What is Coursera?

Access to over 5,000 courses and certifications led by top businesses, universities and organizations.

Requires creating an account using your name and email address.

Note: This program has limited seats and is available to residents of San José and Santa Clara County only. There is no waiting list and access is not guaranteed.

Get Started

  1. Register for a seat to join SJPL's program.
  2. Click Agree on the Welcome page.
  3. Create a Coursera account or sign in with an existing Coursera account.
  4. Review Coursera's privacy policy and decide whether you want to receive promotional emails from Coursera (uncheck the box to opt out).
  5. Click Continue.
  6. Check your email for a verification message, then click Yes, I'm verified.
  7. Refresh your browser if you are not automatically redirected to SJPL's program page.
  8. Click Join Program. 
  9. Browse available courses and start learning!

Returning Users

If you have previously registered for a seat in SJPL's program, you can sign in here. Otherwise, follow the steps above.

Inactive Users

Due to high demand, your seat will be reassigned without notice if your account is inactive for 2 weeks or longer. Your account will transition to a general Coursera account with limited access to free content, and any previous activity will be retained. You may re-join SJPL's program after 24 hours if any seats are available.

When Your Seat Expires

Your seat is for a limited time, and you will receive a notification before it expires. When your seat expires, your account activity will be retained. As a precaution, we recommend backing up any certificates or completed work. Your account will transition to a general Coursera account with limited access to free content. You may re-join SJPL's program after 24 hours if any seats are available.

If the Program is Full

If there are no available seats, you will receive a "Program Full" message. Please check back frequently to see if any seats have become available by logging in to your Coursera account and clicking Join Program. You do not need to fill out the registration form again. We will contact you by email when seats become available, but there is no waiting list and access is not guaranteed.

In the meantime, we invite you to explore our other eResources related to Careers, opens a new window and Technology, opens a new window.

About Coursera

Coursera’s mission is to help individuals build the skills they need for in-demand jobs.

  • Provides learners with access to more than 5,000 courses and certifications led by top businesses, universities, and organizations.
  • Courses include: English for Business and Entrepreneurship (ESL), Foundations of Public Health Practice, Become an EMT, Bookkeeping Basics, Introduction to Google Docs, Design a Restaurant Menu, Food and Beverage Management, Branding: The Creative Journey.
  • Contains “Gateway Certification,” a program for people without a college degree and with no experience in the field, built by leading companies such as Google. Facebook, and Salesforce.
  • Offers subtitles in more than 50 languages.

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