What are the best civil engineering courses on Coursera?

Popular options include Construction Management Specialization from Columbia University , Design Basics of RCC Buildings from L&T EduTech , and Introduction to Engineering Mechanics from Georgia Institute of Technology . These courses cover topics like structural design, project planning, transportation systems, and sustainable infrastructure.

Can I learn civil engineering for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many civil engineering courses offer a free audit option. You can access video lectures and reading materials at no cost. To complete graded assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a civil engineering course?

You’ll learn foundational and advanced topics such as structural analysis, materials science, geotechnical engineering, water resources, and transportation systems. Some courses also cover project management , BIM (Building Information Modeling) , and sustainability in civil engineering .

Do I need an engineering background to take a civil engineering course?

Some courses are beginner-friendly and introduce key concepts without requiring prior experience. However, many civil engineering topics involve math , physics , and technical knowledge, so more advanced courses may assume a background in engineering or related fields.

Can Coursera’s civil engineering courses help with career development?

Yes. Coursera courses can help learners build foundational skills, support continuing education for professionals, or prepare learners for specialized roles in infrastructure, construction , or environmental design. Earning certificates can also strengthen your resume or academic profile.

Top Civil Engineering Courses - Learn Civil Engineering Online

Find the Best Civil Engineering Course for Your Goals

UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales)
Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy and Gravity, from Particles to Planets
Skills you'll gain: Mechanics, Physics, Experimentation, Engineering Calculations, Applied Mathematics, Physical Science, Systems Of Measurement, Mathematical Modeling, Estimation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Mathematics for Machine Learning: PCA
Skills you'll gain: Dimensionality Reduction, NumPy, Probability & Statistics, Feature Engineering, Jupyter, Data Science, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Python Programming, Advanced Mathematics, Machine Learning, Calculus
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Politecnico di Milano
Archaeoastronomy
Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, Art History, Architectural Design, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Social Studies, Architecture and Construction, World History, Anthropology, Physical Science, Culture, Cultural Diversity, General Science and Research, Scientific Methods
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
The Need for Systems Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Systems Engineering, Model Based Systems Engineering, Test Engineering, Engineering Practices, Product Lifecycle Management, Engineering Management, Risk Management Framework, Systems Integration, System Requirements, Verification And Validation, Requirements Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
66 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Python Development
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Structures, Git (Version Control System), Generative AI, Version Control, Matplotlib, Plotly, DevOps, Agile Methodology, Web Development, Data Ethics, Flask (Web Framework), Scripting, GitHub, Debugging, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Restful API, Docker (Software), Test Driven Development (TDD)
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
233 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Building Web Applications in PHP
Skills you'll gain: PHP (Scripting Language), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), MySQL, Web Applications, Web Development, Secure Coding, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Development Environment, Back-End Web Development, Database Development, Web Servers, Debugging, Data Validation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Georgia Institute of Technology
Mechanics of Materials III: Beam Bending
Skills you'll gain: Structural Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Design Process, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Mechanics, Civil Engineering, Mathematical Modeling, Integral Calculus
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
950 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Digital Signal Processing 1: Basic Concepts and Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Digital Communications, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Programming Principles, Engineering Analysis, Electronics, Telecommunications, Advanced Mathematics, Algorithms, Linear Algebra, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Logic, Applied Mathematics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
623 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Yale University
Roman Architecture
Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, Art History, Architectural Design, Architecture and Construction, Construction, Civil Engineering, European History, Culture, World History, Cultural Diversity, Research and Design, Design Elements And Principles
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
687 reviews
Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Single Page Web Applications with AngularJS
Skills you'll gain: Angular, JavaScript Frameworks, Unit Testing, Ajax, Cloud Applications, Web Applications, Front-End Web Development, Javascript, Application Programming Interface (API), Model View Controller, Web Services, Software Architecture, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), UI Components
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Peking University
程序设计与算法
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, C++ (Programming Language), Algorithms, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), C (Programming Language), Graph Theory, Program Development, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Science, Data Management, Computer Architecture, Database Systems, File Management, Software Engineering, Query Languages, Debugging, Development Testing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Developing AI Applications with Python and Flask
Skills you'll gain: Flask (Web Framework), Unit Testing, Application Development, Application Deployment, Software Development Life Cycle, Python Programming, IBM Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Web Applications, Application Programming Interface (API), Integrated Development Environments, Restful API, Programming Principles, Style Guides
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks