Mooc AtlasUniversity-level self-study
All paths
Physics & maths · 46Beginner

General Science Literacy

Curious minds, retirees or journalists who want to understand today's science.

Read statistics and AI, understand life, modern physics, the universe and chemistry, with no prerequisites.

127hours of coursework
13weeks at 10 h
5steps
14courses
5universities

Target skills

Scientific MethodsData AnalysisChemistryMathematical ModelingGeometryPhysicsResponsible AIHistogramModel EvaluationArtificial IntelligenceAI literacyStatistics

Skill labels as listed on Coursera.

Target jobs

  • Science enthusiast
  • Science journalist
  • Cultural mediator

Progression

  1. 1
    University of MichiganBeginner

    Stated prerequisites: No previous knowledge of data, statistics or AI necessary

    Show the 3 courses
    CourseLevelLengthRating (reviews)
    How to Describe DataBeginner9 h4.7 (29)
    How Science Turns Data Into KnowledgeBeginner11 h4.7 (18)
    Decoding AI: A Deep Dive into AI Models and PredictionsBeginner10 h4.7 (29)
  2. 2
    University of Colorado BoulderBeginner
    Show the 4 courses
    CourseLevelLengthRating (reviews)
    Biology Everywhere FoundationsBeginner5 h4.5 (249)
    The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and GeneticsBeginner6 h4.7 (127)
    The Big Stuff: Evolution and EcologyBeginner4 h4.6 (48)
    Specialty Topics: Biology Across DisciplinesBeginner7 h4.4 (43)
  3. 3
    The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyBeginner

    Stated prerequisites: Basic classical physics and calculus (highly recommended)

    Show the 3 courses
  4. 4
    University of CambridgeBeginner
    Show the 3 courses
    CourseLevelLengthRating (reviews)
    An Introduction to AstronomyBeginner9 h—
    Extra-Galactic AstronomyIntermediate8 h—
    CosmologyIntermediate11 h—
  5. 5
    Duke UniversityBeginner

    Stated prerequisites: Strong algebra foundation

With Coursera Plus

This path takes 127 hours, about 3 months at 10 hours a week. A Coursera Plus subscription gives access to most of its courses during that time.

Discover Coursera Plus

Projects to build

After step 1

Decode a study

Pick a study covered by the press and explain in one page what it shows and its limits.

After step 3

Explain relativity

Write a two-page popular article on time dilation, with a concrete example.

After step 4

Stargazing night

Prepare a night of stargazing: visible objects, charts and explanations for beginners.

Free textbooks

More paths in this family