If you have a budding interest in becoming a geologist without going for physical classes, then gather here as I will be curating the best free online geology courses available for you to choose from through this blog post.
Geology has always been a very interesting subject for me in high school because of all the things that it entails. Through the subject, you will be able to learn a lot about your environment. You will learn about the different climate changes all over the world, the different seasons, the origins and development of landscapes, earthquakes, volcanoes, sustainability, glaciers, water composition and processes, floods, groundwater flow, the interaction between humans and the planet, dinosaur evolution and lots of different interesting topics. The subject will also teach you how to draw as you will be needed to express yourself through drawings most of the time while learning the subject.
Just as the world has gone digital, different courses are now made available online to help individuals gain access to them in the comfort of their homes. Different online platforms offer these free online courses, most of which come with a certificate of completion. Some of these online learning platforms are Alison, Coursera, edX, Udemy, and a host of other popular platforms. Most courses that you think are solely learned through a physical class are now being learned online for free.
Surprisingly, some of these courses are farming courses and gunsmithing courses which are known to be learned from practicals. Because we are focusing on the free online geology courses that are available, let’s start talking about them without further ado. As an aspiring geologist, you can also decide to take up drawing classes to hone your drawing skills in preparation for learning some of the geology courses ahead.
Free Online Geology Courses
This section will be dedicated to listing and discussing on the free online geology courses available. They are as follows;
- The Dynamic Earth: A Course for Educators
- Our Earth: Its Climate, History, and Processes
- Oil & Gas Industry Operations and Markets
- Mountains 101
- GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis
- Astrobiology: Exploring Other Worlds
- The Science of the Solar System
- Origins – Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life
- Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology
- Planet Earth…and You!
- International Water Law
- Knowing the Universe: History and Philosophy of Astronomy
- Paleontology: Theropod Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds
- Deep Time: Discovering an Ancient Earth
- Extinctions: Past, Present, & Future
- Introduction to Biology: Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity
- Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
- Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space
- Marine Biology
- Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications
1. The Dynamic Earth: A Course for Educators
This course provides students with an overview of the origin and evolution of the Earth and it is the first on our list of free online geology courses. Informed by the recently released Next Generation Science Standards, this course examines geological time scales, radiometric dating, and how scientists “read the rocks.” They will explore dramatic changes in the Earth over the last 4 billion years, including how the evolution of life on Earth has affected its atmosphere.
In addition to looking at geology on a global scale, participants will take to their backyards to explore and share their local geologic history. Course participants will bring their understanding of the dynamic Earth – along with content resources, discussion questions, and assignments – into their teaching. There are 4 modules in the course and it takes approximately 7 hours to complete.
Published By – American Museum of Natural History
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s) – Edmond Mathez, Ph.D.
2. Our Earth: Its Climate, History, and Processes
Through this course, you will develop a greater appreciation for how the air, water, land, and life formed and have interacted over the last 4.5 billion years. This is the next on the list of free online geology courses. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 13 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Manchester
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Prof. David M. Schultz, Dr Rochelle Taylor and Dr Jonathan Fairman
3. Oil & Gas Industry Operations and Markets
The oil and gas industry has an enormous impact on all aspects of daily life. Individuals, corporations, and national governments make financial and policy decisions based on the cost, use, and availability of these two natural resources. This two-week course looks at the two most fundamental aspects of the oil and gas industry, its operations, and markets, each of which is addressed as a separate module in the course. In the operations module, the course provides an overview of the production of oil and gas, from initial exploration to final transport.
The second module focuses on the forces that drive the industry’s operations, and the oil and gas markets, including the cost of wells, seasonal impacts on prices, and the role of oil reserves. After every lesson, learners will take short quizzes to test their newly acquired knowledge, participate in crowd-sourced discussions about global markets, and complete a final project. There are 2 modules in the course and it takes approximately 7 hours to complete.
