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    Hardware Courses Online

    Understand computer hardware principles for building and repairing systems. Learn about CPUs, GPUs, memory, and storage devices.

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    Explore the Hardware Course Catalog

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems

      Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Windows, Computer Hardware, Hardware Troubleshooting, Peripheral Devices, Disaster Recovery, Hardware Architecture, Networking Hardware, Computer Systems, Desktop Support, System Configuration, Operating Systems, Display Devices, USB, Computer Displays, Software Installation, Linux, Mac OS, Technical Support, Data Storage, File Systems

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Computer Hardware and Software

      Skills you'll gain: Operating Systems, Computer Hardware, Hardware Architecture, Network Security, TCP/IP, Information Technology, Computer Networking, Computer Architecture, Network Protocols, Software Systems, General Networking

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      180 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      I

      Illinois Tech

      Introduction to Contemporary Operating Systems and Hardware 1a

      Skills you'll gain: Computer Hardware, Hardware Architecture, Peripheral Devices, Computer Architecture, Data Storage, USB, Data Storage Technologies

      Build toward a degree

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      89 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Embedded Software, Software Design, Embedded Systems, Debugging, Hardware Architecture, System Programming, Microarchitecture, Software Architecture, Computer Architecture, Data Structures, C (Programming Language), Peripheral Devices

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      520 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: New
      New
      P

      Packt

      Mastering Hardware Protocols with ESP32 and Arduinos

      Skills you'll gain: Network Protocols, Hardware Troubleshooting, Internet Of Things, Wireless Networks, Computer Programming Tools, Integrated Development Environments

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      P

      Princeton University

      Computer Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Microarchitecture, Computer Architecture, Hardware Architecture, Computer Systems, Computer Engineering, Distributed Computing, Operating Systems, Performance Tuning, Scalability

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.6K reviews

      Advanced · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    What brings you to Coursera today?

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google IT Support

      Skills you'll gain: Package and Software Management, Systems Administration, Computer Networking, IT Infrastructure, OSI Models, Desktop Support, Information Systems Security, Network Troubleshooting, Technical Support, Routing Protocols, Computer Hardware, Network Security, Cybersecurity, Microsoft Windows, Network Administration, Lightweight Directory Access Protocols, File Systems, Interviewing Skills, Applicant Tracking Systems, Resilience

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      205K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Hardware Description Languages for FPGA Design

      Skills you'll gain: Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Electronic Hardware, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computational Logic, Verification And Validation, Technical Design, Computer Engineering, Simulation and Simulation Software, Systems Design, Development Testing, Test Engineering, Functional Testing

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      606 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking

      Skills you'll gain: Computer Networking, OSI Models, Network Troubleshooting, Routing Protocols, Network Administration, General Networking, TCP/IP, Network Architecture, Network Routing, Networking Hardware, Network Protocols, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Infrastructure, Local Area Networks, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Wide Area Networks, Wireless Networks, Network Security, Network Model, Data Integrity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      52K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Microsoft

      Introduction to Computers

      Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Computer Systems, Business Software, Technical Consulting, Business Systems, Computer Hardware, System Support, Information Technology, Servers, Enterprise Security, Artificial Intelligence, Data Storage, Operating Systems, System Configuration, Technical Support, Computer Architecture, Cybersecurity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      780 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Maryland, College Park

      Hardware Security

      Skills you'll gain: Hardware Design, Security Engineering, Hardware Architecture, Computer Hardware, Threat Modeling, Cybersecurity, Security Controls, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Cryptography, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Encryption, System Design and Implementation

      4.3
      Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
      ·
      687 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      FPGA Design for Embedded Systems

      Skills you'll gain: Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Electronic Systems, Electronic Hardware, Electronics Engineering, Embedded Systems, Embedded Software, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Semiconductors, Integrated Development Environments, Software Development, System Design and Implementation, Computational Logic, Software Development Tools, Computer Engineering, Verification And Validation, Technical Design, Computer Architecture, Simulation and Simulation Software

      Build toward a degree

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.7K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular hardware courses

    • Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems: IBM
    • Computer Hardware and Software: University of California, Irvine
    • Introduction to Contemporary Operating Systems and Hardware 1a: Illinois Tech
    • Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Mastering Hardware Protocols with ESP32 and Arduinos: Packt
    • Computer Architecture: Princeton University
    • Google IT Support: Google
    • Hardware Description Languages for FPGA Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking: Google
    • Introduction to Computers: Microsoft

    Frequently Asked Questions about Hardware

    When it comes to Computing, hardware refers to the physical parts of a device that users interact with such as a keyboard, hard drive, or monitor. This is in contrast to software, which are the operating systems, applications, and other virtual computing programs that help users carry out tasks.

    Hardware can be created and manufactured by big tech names, such as Microsoft or Apple, or by hobbyists and smaller companies using Arduino, embedded-systems software, and other tools. Learning about hardware is important to making computer-based technologies functional for our everyday lives, as well as critical for maintaining and repairing them.‎

    Given the many applications of hardware studies—from security, to product design, to the IoT—jobs in hardware are varied depending on whatever specialty learners want to explore.

    Opportunities in Computer Hardware Engineering in particular can expect their field to grow a steady five percent through 2026—as fast as average. However, Engineers going the IoT route can expect to enter a market estimated to reach a value of USD 1256.1 billion by 2025. Related roles that can enjoy this lucrative market include Embedded Systems Engineer, Raspberry Pi Developer, Arduino Developer, and others.‎

    Hardware courses offered through Coursera equip learners with knowledge in hardware description languages such as VHDL and Verilog; design methods; embedded architectures; software that can manipulate hardware; 3D printing hardware; IoT applications; hardware security; and more.

    Lessons on hardware are taught by instructors from major tech names and universities, including University of Colorado, University of Illinois, EIT Digital, University of Maryland, and other organizations. Learners can enjoy exploring hardware with instructors specializing in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics, and other disciplines. Course content on hardware is delivered via video lectures, hands-on projects, readings, quizzes, and other types of assignments.‎

    The skills and experience you might need to already have before starting to learn hardware are understanding the basics of how software and hardware intersect in devices, computers, operating systems, embedded systems, and assorted data structures. You might want to have some engineering aspects in your background and skills or work experience in hardware components and operating systems. You might be familiar with how embedded devices are impacting manufacturing in the Internet of Things, and you might want to also know about wireless sensor networks.‎

    The kind of people best suited for roles in hardware are mainly people who are interested in computers, are technologically oriented, or have an engineering or computer science background, gained either in online courses, internships, or on-the-job training. Understanding hardware is for those who want to know about physical components, like computers, monitors, peripherals, 3D printing equipment, and embedded systems. The people best suited for roles in hardware may also likely have knowledge of programming languages like Java, Python, C, C+, and Verilog, key languages for computer engineers.‎

    Common career paths for someone in hardware are generally working for a technology company, manufacturing firms, or even a large institution like a college university or online distribution service. You may start either in software or hardware environments and then extend your background of engineering skills or computer science skills to move into areas of installation and maintenance of computers, servers, circuit boards, routers, printers, and similar areas.‎

    Some of the topics related to hardware that you can study include machine learning, cloud networks, systems architecture, network security, computer maintenance, and data storage. These topics may bring a fuller understanding to you when trying to tackle all the information available about hardware for computers and devices. When learning about hardware, you could spend equal amounts of time studying these and other topics related to the computer and system machinery industries.‎

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

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Hardware, 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.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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