
Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Electronic Medical Record System, Medical Privacy, Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance, Electronic Medical Record, Telehealth, Medical Records, Patient Safety, Health Technology, Health Information Management, Clinical Informatics, Health Information Management and Medical Records, Health Informatics, Medical Equipment and Technology, Security Awareness, Desktop Support, End User Training and Support, Technical Support and Services, Medical Support, Technical Support, Customer Support
★ 4.8 (1.5K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

IESE Business School
Skills you'll gain: Value Propositions, Financial Statements, Brand Management, Customer Analysis, Marketing, Financial Statement Analysis, Branding, Strategic Leadership, Brand Marketing, Leadership Development, Business Analytics, Income Statement, Business Analysis, Intercultural Competence, Financial Analysis, Accounting, Financial Management, Financial Acumen, Leadership, Finance
★ 4.8 (5.6K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Azure, Azure Active Directory, Virtual Machines, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Cloud Computing, Disaster Recovery, Azure DevOps, Containerization, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, IT Management, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Scalability, Data Management, User Accounts, Identity and Access Management, Authorization (Computing), Network Security, Continuous Monitoring, System Configuration
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Database Software, Hardware Troubleshooting, Networking Hardware, Database Theory, Database Management Systems, Computer Networking, Network Support, Network Protocols, Computer Security Awareness Training, Security Software, Technical Support and Services, Cybersecurity, Encryption, Computer Literacy, Browser Compatibility, Program Development, Computing Platforms, Computer Programming, System Software, Database Management
★ 4.5 (12) · Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Duke University
Skills you'll gain: Deductive Reasoning, Critical Thinking, Logical Reasoning, Computational Logic, Analysis, Probability, Diagram Design, Sampling (Statistics), Persuasive Communication, Verification And Validation, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Inference, Correlation Analysis, Communication, Decision Intelligence, Appeals, Business Communication
★ 4.6 (3.8K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Operating System Administration, IT Service Management, Cloud Computing, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Information Technology Infrastructure Library, Malware Protection, Service Management, Identity and Access Management, Linux, Linux Commands, Incident Response, Cybersecurity, Linux Administration, Cloud Computing Architecture, Network Security, Computer Security Incident Management, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), General Networking, Network Infrastructure, Cyber Attacks
★ 4.6 (22K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Cyber Threat Intelligence, Malware Protection, Peripheral Devices, Personally Identifiable Information, Remote Access Systems, Hardware Troubleshooting, Threat Detection, Desktop Support, Technical Support and Services, Threat Management, Help Desk Support, Cloud Services, Active Directory, Cybersecurity, Mac OS, Computer Hardware, Microsoft Windows, Technical Support, IT Management, Cloud Security
★ 4.6 (26) · Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Email Security, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Platforms, Cloud Computing, Relational Databases, Systems Development Life Cycle, Cloud Computing Architecture, Operating System Administration, Cloud Services, Cloud Development, General Networking, Database Administration, Virtualization, Virtualization and Virtual Machines, Cybersecurity, Network Troubleshooting, Hardening, Network Support, Programming Principles, Computer Programming
★ 4.7 (12K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Network Security, Computer Hardware, Generative AI, Data Storage Technologies, Data Storage, Operating Systems, Microsoft 365, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Generative Model Architectures, Authorization (Computing), Data Security, Computer Science, OSI Models, Data Store, TCP/IP, Data Integrity, Cloud Computing, Data Processing, Network Protocols, Software Development
★ 4.8 (1.4K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Pearson
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Relational Databases, SQL, Database Management, Query Languages, Database Theory, Database Development, Data Management, Database Management Systems, Databases, Database Architecture and Administration, Database Systems, Data Integrity, Oracle Databases, Data Modeling, Data Access, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Structures, User Accounts
★ 4.5 (6) · Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Michigan
Skills you'll gain: Unified Modeling Language, JSON, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), File I/O, Software Design, Software Design Documents, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Data Processing, Diagram Design, Unit Testing, Programming Principles, Program Development, Python Programming, Data Import/Export, Data Wrangling, Restful API, Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming
★ 4.8 (23K) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Service Management, Information Technology Infrastructure Library, Customer experience improvement, IT Service Management, Service Improvement, Change Control, IT Management, Information Technology Architecture, Technical Management, Practice Management, Security Management, Technical Services, Infrastructure Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Business Relationship Management, Continuous Improvement Process, Service Design, Agile Methodology, Governance, Risk Management Framework
★ 4.7 (544) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Top-rated It courses offered by IBM on Coursera.
