Program Overview

Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Course

The Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism course is a 4-week online course that serves as an introduction to electricity and magnetism in physics. The course covers charge, electric forces, and electric fields, and learners will gain experience in solving physics problems with tools such as graphical analysis, algebra, vector analysis, and calculus.

Course Details

• Format: 100% Online, Self-Paced
• Course Duration: Approximately 4 weeks
• Time Commitment: Approximately 5 hours/week
• Credentials Offered: Non-Credit Course Certificate
• Platform: Coursera
• Price: Available on Coursera

Course Overview

Upon completion, learners will understand how mathematical laws and conservation principles describe fields and how these fields are related to electrical circuits. Each of the modules contains reading links to a free textbook, complete video lectures, conceptual quizzes, and a set of homework problems. Once the modules are completed, the course ends with an exam.

Target Audience

• Working engineers who want to brush up on physics concepts like electric and magnetic forces, circuits, and more
• Learners preparing for a college-level physics course on electricity and magnetism
• People interested in the complexity of electric and magnetic fields

Learning Outcomes

• Calculate the force on a charge using Coulomb's Law
• Use forces from electric fields and Newton's laws to solve particle kinematics
• Calculate charges and fields for symmetric problems using Gauss's Law

Instructor

The course is taught by Professor Jason Hafner, who earned his Ph.D. from Rice University in 1998 and pursued postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. He is currently a Professor of Physics and Astronomy and of Chemistry at Rice University.

Related Courses

The Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism course is part of a specialization that includes four courses:

• Course 1: Electric Charges and Fields
• Course 2: Electric Potential and DC Circuits
• Course 3: Magnetic Fields and Faraday's Law
• Course 4: AC Circuits and Maxwell's Equations Additionally, there are other related specializations, including:
• Waves and Optics Specialization (3 Courses)
• 3-Course Intro to Mechanics Specialization

Program Details

• Tuition: $49 Monthly Subscription, Financial Aid, Or Audit for free
• Course Duration: 4 months for 4-course specialization
• Workload: Approximately 3-5 hours per week
• Credentials Offered: Course or Specialization Certificates Available