Coursera Blockchain MOOC

Emerging technologies, like blockchain, are ushering in newer internet applications that transcend demographics and national barriers. If more people are educated in the technologies, it helps build an inclusive society where everyone benefits. 

The UB-developed online course — open to everyone around the world — is an important first step. 

We are witnessing the transformation from centralized to decentralized applications enabled by the blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. It is disrupting the way countries, businesses, people and things operate. With its complex but strong theoretical foundation, blockchain is expected to shift paradigms in data structures and application design. In simple terms, a blockchain is a distributed ledger that facilitates the transfer of assets among participating peer-entities.

Some of the concepts distinguishing it from existing technologies:

  • A robust trust model, 
  • Robust encryption model 
  • Peer-peer mode of operation without an intermediary
  • Immutability of records; and 
  • Consensus by the participants

Though blockchain originated from the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, assets other than currency can be transacted over it. As newer blockchain-based models and platforms emerge, there is an ever increasing need for people who can design and develop application.

UB is helping meet this urgent need. The Department of Computer Science (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) has partnered with industry and UB's Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) to produce a four-course blockchain specialization, offered as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Coursera platform. The course launched May 2018.

Coursera Stats (May 2018 - Jan 2021)
Type   Number
 Visitors (Unique visits to individual course) 535,201
 Enrollments (Learners who enrolled in the courses) 184,582

Enroll in the Coursera Blockchain MOOC led by UB.

Coursera offers online certification for the Blockchain Technology specialization.

Course 1 — Blockchain Basics:

  • Provides a broad overview of essential blockchain technology concepts
  • Explores the Bitcoin protocol, followed by the Ethereum protocoal
  • Lays the foundation necessary for developing applications and programming

Course 2 — Smart Contracts:

  • Highlights the computational element of blockchain technology
  • Involves hands-on design and programming of smart contracts, testing and deployment, and invocation from a simple web interface

Course 3 — Design and Development of Decentralized Applications (Dapps):

  • Explores Dapps' ability to provide access to blockchain features and services
  • Prepares learners to design and develop end-to-end Dapps

Course 4 — Blockchain Platforms:

  • Provides an overview of the broader blockchain ecosystem
  • Covers permissioned blockchain architectures of Hyperledger and Microsoft Azure's blockchain
  • Enables learners to analyze the Augur and Grid+ platforms