Published By – Duke University
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Lincoln Pratson
4. Mountains 101
Mountains 101 is a broad and integrated overview of the mountain world. This 12-lesson course covers an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on the physical, biological, and human dimensions of mountain places in Alberta, Canada, and around the world. Specifically, you will study the geological origins of mountains, and how they’re built up and worn down over time; you will learn about their importance for biodiversity and water cycles, globally and locally; you will explore their cultural significance to societies around the globe, and how that relationship has evolved; and you will learn how mountains are used, how they’re protected, and how today they’re experiencing rapid change in a warming climate. There are 12 modules in the course and it takes approximately 18 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Alberta
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- David Hik and Zac Robinson
5. GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis
This Specialization is for those new to mapping and GIS, as well as anyone looking to gain a better understanding of how it all works and why. You will learn practical skills that can be applied to your work using cutting-edge software created by Esri Inc., the world’s leading GIS company and our industry partner.
Published By – University of Toronto
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Don Boyes
6. Astrobiology: Exploring Other Worlds
How are astronomers approaching their search for life in the universe? What have we learned from the surge of exoplanet discoveries? How likely is it that Earth does not host the only life in the Universe? In this course, you will explore the field of astrobiology, an emerging multidisciplinary field. Progress in astrobiology is driven by telescopes on the ground and in space, and by new insights on how life emerged on Earth and its diversity.
The topics in this course range from the science of how exoplanets are detected, to the chemistry that supports the argument that the ingredients for life are common in the Universe. Students will graduate from this course informed about one of the most exciting fields in all of science, and ready to discuss the current exoplanet news stories and discoveries. There are 6 modules in the course and it takes approximately 24 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Arizona
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Chris Impey
7. The Science of the Solar System
Through this course, you will learn about the science behind the current exploration of the solar system in this free class. Use principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to understand the latest from Mars, comprehend the outer solar system, ponder planets outside our solar system, and search for habitability in our neighborhood and beyond. This course is generally taught at an advanced level assuming a prior knowledge of undergraduate math and physics, but the majority of the concepts and lectures can be understood without these prerequisites. The quizzes and final exam are designed to make you think critically about the material you have learned rather than to simply make you memorize facts. The class is expected to be challenging but rewarding. There are 10 modules in the course and it takes approximately 29 hours to complete.
Published By – Caltech
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Mike Brown
8. Origins – Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life
The Origins course tracks the origin of all things – from the Big Bang to the origin of the Solar System and the Earth. The course follows the evolution of life on our planet through deep geological time to present life forms. This is another one on the list of free online geology courses. There are 12 modules in the course and it takes approximately 23 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Copenhagen
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Henning Haack, James Connelly, and 15 others
9. Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology
Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology is a 12-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of non-avian dinosaurs. Topics covered: anatomy, eating, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins and extinction. Lessons are delivered from museums, fossil-preparation labs, and dig sites. There are 12 modules in the course and it takes approximately 14 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Alberta
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Philip John Currie, PhD
10. Planet Earth…and You!
Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, ice ages, landslides, floods, life evolution, plate motions—all of these phenomena have interacted over the vast expanses of deep time to sculpt the dynamic planet that we live on today. Planet Earth presents an overview of several aspects of our home, from a geological perspective. The course will begin with earthquakes, what they are, what causes them, what effects they have, and what we can do about them. They will emphasize that plate tectonics, the grand unifying theory of geology, explains how the map of our planet’s surface has changed radically over geologic time, and why present-day geologic activity including a variety of devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes occur where they do. There are 6 modules in the course and it takes approximately 41 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Dr. Eileen Herrstrom and Dr. Stephen Marshak
11. International Water Law
In recent decades, international law has undergone a series of major developments to accommodate the many new facets of freshwater management and protection. The adoption of universal, regional, and basin instruments highlights how important it is to study the evolution of international water regulations and to be able to identify the main principles in this field. This course aims to provide the necessary background to understand and examine the regulations applicable to transboundary freshwater, especially to rivers, lakes, and aquifers. It presents the principles and legal standards that govern the use, sharing, management, and protection of these resources. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 10 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Geneva
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Makane Moïse Mbengue, Mara Tignino and Komlan Sangbana
12. Knowing the Universe: History and Philosophy of Astronomy
This is an introductory-level course about the history and philosophy of astronomy, the oldest science. You will look at how humans learned to ask questions about the universe, and even before the invention of modern instruments like the telescope, learned some amazing things about their place in nature. You will start with prehistoric cultures that kept accurate calendars and move through the time of the Greek philosophers who laid down the rudiments of logic and mathematics and the modern scientific method.
