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

Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Materials Science for Technological Application
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Failure Analysis, Semiconductors, Manufacturing Processes, Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Thermal Management, Engineering, Laboratory Testing, Physical Science, Physics, Engineering Analysis, Reliability, Engineering Calculations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
208 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Introduction to Materials Science
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Science, Physics, Semiconductors
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
157 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fundamentals of Materials Science
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Manufacturing Processes, Thermal Management, Chemical Engineering, Experimentation, Laboratory Research
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
195 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
University of California, Davis
Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Semiconductors, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Failure Analysis, Structural Analysis, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Thermal Management, Electronic Components, Electronics Engineering
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Georgia Institute of Technology
Material Processing
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Structural Analysis, Physical Science
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Georgia Institute of Technology
Material Behavior
Skills you'll gain: Materials science, Chemistry, Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physical Science, Semiconductors
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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IBM
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Skills you'll gain: Data Import/Export, Programming Principles, Web Scraping, Python Programming, Jupyter, Data Structures, Data Processing, Pandas (Python Package), Data Manipulation, JSON, Computer Programming, Restful API, NumPy, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Scripting, Application Programming Interface (API), Automation, Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
43K reviews
Beginner · Course · 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, Data Validation, Ggplot2, Tableau Software, Sampling (Statistics), Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, LinkedIn, Dashboard, Data Processing, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
177K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
DeepLearning.AI
DeepLearning.AI Mathematics for ML 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, Applied Mathematics, NumPy, Probability, Calculus, Dimensionality Reduction, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Methods, Data Transformation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 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
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
Skills you'll gain: Computer Science, Debugging, Development Environment, Computer Systems, Web Applications, Arithmetic, Computer Literacy, Javascript, Network Security, Computer Networking, Program Development, Computer Graphics, Web Design and Development, Cybersecurity, Computer Programming, Problem Management, Computational Thinking, General Mathematics, Systems Of Measurement, Problem Solving
Build toward a degree
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Georgia Institute of Technology
Mechanics of Materials I: Fundamentals of Stress & Strain and Axial Loading
Skills you'll gain: Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Failure Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Mechanics, Materials science, Engineering Calculations, Civil Engineering, Mathematical Modeling, Trigonometry
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months