2012
Our first courses open on Coursera!
In April 2012, Princeton University becomes one of Coursera's first partners. A few months later, we launch our first MOOC — Mitchell Duneier's Introduction to Sociology.* The course makes national headlines, for instance in this article in the New York Times.
In the summer and fall of 2012, we open another 5 courses on Coursera, including A History of the World Since 1300* with Jeremy Adelman (pictured), which has over 120,000 active learners. The course later turn into Global History Lab. Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne create Algorithms, Part I, which quickly becomes an immensely popular course for learners interested in computer programming. We also release Statistics One,* with Andrew Conway, Networks: Friends, Money and Bytes with Mung Chiang, Computer Architecture with David Wentzlaff.
2013
We expand our portfolio of computer science courses
We launch 4 more computer science courses: Algorithms, Part II, created by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne (pictured), and two advanced computer science courses, Analysis of Algorithms and Analytic Combinatoric, also by Sedgewick.
Mung Chiang and Christopher Brinton develop another network course, Networks: Principles without Calculus, which covers many of the same topics as their first network course but is tailored for learners with a limited background in math.
2014
More courses on Coursera and first course on NovoEd
Robert Wright's Buddhism and Modern Psychology*, one of our most popular MOOCs of all time, launch this year. His dogs Frasier and Milo (pictured) are active participants in the Office Hours videos, and soon develop a global fan base!
On Coursera, renowned astrophysicist David Spergel asks the perennial question, "Are we alone?" in his course entitled Imagining Other Earths*. In his sociology course, Paradoxes of War, Miguel Centeno explores war not only as a normal part of human existence but argues that it is one of the most important factors in making us who we are.
We also launch Practical Ethics* with Peter Singer on Coursera.
2014 also saw a new partnership with the online course platform NovoEd, and in the fall, we open a new version of Jeremy Adelman's global history course on that platform.
2015
Princeton Online partners with edX
In September 2015, Princeton University joins edX as a Charter Member. Within a few weeks, we launch two courses by Jennifer Widner on edX: Writing Case Studies: Science of Delivery and Making Government Work in Hard Places (pictured). Both courses ran on NovoEd earlier in the year.
In 2015 we also launch four more courses on Coursera, Effective Altruism by Peter Singer, Fog Network and the IoT* with Mung Chiang and Software Defined Networking* with Nick Feamster. We open Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency with Arvind Narayanan, which quickly attracts a large number of learners. In fact, in 2017 it was Coursera's 5th most popular course!
2016
Courses in engineering and the arts
Dan Trueman develops a musical MOOC on Kadenze. Reinventing the Piano explores a wide range of topics related to the piano, like tune and temperament, pitch and rhythm perception, and instrument design.
We also release Maria Garlock's Art of Structural Engineering: Bridges on edX. The course was shot almost entirely on location (you may recognize the Brooklyn Bridge in the background of this picture) and leads students through the fundamental principles of bridge engineering, as well as the history and evolution of bridge design.
2017
Enhancement and consolidation
For the first time since 2012, we do not launch any new courses. However, we are as busy as ever on updating and maintaining existing courses, creating and supporting courses for Princeton University students (yes, we work on those too!), and developing the courses that will release in 2018.
2018
Courses in history, computer science, law, and political science
For the first time, we release a course taught solely by graduate students!
In the Global History of Capitalism on edX, six Ph.D. students in Princeton's history department explore the complex history of capitalism from 1919 until today through a series of roundtable discussions.
We launch two more new MOOCs on edX: Civil Liberties with Robert George and HOPE: Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism* with Uriel Abulof.
2018 is a big year for computer science. Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne develop a course for computer science learners, Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines. We also re-launch two of Robert Sedgewick's courses, Analysis of Algorithms and Analytic Combinatoric, on Coursera.
* Denotes a course that is no longer available.
2019
Courses in structural engineering and computer science
In January, the second course of Maria Garlock's edX series on the art of structural engineering, Art of Structural Engineering: Vaults, launches. We refresh and relaunch her The Art of Structural Engineering: Bridges as a self-paced course (initially launched in 2016). We expect another course will be developed on buildings/towers.
Bob Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne's second computer science course, Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose, is released on Coursera.
Lastly, Robert George develops a political science course titled "Constitutional Interpretation," which examines the most essential and vexing questions regarding American constitutional interpretation.
2020
Course in political science and health
We release an introductory course to one health policy. Bats, Ducks, and Pandemics: An Introduction to One Health Policy*.
2021
Course in sociology
In 2021, we release Professor Miguel Centeno's Global Systemic Risk course on Coursera. This course introduces students to systems thinking, network theory, and risk analysis and uses these tools to understand globalization better. Focusing on trade, finance, and epidemiology, it analyzes potential challenges to the current global order.