To promote the learning of technology even if one’s main field of study is something else, this autumn, all students at Latvian higher education institutions – both in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs – are invited to learn the basics of computer science and programming. For the second time, the training will be provided by Riga Business School as a structural unit of Riga Technical University. The curriculum is based on Harvard University’s computer science course “CS50`s Introduction to The Intellectual Enterprises of Computer Science”. To apply for the course, students must fill in the information here: https://ej.uz/cs50-studentiem.
Everyone who successfully completes the course will be awarded an RTU certificate with 6 ECTS credits. Students who achieve at least 70% in all assignments will also receive a certificate from Harvard University and a verified certificate from the online learning platform “edX”, worth €181.
The course starts with a traditional but omnipresent language called C that underlies today’s newer languages, via which you’ll learn not only about functions, variables, conditionals, loops, and more, but also about how computers themselves work underneath the hood, memory and all. The course then transitions to Python, a higher-level language that you’ll understand all the more because of C. Toward term’s end, the course introduces SQL, via which you can store data in databases, along with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, via which you can create web and mobile apps alike. Course culminates in a final project. There will be a final project at the end of the course.
The course will consist of a total of 13 classes between September 4 and November 30. The course is based on the practices of the best universities in the world – active learning at home, discussion of the content learned during consultations, and assessment of knowledge through project presentations and a placement test. The classes can be attended both in person at Riga Business School in Skolas iela 11 and online on Zoom platform. Classes are held in several groups one evening a week from 18:00-20:00.
This opportunity to learn the basics of computer science and programming for one semester is provided thanks to funding for the promotion of social growth and employment from the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Economy *.
Programming skills, at least at the basic level, have become an absolute necessity in all sectors today. But in a rapidly changing discipline like computer science, it is a challenge for both teachers and students to find the most up-to-date information. That is why we learn from the best. The course developed at Harvard University has won international acclaim as an effective and up-to-date learning resource. Last year, thanks to the support of government and business partners, many students and teachers in Latvia have already taken the course.
Claudio Rivera
Riga Business School Director
Past Student Reviews
The CS50 course provides an excellent introduction to different programming languages, covering them not only in lectures, but also reinforcing your knowledge through a variety of interesting exercises. The lecturers are knowledgeable, able to explain the subject well, answer questions and give examples of where and how to apply the knowledge. Thank you!
Agne Namina
Biotechnology Ph.D. candidate at University of Latvia
I took CS50 because I’m not sure I can afford not to. Regardless of which career path I choose, having a general understanding of how programming works is beyond useful. If coding, in a way, is already assisting me every day at work and in my personal life, is it not important to understand who my assistant is?
Davis Indriksons
Riga Business School Bachelor of Business Administration student
* Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 315 on the Rules for the implementation of the first, second and third rounds of the selection of project proposals under the Specific Support Objective 1.1.1 of the Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” “To increase the research and innovation capacity of Latvian scientific institutions and their ability to attract external funding through investment in human resources and infrastructure” Measure 1.1.1.5 “Support for international cooperation projects in research and innovation”.
