Intro to Engineering: Best Engineering Courses for Beginners

Engineering is an important field that offers technical solutions to the practical problems of our everyday life. A career in engineering is a very well-paid profession that has created revolutionary inventions, from the electric motor to the steam power engine. If you want to learn engineering for beginners, continue reading this article to find everything you need to know for an introduction to engineering.

When choosing an engineering major in college, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the broad range of engineering fields. In this article, we will dive into some of the best engineering courses for beginners and the course providers and costs, as well as an overview of the many different branches of engineering.

What Is Engineering?

The term engineering refers to a discipline that uses scientific principles to design and build systems and processes to develop techniques and tools. These tools and techniques aim to make people’s lives easier, solve problems, and satisfy the technical needs of society.

Engineers use mathematics, basic physics, chemistry, biology, and economics to develop technologies that contribute to the overall progress of society. Engineering is in charge of transforming knowledge into something practical through the efficient use of resources. The different branches of engineering include mechanical, electrical, chemical, and civil engineering.

How to Learn Engineering for Beginners

• Online courses. Taking a basic engineering course is an excellent way to begin learning about the field that is generally quick and inexpensive. Take a class to learn fundamental concepts, and you’ll discover the engineering disciplines that interest you most.
• Read papers. Reading scientific papers or journals, such as the American Society for Engineering Education Journal or the National Society of Professional Engineers, is a great way to learn about the extensive development of technology, engineering achievements, and recent discoveries in any specialized field of engineering that interests you.
• Join the science club. If you are in high school or college, you can join your school’s science or engineering club, where you can learn a lot about engineering-related topics and acquire skills that will help you when studying for a specialized field at a college of engineering or related engineering degree program.
• Read textbooks. Begin your learning journey by reading books on topics such as linear algebra and calculus. Engineers use these two areas of math frequently, and they are important skills to have for learning and practicing engineering. Engineering textbooks discuss many important beginner topics, such as industrial power and the scientific principles of engineering fields. 
• Watch videos and tutorials. Watching YouTube videos is a great way to see the many types of engineering in action, or to learn about specific engineering topics. You can also watch tutorials to learn how to start doing engineering projects and repair things at home.

Best Engineering Courses for Beginners 

The Best Intro to Engineering Courses: Explained

Here are the best basic courses for each branch of engineering, where you can obtain scientific training that a professional engineer must have. You can learn about product testing, engineering text foundations, engineering ethics, and the ethical issues that the discipline of engineering encompasses.

Introduction to Industrial Engineering | Alison

This introduction to engineering course is designed for you to learn about the principles of industrial engineering, and the tools and techniques commonly used in this field. During this free online course, you will learn about the application of engineering principles, the different types of industries and their organizational structures, and industrial-scale manufacturing.

Introduction to Engineering and Design | Brown University & edX

This course by Brown University is an introduction to the different branches of engineering, in which you will learn about what exactly the term engineering means. Students will learn about how engineering activity influences changes within the broad range of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil engineering, and other disciplines of engineering. You’ll be prepared as a student in an engineering department, and it’s a great way to start your career. 

Introduction to Electronics | Georgia Tech & Coursera

This Georgia Tech course offers an excellent introduction to the field of electronic engineering. You’ll learn about the basic operation of transistors, diodes, and operational amplifiers, which are a part of fundamental engineering tasks that electronics engineers use every day in the engineering industry. This knowledge is essential for a future career in engineering, and the class is offered for free. 

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics | Georgia Tech & Coursera

Georgia Tech and Coursera offer this course on the principles of mechanics in engineering solutions that teaches you to solve real-world problems by modeling static equilibrium problems. Knowledge of basic physics and basic mathematics is necessary in order to have a good understanding of the engineering methodology used during the course.

Principles of Engineering | King’s College London & Future Learn

In this course, you will learn methodologies for engineering solutions, how to think like an engineer, and take a look at what the term engineering looks like in practice. This is an introductory course for you to develop the mental power needed to learn about the design, processes, and current technologies used in the engineering sector. At the end of the course, you’ll have the necessary skills to approach engineering tasks, such as the design of bridges.

Circuits for Beginners | National University of Singapore & edX

In this beginner course you’ll learn all about electrical engineering methodology, mechanical engineering, and direct current circuits. Students will analyze, build, and measure real circuits. You will learn how to use components such as resistors, capacitors, batteries, and diodes to repair any electronic body. By the end of the course, you’ll know the concepts of systems engineering to be able to engineer complex systems for industrial power operations.

Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering | TU Delft & edX

In this course, students will get an introduction to aeronautics and the extensive development of aerodynamic design. In three blocks you will learn about the principles of aerodynamics, and how aerospace engineering deals with aircraft design. You’ll also learn aeronautical history, the history of flight, aviation pioneers, and everything that aeronautical engineering deals with. By the end of the course, you will have the skills of an engineer responsible for building airplanes.

Electrical Power Engineering Principles | Udemy

This is a course offered by Udemy, in which the instructor and professional engineer Stephen Brooks will teach you the basic concepts of electrical engineering, and the design, construction, and operation of electrical power systems. You’ll learn the basic theories and principles on which electrical power is based, engineering communication, and how electricity and magnetism are linked.

Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Explained | Udemy

In this course you will learn how things work from an electrical engineering point of view. In addition to electrical engineering, students will also dive into the basic concepts of mechanical engineering. You’ll examine how a hydroelectric power plant works, and explore mediums like an electric motor, a biological machine, the development of electronics, and other programmable machines.

This course can be especially useful for anyone interested in the electronic engineering industry sector, mechanical engineering, and other professional connections between engineering disciplines.

Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know | University of California & Coursera

In this course, students will learn about the science of materials commonly used in the engineering sector, how they are manufactured, and their mechanical and electrical properties. During the course, you will also learn about the modern applications of these materials in engineering, such as the use of blocks of granite. It is a great course for both engineering majors, and beginner learners interested in the engineering design process. 

Is Learning Engineering Worth It?

Learning engineering is definitely worth it, as engineering professions are among the highest-paid occupations in the US, according to Statista. The continuous rise of engineering disciplines has resulted in high demand for management engineers. Engineering fields are especially exciting thanks to the numerous technological advances of the 20th century, such as programmable machines like the smartphone, and even technological improvements in fields like biology.

Learning about the fields of engineering is a great first step toward your future career in engineering. In an introduction to engineering course, you can learn to develop the mental power and passion needed to master the engineering design process. The creative application of your knowledge of engineering will allow you to perform the crucial engineering tasks of an engineering profession.

Introduction to Engineering FAQ