I started an introductory Coursera course full of optimism. It was a subject I had some passing knowledge of so I thought I would at least be able to finish. I was wrong. Despite being a reasonably intelligent person I was frustrated and feeling stupid within a few weeks. The courses are not comprehensive, you are not taught what you need to know to do the problems. The only way you would finish a course is if you had learned the material previously. And that is my suggestion. Buy a couple of books and teach yourself, Coursera won't teach you a thing.
I started an introductory Coursera course full of optimism. It was a subject I had some passing knowledge of so I thought I would at least be able to finish. I was wrong. Despite being a reasonably intelligent person I was frustrated and feeling stupid within a few weeks. The courses are not comprehensive, you are not taught what you need to know to do the problems. The only way you would finish a course is if you had learned the material previously. And that is my suggestion. Buy a couple of books and teach yourself, Coursera won't teach you a thing.