6 subjects, each with a real starting course, a free book to go with it and another way in if the first pick doesn't fit, with MIT's own words on the course and its books where MIT's pages give them. Every link goes to a real, existing page.
MIT on books for Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python (6.0001, Fall 2016): “Guttag, John. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python: With Application to Understanding Data Second Edition. MIT Press, 2016.”
MIT: “The prerequisites are high school algebra and trigonometry. Prior experience with calculus is helpful but not essential.”
You'll learn
MIT: “This calculus course covers differentiation and integration of functions of one variable, and concludes with a brief discussion of infinite series.”
Time
MIT: “MIT expects its students to spend about 150 hours on this course.”
Another way in Highlights of Calculus (RES.18-005, Spring 2010)— MIT: “Highlights of Calculus is a series of short videos that introduces the basics of calculus—how it works and why it is important.”
MIT on books for Single Variable Calculus (18.01SC, Fall 2010): “No textbook is required for this OCW Scholar course.”
MIT: “This course has no prerequisites. 18.01SC Single Variable Calculus is a corequisite.”
You'll learn
MIT: “Our goal is to develop a conceptual understanding of the core concepts, a familiarity with the experimental verification of our theoretical laws, and an ability to apply the theoretical framework to describe and predict the motions of bodies.”
Another way in Physics I: Classical Mechanics (8.01L, Fall 2005)— MIT: “8.01L is an introductory mechanics course, which covers all the topics covered in 8.01T. The class meets throughout the fall, and continues throughout the Independent Activities Period (IAP).”
MIT on books for Classical Mechanics (8.01SC, Fall 2016): “The textbook for this course is Classical Mechanics: MIT 8.01 Course Notes by Peter Dourmashkin.”
MIT: “This course will include some basic uni-variate calculus material, as taught in the MIT course 18.01 Single Variable Calculus or in a comparable high-school calculus course. There are no other prerequisites.”
You'll learn
MIT: “Understand consumer behavior.” “Understand firm behavior.” “Analyze different types of market structures (monopoly, oligopoly and a competitive market).” “Understand how to apply economic principles to a range of policy questions.”
MIT on books for Principles of Microeconomics (14.01SC, Fall 2011): “This Creative Commons-licensed open textbook is a free online alternative to Perloff text used in the class at MIT.”
Biology 2e Free · open license OpenStax (Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi et al.) Free companion book, not a text this course assigns
Another way in Pre-7.01: Getting up to Speed in Biology (RES.7-001, Summer 2019)— MIT: “Prior to taking this course, you may want to review Pre-7.01 Getting up to Speed in Biology, a self-paced course designed to help prepare students for their first college-level biology class.”
MIT on books for Fundamentals of Biology (7.01SC, Fall 2011): “OCW users will find equal value in most standard introductory biology textbooks.”
MIT: “This course investigates the uses and boundaries of fiction in a range of novels and narrative styles–traditional and innovative, western and nonwestern–and raises questions about the pleasures and meanings of verbal texts in different cultures, times, and forms.”
Frankenstein Free · public domain Shelley, Mary Required reading in this course
Another way in Writing About Literature (21L.000J, Fall 2010)— MIT: “Students, scholars, bloggers, reviewers, fans, and book-group members write about literature, but so do authors themselves.”
MIT on books for Introduction to Fiction (21L.003, Fall 2003): “Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Penguin.”
