Online Science Courses Offered Free by Top Universities and Educational Websites

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Online science courses are offered for free at Open University, Carnegie Mellon University, Tulane University, and others. These courses will cover the spectrum of sciences.
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Free Science Courses

Science courses are offered in many different formats at various universities across the country. These free online courses will help students learn about biology, physics, and earth science.

science

Open University

This course from Open University will cover mathematical concepts used in science and technology. Course topics include trigonometry, logarithms, and indices.

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University offers courses in biology and physics. Students will study cell biology, metabolism, electricity, and mechanics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT's science courses cover biology and earth science. The text for the biology course is entitled Biological Science, by Scott Freeman. Video lectures will cover topics like biochemistry and molecular biology. The text for the earth science course is Environmental Geology: an Earth System Science Approach. Lecture notes will cover population growth and geologic time, among other things.

University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley offers a general chemistry course. Students can stream or download audio and video lectures from Youtube or iTunes.

University of California, Irvine

University of California, Irvine's, OpenCourseWare offers an earth system science course. This course is delivered in ten weeks of video lectures from professor Julie Ferguson, PhD. Lecture topics include plate tectonics, water vapor and clouds, and the biosphere.

Tulane University

Tulane University offers a physical geology course, authored by professor Dr. Stephen A. Nelson. The textbook for the course is Earth, Portrait of a Planet 5th Edition, by Stephen Marshak. Lecture topics will cover things like minerals, volcanic eruptions, sedimentary rocks, and energy resources. Exams will be based upon the lectures.

Tufts University

The intro to modern physics course at Tufts University is authored by Gary R. Goldstein. Lectures will be centered around the readings, which include Modern Physics by Kenneth S. Krane. Relativity, quantum physics, and wave mechanics will also be discussed.

Free Online Science Courses At a Glance

Course & School Program Level Format Assignments Quizzes & Exams Downloadable
Maths for Science and Technology course from Open University Beginner Text Yes No Yes
Modern Biology course from Carnegie Mellon University Unspecified Text Yes No Yes
Physics course from Carnegie Mellon University Unspecified Tutored exercises Yes No Yes
Introductory Biology course from MIT Undergraduate Text/video lectures/recitations/study materials Yes Yes Yes
Environmental Earth Science course from MIT Undergraduate Texts/lecture notes Yes Yes Yes
Chemistry course from UC Berkeley Unspecified Audio/video lectures No No Yes
Introduction to Earth System Science course from University of California, Irvine Unspecified Video lectures No No Yes
Physical Geology course from Tulane University Unspecified Texts/textbook/lecture notes/external reading resources Yes Yes Yes
Introduction to Modern Physics course from Tufts University Undergraduate Texts/lecture slides Yes Yes Yes

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA - General Management
      • BBA Human Resources Management
      • BBA Medical Services Management
      • BS Human & Social Services
      • General Management (GM) - BBA
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
      • AS - Business
      • AS - Criminal Justice
      • AS - Accounting
      • AS - Human Resources Specialist
      • AS - IT Networking
    Certificate
      • Business Assistant Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
      • Business - AAS
      • Business Assistant - Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Svcs. - Diploma
      • Accounting Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Saint Leo University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice: Education
      • DBA: Business Administration
      • Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice: Homeland Security
    Master's
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MS: Criminal Justice - Critical Incident Management
      • MA: Creative Writing - Poetry
      • MAcc: Accounting
      • MBA: Project Management
    Associate's
      • AA: Criminal Justice
      • AA: Business Administration
      • AA: Information Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor)
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • M.S. - Psychology
      • Master of Business Admin - Leadership
      • Master of Business Admin - Accounting
      • Master of Business Administration - Management (Spanish)
      • Master of Business Administration - International Business (Spanish)
      • Master of Business Admin - Marketing
    Bachelor's
      • B.A. - Legal Studies
      • B.A. - Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Accelerated Track to MACJ)
      • B.A. - Accounting
      • B.S.s - Information Technology Management
      • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accelerated Track to MBA)
    Associate's
      • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology
      • Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Arts - Accounting
      • Associate of Arts - Paralegal
      • Associate of Arts - Homeland Security
      • Associate of Sciences - Medical Assistant
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Doctor of Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Secondary Education
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
    Certificate
      • CTG: Communication
      • CTG: Criminal Justice
      • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
      • CTG: Higher Education Administration
      • CTG: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • CTG: Psychology
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • MSPY - Forensic Psychology
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
      • Master of Public Health
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Communication
      • BS in Criminal Justice - Socially Responsible Leadership
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • BSOM - Decision Management
      • Bachelor of Business Admin
      • BS in Finance
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
      • Associate of Applied Science in Health ScienceNo Concentration
    Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
      • M.S. - New Media Journalism
      • M.S. - Public Relations
      • Instructional Design and Technology Masters - Online
      • Master of Science - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    Bachelor's
      • BS - Sportscasting
      • Computer Science Bachelors - Online
      • Information Technology Bachelors - Online
      • Game Business and Esports Bachelors - Online
      • B.S. - Music Business
      • B.S. - Digital Cinematography
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Campus and Online Programs
    10. Pacific Oaks College

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
      • Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • BS in Psychology

What is your highest level of education?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BA - General Management
  • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
  • Business Assistant Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Saint Leo University

  • Doctor of Criminal Justice: Education
  • MS: Criminal Justice
  • AA: Criminal Justice

What is your highest level of education completed?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

What is your highest level of education completed?

Keiser University

  • M.S. - Psychology
  • B.A. - Legal Studies
  • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • DME: Doctor of Music Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
  • CTG: Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • BS in Communication
  • AASBA in Business
  • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Full Sail University

  • Computer Science Masters - Online
  • BS - Sportscasting
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?