It may seem really easy to lump all engineering into one category. However, the truth is that there are several different types of engineering. If you are interested in learning more about engineering, you can read about the different types of programs available. No matter your engineering degree, though, you can expect to earn a good salary, since engineers are in high demand.
If you are interested in learning a little bit more about the world around you, and about engineering, here are 50 free open courseware classes that address different aspects of engineering.
Mechanical Engineering
This is a rather large field, mostly studying the mechanics of how things work. Biomedical engineering and automotive engineering, as well as other types of engineering, fall into this area.
- Mechanics and Materials: An introduction, from MIT, about how different solids work, and their material properties.
- Introduction to Biological Engineering Design: Get a handle on biological engineering.
- Thermodynamics: Learn some of the underlying principles of mechanical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.
- Introduction to Ocean Science and Engineering: Learn more about naval engineering in this interesting course.
- Biomedical Engineering: Learn about this type of engineering from Delft University of Technology.
- Introduction to Robotics: This fascinating course can help mechanical engineers and others learn more about robots.
Chemical Engineering
This type of engineering is about the way atoms and molecules interact. There are a number of interesting applications for those involved in chemical engineering, including plastics and foods.
- Molecular Aspects of Chemical Engineering: MIT offers a look at engineering on this tiny level.
- Numerical Methods Applied to Chemical Engineering: Learn about different ways to apply numerical methods to engineering.
- Polymer Engineering: Learn more about plastics and polymers in this engineering course.
- Agricultural Science and Policy: Learn basics related to ag and food engineering from Tufts.
- Principles of Drug Development: Learn the basics of drug development from Johns Hopkins University.
Environmental Engineering
One of the growing engineering fields is that of environmental engineering. Learn about design an engineering related to environmental factors.
- Climatology applied to Engineering and the Environment: The Technical University of Madrid offers this course on climatology and environmental engineering.
- Ecology II: Engineering for Sustainability: Learn basics of ecology and how you can engineer for sustainability.
- Fundamentals of Energy in Buildings: A look at engineering buildings so that they are more energy efficient.
- Computing and Data Analysis for Environmental Applications: Learn how to apply engineering knowledge to environmental issues.
- Environmental and Natural Resources Economics: Humboldt State University offers a good look at the science behind the environment and natural resources.
Civil Engineering
This type of engineering is all about infrastructure. Learn about housing, construction and other aspects of how our society is built.
- Civil Engineering Measurements: Learn the measurements in civil engineering, read lecture notes and get a general feel for civil engineering from the University of Memphis.
- Residential Subdivision Design and Construction: Penn State offers a look at the engineering aspects of residential subdivisions.
- Transportation Flow Systems: Learn how to design transportation systems from MIT.
- Mechanics and Design of Concrete Structures: This is essential information in civil engineering.
- Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering: Utah State University offers helpful techniques and applications.
Software Engineering
This interesting field of engineering deals with technology and information systems.
- Software Engineering Concepts: Get the basics of what goes into software engineering.
- Engineering Statistics: Learn more about statistics and how to use them in engineering, including software applications from the Open Learning Initiative.
- Information Theory: Get a handle on information and the theory behind software and IT.
- Elements of Software Construction: MIT takes you through the basics of constructing software.
- Laboratory in Software Engineering: Go through what you need to engineer software systems.
Electrical Engineering
Learn about electricity, and about technological development and devices with this type of engineering.
- Circuits and Electronics: This is vital knowledge if you are interested in electrical engineering.
- Fundamentals of Photonics: Quantum Electronics: Learn about optical engineering from MIT.
- High Speed Communication Circuits: Get a handle on how technology and optical electronics are changing the face of communications engineering.
- Electromagnetic Fields, Forces and Motion: Basic understanding of fields and forces and how motion is affected.
- Advanced Electromagnetic Waves: Tokyo Tech takes you through information on electromagnetics.
Aerospace Engineering
If you are interested in things that fly, whether they fly in the sky or go beyond, into space, then aerospace engineering might be for you.
- Introduction to Aerospace Engineering and Design: Get a start on aeronautics and astronautics.
- Aerodynamics: These basic principles are required if you want to engineer anything that flies.
- Flight Structures I: KFUPM provides a look at the structures used in flight, and how they are designed and engineered.
- Computational Methods in Aerospace Engineering: Learn how to apply different computational techniques to aerospace.
- Space Systems Engineering: Out of this world engineering design and principles from MIT.
Geotechnical Engineering
This interesting branch of engineering deals with resource development, such as mining, oil, and geomatics.
- Advanced Geotechnical Engineering: Learn about how to engineer systems according to the geological requirements of an area.
- Advanced Soil Mechanics: Learn about how earth works, and what goes on geologically.
- Integrated Chemical Engineering II: This MIT course deals with fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas.
- Petroleum Engineering: As you might expect, the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals offers courses on petroleum engineering.
Nuclear Engineering
Learn more about engineering related to different parts of atoms, especially the nucleus. Engineering on an interesting — and small — level.
- Managing Nuclear Technology: Learn about nuclear technology and engineering.
- Nuclear Systems Design Project: Learn how to design nuclear systems from MIT.
- Engineering of Nuclear Reactors: Basic information on nuclear reactor design and engineering.
- MHD Theory of Fusion Systems: Get the theory behind fusion and creating fusion systems.
- Structural Mechanics in Nuclear Power Technology: The structural details of nuclear power.
Engineering Management
Even if you are not directly working as an engineer, you can be involved in engineering management. Learn the basics of this interesting career related to engineering.
- Engineering Ethics: An overview of the ethical situations involved in engineering.
- Management in Engineering: Learn the theory behind properly managing teams of engineers.
- Introduction to Lean Six Sigma Methods: An overview of this specific type of project management in engineering.
- System and Project Management: Project management help for engineers and engineering managers.
- International Institute of Management: Get a handle on basic principles of management that you can use in the engineering field.
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