Kelly Robertson
It is only natural that academia wants to keep up with what’s going on in the “real world.” And when something like blockchain “hits the market” and Bitcoin starts to climb through the roof, some smart universities “react” with dedicated courses.
We are glad to see many interesting projects being announced by the world’s most advanced universities, and even more — we are delighted to see them offering ready-to-take courses for their (and other) students.
Today we’re presenting you with 5 universities that have already added blockchain to their curriculum. There are other universities as well, but we had to limit our list in some way. And that list, in case you wonder, came from the good folks of CoinSutra. We have just revamped it a bit…
1. Stanford University
The California-based university has prepared a course for wannabe blockchain app developers. Called Bitcoin Engineering, it does not require a prior knowledge of Bitcoin, but it does recommend a basic knowledge of Python and Unix.
The course explores different aspects of cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, distributed ledger technologies, and consensus systems. In addition to Bitcoin, users also get to learn about Ethereum.
2. Duke University
The course called “Blockchain and Innovation” is made for Duke’s undergraduate students, and it’s free. It is run by a group of students, professionals, and professors by a Duke Blockchain Lab.
As part of the class, students are encouraged to meet on a regular basis, and attend various events, talks, and seminars to discuss blockchain technology, cryptography, cryptocurrencies, and non-financial blockchain use cases.
3. Princeton University
Delivered via Coursera, this is a free online course that lasts 11 weeks with no certification awarded at the end. But, it’s free.
The course provides answers to some frequently asked questions, such as:
- How does Bitcoin work?
- What makes Bitcoin different?
- What determines the price of Bitcoin?
- How anonymous are Bitcoin users?
- Can cryptocurrencies be regulated?
- How secure are your bitcoins?
Princeton’s course includes 12 lecture videos and 11 lecture slides. It was originally designed for Princeton students during the Spring 2015 semester, though its information is still very much valid.
4. The University of California, Berkeley
UC-Berkeley runs a unit dedicated to blockchain technology that aims to bridge the gap between blockchain/cryptocurrencies and the general masses.
The group called “Blockchain At Berkeley” is a student-run organization that organizes workshops, seminars, screencasts, events, and regular meetups to discuss some of the cutting-edge whitepapers of the blockchain industry.
This is a very serious group mind you, and they will drop students who are not regular in their attendance.
5. University of Nicosia, Cyprus
Last, but not the least, is the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, which is offering the world’s first Master’s degree in digital currencies.
In order to qualify for the program though, interested students will first have to pass the free, 12-session MOOC on digital currencies called “Introduction to Digital Currencies.” After that, they can proceed to an MSc in Digital Currency degree program which includes tuition costs of €12,080.
According to the University of Nicosia, this course is best suited for business people and entrepreneurs, bankers, lawyers, accountants, auditors, social workers, NGOs, non-profits, development experts, regulatory officials/policy makers, and computer scientists.
