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University of Alberta · on Coursera

Software Processes and Agile Practices

Beginner English University CertificateFREE
SkillsAgileSoftware processesScrum basicsDevelopment lifecycleTeam practices

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Another University of Alberta course, this one about how teams actually organise the work of building software — with Agile at its centre.

Good for: Understanding software process models and Agile foundations.

Skip if: You want a Scrum/Kanban certification or hands-on delivery practice.

It walks through the different process models and the principles behind Agile ways of working, staying conceptual and beginner-friendly rather than drilling a specific method. That's the distinction worth being clear on before you enrol: it explains why Agile works and where it came from, but it isn't a Scrum or Kanban certification, nor hands-on delivery practice — for those you'd go to a dedicated cert course.

Audit it free on Coursera; the certificate needs a subscription (about $49/month) or Coursera Plus, with financial aid available, and records the coursework rather than a professional credential. The foundations of Agile it teaches remain current (as of 2026).

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About this course

Software Processes and Agile Practices introduces the ways teams structure software development, with a focus on the foundations of Agile. From the University of Alberta, it walks through different process models and then the core Agile practices — including Extreme Programming (XP) and Scrum — so you understand how modern teams actually work.

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Instructor

KW
Kenny Wong
Coursera instructor

Offered by the University of Alberta (with Kenny Wong among the instructors) as part of its software-development teaching. The approach is approachable and practical, aimed at building solid foundations.

Frequently asked questions

No. It teaches Agile and software-process concepts — including Scrum ideas — but it is a university course from the University of Alberta, not a certifying body. A formal Scrum credential like the CSM or PSM comes from Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org via their own exams. This gives you a solid conceptual grounding in Agile practices, which helps before pursuing such a certification, but it does not grant one.

Not much. It focuses on the processes and practices of how software teams work — Agile methods, iterations, roles, planning — rather than writing code. A general understanding of what software development involves helps the examples land, but you are not programming here. It suits people wanting to understand how software gets built and managed, including non-developers moving into related roles.

Aspiring or current software team members, project and product people, and anyone wanting to understand Agile and modern software processes — part of a broader software-development specialization. It assumes no deep technical background for the process material, so it suits developers wanting the bigger picture as well as managers, analysts, and coordinators working alongside engineering teams.

Yes, you can audit it on Coursera and watch the lectures at no cost. The graded assignments and the certificate require a subscription, with financial aid available if you apply. Since much of the value is understanding the concepts, auditing gives you the substance if you want the ideas rather than the credential.

As a single course within a specialization, it typically runs a few weeks at a modest weekly pace. It is concept-focused rather than a hands-on build, so the time goes into absorbing the Agile and process material. The wider specialization it belongs to is a longer commitment if you continue through it.
Free
to audit
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