walks you through color, balance, scale and proportion, rhythm and repetition and how to style your home — from the modern farmhouse aesthetic to a preppy coastal vibe.
Psychology Classes
1. The Science of Well-Being, $49 a month
This article for the best online classes would be incomplete without a mention of one of the most popular options that nearly broke the Internet. Otherwise known as Yale’s “happiness” class, the educational bundle consists of challenges that are “designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits,” according to the class description.
2. Matthew Walker Teaches the Science of Better Sleep, $15 a month
Having trouble sleeping? Not to worry, because neuroscience professor Matthew Walker teaches you how to count sleep properly — which includes optimizing the modern-day science to better your overall health.
Specifically, Walker dives into basic questions like what sleep actually is and how it works, while migrating into deeper topics like how alcohol and caffeine impact our sleep cycles and how to use overnight therapy to our advantage.
3. Playing Politics: The Psychology of the Human Workplace, $32 a month
In unprecedented times where working from home is the norm, it’s interesting to digest the inner workings of how your office operates. With this Skillshare class, you’ll understand the psychology of the human workplace in this deep-dive of relationships and inevitable obstacles you may run into.
Real Estate Classes
1. Robert Reffkin Teaches Buying and Selling Real Estate, $15 a month
Real estate mogul Robert Reffkin, who’s the founder and CEO of Compass, is one step closer to helping you find (or sell) your dream home.
Aside from “location, location location” (which he mentions, naturally), you’ll understand how to properly decode a real estate listing and everything that comes with making an offer, closing on a home and understanding the value of your home if you’re considering putting your home on the market.
2. How to Make a Real Estate Website with WordPress 2017, $32 a month
When it comes to marketing your properties, it’s all about digital advertising. That said, this Skillshare class may be in your best interest.
Walking you through WordPress 2017, this all-in-one course highlights everything you need to know about making a listing.
If one of your 2022 goals is to look into real estate investing, we found your perfect match, online class edition. Explaining how to build lasting wealth, fix and flip and how you can make money, this Skillshare class is your one-step guide with nearly 50 lessons.
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