What is power electronics?

Power electronics is a category of electrical engineering that's a critical component and central process in power conversion for inductors, capacitors, switch controls, motors and drives, and other electronic devices. The system of power electronics exists to manage different circuits involved in the transfer of electronic power to the desired form. There are power conversions that move from AC/DC, DC/AC, and DC/DC everywhere. Our modern world would not exist without this. A simple example of power electronics is when your mobile device needs a charge. Power electronics makes it possible for the circuits in your home’s electrical grid to change the electrical output from AC to DC to meet the low-level DC battery need of your mobile device.

Why is it important to learn power electronics?

If you want to understand power electronics, it’s important to try to learn the basics of electrical engineering and electricity distribution in our lives. You may find that the use of power electronics is present everywhere in our world, from electrical systems to mobile chargers, from electronic distribution controls to renewable energy storage, and more. In business, power electronics is used in high-efficiency lighting, automotive applications, high-end electrical converters for microprocessors, motor controls, and manufacturing and industrial controls that depend on power electronics. This immense use of power electronics makes it a fascinating and valuable topic to learn.

What are typical jobs that use power electronics?

When you learn the fundamentals of power electronics, you may use this knowledge to move into careers like electrical designer, semiconductor device engineer, power electronics modeling engineer, power amplifier engineer, and electronic technician. Learning about power electronics could bring you into careers in mechanical engineering, lighting systems, electrical engineering, and semiconductor fields.

How can taking online courses help me learn power electronics?

Taking online courses to learn power electronics can help you acquire new insights into the basic operating principles of converter circuit analysis, efficiency of power converters, and controlling and converting electrical power via switched-mode circuits. You may also learn about the interactions between different electrical currents AC/DC, DC/AC, and DC-DC in power electronics, as well as an electric vehicle’s efficiency. Learning about power electronics in online courses may also get you thinking more about the future of electric vehicles in our society.

What are the benefits of taking an online Power Electronics course?

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

What Power Electronics courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Power Electronics, 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 Power Electronics Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Power Electronics Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Introduction to Power Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Electronic Systems, Electrical Engineering, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Power, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronics, Simulation and Simulation Software, Engineering Analysis, Applied Mathematics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Power Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Control Systems, Electronic Systems, Electrical Engineering, Semiconductors, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Power, Electronic Components, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronics, Electronics Engineering, Systems Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Simulation and Simulation Software, Engineering Analysis, Systems Design, Technical Design, Design Specifications, Engineering Design Process, Graphical Tools
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
University of Colorado Boulder
Microcontrollers: Basic Architecture and Design
Skills you'll gain: Microarchitecture, Hardware Design, Electronic Hardware, Computer Architecture, Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Hardware Architecture, Electronics Engineering, Electronics, Electronic Components, Performance Tuning, Peripheral Devices, Debugging, Digital Design
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Modeling and Control of Power Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Electronic Systems, Control Systems, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electric Power Systems, Electronics, Engineering Analysis, Simulations, Simulation and Simulation Software, Mathematical Modeling, Systems Analysis, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Matlab, Technical Design, Systems Design, Verification And Validation, Design Strategies
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
155 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Motors and Motor Control Circuits
Skills you'll gain: Machine Controls, Control Systems, Three-Phase, Electronics, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Systems, Power Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Systems, Laboratory Experience, Electrical Power, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronic Hardware, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Embedded Software, Electronic Components, Electrical Wiring, Design Specifications, Mechanical Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
L&T EduTech
Power System: Generation, Transmission and Protection
Skills you'll gain: Electrical Power, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Systems, Control Systems, Electrical Substation, Electrical Equipment, Energy and Utilities, Electrical Safety, Plant Operations and Management, High Voltage, Applied Mathematics, Power Electronics, Automation Engineering, Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Low Voltage, Process Control, Mathematical Modeling, Matlab, Three-Phase
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
212 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
Powering the Drive: Unveiling EV Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronic Systems, Electronic Components, Electrical Engineering, Semiconductors, Electric Power Systems, Electronics, Energy and Utilities, Control Systems
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Embedding Sensors and Motors
Skills you'll gain: Control Systems, Process Control, Machine Controls, Embedded Systems, Electronic Systems, Embedded Software, Engineering, Scientific, and Technical Instruments, Electronics Engineering, Electronics, Automation Engineering, Statistical Process Controls, Three-Phase, Manufacturing Processes, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Systems, Hardware Design, Power Electronics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Laboratory Experience
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Electrical Properties and Semiconductors
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronic Components, Electrical Engineering, Electronics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University at Buffalo
Electric Power Systems
Skills you'll gain: Electrical Substation, Electrical Power, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Systems, Energy and Utilities, Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Safety, Low Voltage, High Voltage, Environmental Engineering, Emerging Technologies, Reliability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Georgia Institute of Technology
Introduction to Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Electronic Components, Semiconductors, Electronics, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronics Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Schematic Diagrams
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
FPGA Design for Embedded Systems
Skills you'll gain: Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Verification And Validation, Electronic Systems, Embedded Systems, Electronics Engineering, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, System Design and Implementation, Eclipse (Software), Electronics, Software Design, Program Development, Technical Design, Computer Architecture, Computational Logic, Hardware Architecture, Embedded Software, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Schematic Diagrams
Build toward a degree
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months