Then examine the revolutions of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton that redefined our place in the universe. You will then learn about the revolutions in physics in the early 20th century that redefined our ideas of space and time, mass, and energy. Finally, you will discuss how modern cosmology has shown us that we live in an ancient universe (14 billion years old), in one galaxy in a universe of hundreds of billions of galaxies. There are 8 modules in the course and it takes approximately 32 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Arizona
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Chris Impey
13. Paleontology: Theropod Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds
Paleontology: Theropod Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds is a five-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the origins of birds. This course examines the anatomy, diversity, and evolution of theropod dinosaurs in relation to the origin of birds. Students explore various hypotheses for the origin of flight. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 8 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Alberta
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Philip John Currie, Ph.D
14. Deep Time: Discovering an Ancient Earth
Ever since our ancestors ventured onto the African savanna, human beings have searched, explored, and wondered about the world. Nowadays, and certainly for most, science is the vehicle that takes us along a path toward understanding nature. It can bring us from sub-atomic realms to the most distant galaxies. Largely through the discipline of geology, science allows us to push back the mists of time and peer into a past measured in billions of years, and aptly referred to as “Deep Time.”
Through this course, you will learn about the origins of science and geology itself, to our planet’s oceans, atmosphere, and crust. The focus then turns to how geologists have probed the rise and fall of the Rocky Mountains, and we conclude by considering not only the power of science but also acknowledging its inherent price and responsibility. There are 4 modules in the course and it takes approximately 10 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Colorado Boulder
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Alan Lester
15. Extinctions: Past, Present, & Future
This course introduces you to the five mass extinctions of the pre-human past, their causes and significance to the history of life on earth, and the current mass extinction happening during our time. You will also explore the history of paleontology and geological study and review the key players that influenced science today. Regardless of your familiarity with the topic, you’ll get portable handouts, lively demonstrations, and quizzes that bridge and enhance your knowledge. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 16 hours to complete.
Published By – Emory University
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Anthony J. Martin
16. Introduction to Biology: Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity
In this 3-course specialization, you will learn to see nature the way a biologist does. You will gain an understanding and appreciation for the incredible diversity of life and the interdependence of all living things. You will explore what we know about the origins of life and how biologists have advanced the science of evolution since Charles Darwin’s lifetime, as well as the many applications of evolutionary biology to our everyday lives; you will examine the characteristics, functions, origins, and the roles of each major group of living things. You will also consider humans, including our origins, how we are impacting the natural world, and our future as a species.
Published By – Rice University
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Scott Solomon
17. Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Through this course, you will learn about the origin and evolution of life and the search for life beyond the Earth. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 11 hours to complete.
Published By – The University of Edinburgh
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Charles Cockell
18. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern astronomy. We will help you get up to date on the most recent astronomical discoveries while also providing support at an introductory level for those who have no background in science. There are 11 modules in the course and it takes approximately 43 hours to complete.
Published By – University of Arizona
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Chris Impey
19. Marine Biology
This course is about life in the oceans, from the sunlit surface to the inky depths, from microscopic phytoplankton to the great blue whale. The ocean is among the world’s most inhospitable environments for scientific research, which is why we know as much about the surface of the moon as we do the bottom of the sea. This course uncovers the evolutionary history of marine organisms, adaptations to life in water, the behavior and functional morphology of sea animals, interactions between species, and current threats. Throughout the course, we meet scientists who are developing ingenious solutions for overcoming challenges and making remarkable discoveries. There are 5 modules in the course and it takes approximately 6 hours to complete.
Published By – American Museum of Natural History
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- John Sparks
20. Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications
Through this course, you will build upon basic environmental science and environmental engineering principles to discover how to best implement MNA as a viable treatment for groundwater contamination plumes. Additionally, you will delve into the history behind and make predictions about the new directions for this technology. They will use lectures, readings, and computational exercises to enhance our understanding and implementation of MNA. After this course, students will have an updated understanding and practical tools that can be applied to all possible MNA sites. There are 9 modules in the course and it takes approximately 27 hours to complete.
Published By –
Offered By – Coursera
Instructor(s)- Pedro Alvarez, Charles Newell and David Adamson
Conclusion
All these courses are available for you to enroll in and make your career as a geologist a dream come true.
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