What is material science?

Material science refers to the properties of solid materials and how the structure and composition of a material determine its properties. It helps engineers improve and design products by testing and researching materials to determine how to manipulate them for best results. Material science affects every field that involves engineering, including electronics, telecommunications, ground transportation, medicine, energy, and aerospace, for example.

Why is material science important to learn?

It's important to learn material science in order to come up with new and innovative products. It is necessary for lowering costs of production and creating long-lasting products. Material science is also important to learn because it is part of engineering design and how different materials will perform in your project, helping you determine which to use.

What are typical careers that use material science?

Any career in engineering will use material science. This is used in many areas of engineering but you can also become a material engineer. In these careers you will test and research different types of material in order to determine the best way to create a product. You will use your knowledge in the area to create new materials and find any possible product failure which helps to create better and innovative product designs.

How can online courses help me learn about material science?

Online courses can help you learn about material science by giving you the knowledge you need to progress in the field. The courses offer a variety of levels to get you ready for the next step. Online courses offer you the flexibility to work around your schedule, and the experts that teach them are available to answer questions and guide you in each course. You will have lectures and readings as well as assignments that will help you gain an understanding of material science. These courses can supplement your existing knowledge or be at a higher level to deepen your understanding of the topic.

What are the benefits of taking an online Material Science course?

Online Material Science courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Material Science skills. Choose from a wide range of Material Science courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Material Science courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Material Science, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Material Science Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Material Science Course Catalog

Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fundamentals of Materials Science
Skills you'll gain: Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Manufacturing Processes, Physical Science, Semiconductors, Thermal Management, Mechanics, Failure Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
188 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Materials Science for Technological Application
Skills you'll gain: Failure Analysis, Semiconductors, Manufacturing Processes, Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Thermal Management, Engineering, Production Process, Laboratory Testing, Physical Science, Physics, Process Engineering, Mechanics, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Calculations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
182 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Introduction to Materials Science
Skills you'll gain: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Science, Physics, Semiconductors
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
137 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Davis
Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Failure Analysis, Manufacturing Processes, Structural Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Thermal Management, Electronics Engineering, Electronics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Georgia Institute of Technology
Material Processing
Skills you'll gain: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Process Engineering, Physical Science, Semiconductors
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Georgia Institute of Technology
Material Behavior
Skills you'll gain: Chemistry, Manufacturing Processes, Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Science, Engineering, Semiconductors, Physics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

Start my career

Change my career

Grow in my current role

Explore topics outside of work

Status: Free Trial
IBM
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Python Programming, Data Structures, Web Scraping, Data Manipulation, Programming Principles, Pandas (Python Package), Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Restful API, NumPy, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, File Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
42K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Duke University
Data Science Math Skills
Skills you'll gain: Probability, Bayesian Statistics, General Mathematics, Calculus, Graphing, Data Science, Data Analysis, Plot (Graphics), Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic, Derivatives
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
Mathematics for Machine Learning and Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Probability & Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Linear Algebra, Statistical Inference, A/B Testing, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Machine Learning, Applied Mathematics, NumPy, Probability, Calculus, Dimensionality Reduction, Mathematical Modeling, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Methods, Jupyter
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.8K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Google
Google Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Rmarkdown, Data Literacy, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Data Ethics, Data Cleansing, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Validation, Ggplot2, Tableau Software, Sampling (Statistics), Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Stakeholder Communications, LinkedIn, Interviewing Skills, Applicant Tracking Systems
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
171K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Yale University
Financial Markets
Skills you'll gain: Investment Banking, Risk Management, Financial Market, Financial Regulation, Financial Services, Finance, Business Risk Management, Securities (Finance), Financial Policy, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Capital Markets, Behavioral Economics, Banking, Corporate Finance, Governance, Investments, Insurance, Underwriting, Derivatives, Market Dynamics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
31K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Genomic Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Unix Commands, Biostatistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Unix, Data Science, Data Management, Statistical Methods, Molecular Biology, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Linux Commands, Data Analysis Software, Statistical Modeling, Data Structures, R Programming, Computational Thinking, Jupyter, Python Programming
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months