Earn a certificate in It from top universities and companies.
Top-rated beginner-friendly It courses with no prerequisites.
IT, or information technology, is the use of computers, networks, software, and systems to store, manage, secure, and support digital information. In practice, IT can include troubleshooting user issues, setting up devices, managing infrastructure, supporting cloud and network services, and helping organizations keep technology running reliably. Courses such as Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals for Everyone from IBM and Technical Support Fundamentals from Google introduce core IT concepts in an accessible way. On Coursera, you can explore IT courses that build foundational knowledge and help you decide which area to study next.
IT skills are used in roles such as IT support specialist, help desk technician, system administrator, technical support analyst, infrastructure support specialist, and healthcare IT support specialist. These roles often involve solving technical problems, supporting users, maintaining systems, documenting issues, and working with networks, operating systems, or security basics. Courses on this page, including Microsoft IT Support Specialist, Google IT Support, IBM IT Support, and Healthcare IT Support from Johns Hopkins University, reflect several practical paths within IT. Coursera can help you compare beginner-friendly programs based on the type of support or systems work you want to learn.
Before studying IT, it helps to have basic computer literacy, comfort using the internet, and a willingness to troubleshoot problems step by step. You do not usually need advanced technical experience to begin with introductory IT courses, but familiarity with files, browsers, email, and common software can make the learning experience smoother. Courses like Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals for Everyone from IBM and Technical Support Fundamentals from Google are designed to introduce core concepts before more specialized topics. If you are new to the field, starting with foundational courses on Coursera can help you build confidence gradually.
Skills that complement IT include problem solving, customer communication, networking fundamentals, operating systems, cybersecurity basics, cloud computing, scripting, and documentation. For learners interested in automation, Google IT Automation with Python connects IT tasks with programming skills that can help streamline repetitive work. For learners focused on infrastructure, System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services from Google introduces concepts related to managing systems and services. Coursera offers courses that pair IT fundamentals with adjacent skills, so you can shape your learning around support, administration, automation, or specialized environments like healthcare.
A good way to start learning IT is to begin with foundational concepts, then move into hands-on support, systems, networking, or automation topics. Introductory courses can help you understand how computers, operating systems, networks, and troubleshooting processes fit together before you choose a more specific direction. Options on this page include IBM’s Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals for Everyone, Google’s Technical Support Fundamentals, and broader professional programs like Google IT Support or Microsoft IT Support Specialist. On Coursera, you can start with a beginner course and continue into more applied IT training as your goals become clearer.
Yes. You can start learning it on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in it, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.
Some strong beginner options for IT include Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals for Everyone from IBM, Technical Support Fundamentals from Google, Google IT Support, Microsoft IT Support Specialist, and IBM IT Support. These courses and programs introduce practical topics such as troubleshooting, computer hardware and software, operating systems, networking basics, customer support, and system administration. If you are interested in a specific setting, Healthcare IT Support from Johns Hopkins University can connect IT support skills to healthcare environments. Coursera’s IT course selection makes it easier to start broadly, then choose a path aligned with your interests.
IT courses typically cover computer hardware, software, operating systems, networking, troubleshooting, technical support, system administration, infrastructure services, security basics, and sometimes automation. For example, Google’s System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services focuses on managing systems and services, while Google IT Automation with Python introduces scripting for IT tasks. IT support programs from Google, Microsoft, and IBM often emphasize practical support workflows, user communication, and problem diagnosis. On Coursera, you can use course titles, syllabi, and listed skills to choose courses that match the IT topics you want to build next.