12 Free Online Embedded Systems Course With Certificate

This post offers a wealth of information on the free online embedded systems course with certificate. Taking one or more of these courses will improve your knowledge of computing systems, as well as, enhance your skill to the next level.

Computer science is a very broad field and it keeps getting broader as more digital skills are developed daily. Computer science encompasses software and hardware development, programming, coding, data analysis, and several other computing systems. Embedded systems are also part of computer science and cannot function at all without their application.

If you are a computer scientist practicing one form of computer science or the other and want to gain more skillset to add to your portfolio, then keep reading. You will also find this post useful if you want to satisfy your curiosity on what embedded systems are and how they work, and gain basic knowledge on the subject matter.

Here, in this post, you will learn what embedded systems are and find suitable, flexible, online courses that will teach you about them without leaving a hole in your pocket. To participate in one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate, you need to have prior experience or, at the minimum, a basic knowledge of computer science.

Having prior knowledge of computer science will easily help you understand the terminologies, techniques, and what you are being taught. Even trying out hands-on lab work will be easy for you. And if you have no prior knowledge of computer science but still want to join the free online embedded systems course with certificate classes, you shouldn’t be discouraged from taking it, you can still join and we at Study Abroad Nations have made it easy for you.

Published by one of our top writers is an interesting post on the online computer science courses you can take for free and still get a certificate upon completion. When you participate in the courses, it will help develop your knowledge of computer science, thereby fulfilling the prerequisite to join the free online embedded systems course with certificate.

The free online embedded systems course with certificate classes are offered by various online learning platforms that have partnered with some of the best schools in the world such as Harvard, Georgia Tech, UT Austin, etc. Some of the courses are also taught by industry experts from giant tech companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, etc.

And these giant tech companies are great pioneers in offering digital skills to anyone with the zeal to learn and the appropriate online learning tools. For example, you can get a data science professional certificate from IBM, or a data analytics professional certificate from Google, or join one of the free online digital marketing courses, also offered by Google. These ones are just the tip of the iceberg, there are many professional skills you can learn from these top guys including some online courses on embedded systems.

I’ve gone on and on without first explaining the meaning of embedded systems, my bad!

What is Embedded Systems?

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software which is designed to carry out a specific function. The purpose is to control the device and allow users to interact with it. An example is a fire alarm, which is an embedded system, it is designed for the specific task of detecting smoke. It is built with both hardware and software applications.

Other examples of embedded systems are mobile phones, medical equipment, racing cars, digital cameras, smart TV, smartphone, microwaves, ATMs, wearable fitness devices, washing machines, and almost everything in home, offices, industry, airplanes, have embedded systems application. All these devices and equipment have computers embedded in them.

Embedded systems are commonly found in consumer, industrial, automotive, home appliances, medical, telecommunication, commercial, and military applications. All embedded systems are categorized into real-time embedded systems, standalone embedded systems, network or networked embedded systems, and mobile embedded systems.

Embedded systems have a lot to do with computers, in fact, they are computers themselves. A computer science student or specialist will find the online courses on embedded systems useful in their careers. Participating in one or more of the online courses will teach you more, equip you with the latest computer skills, and you can get inspired to build an embedded system.

Benefits of Free Online Embedded Systems Courses

The advantages of participating in a free online embedded systems course with a certificate are:

  1. You will learn from the comfort of your home
  2. You can start and finish a course at your own time, whenever you like, wherever you are
  3. The courses are free thus, you won’t be gaining a skill that will leave a hole in your pocket
  4. There is less stress since you won’t be moving around like traditional learning
  5. You can easily access study materials using your smartphone, iPad, PC, or tablet.
  6. It is convenient and your chances of concentration are higher
  7. The free online embedded systems course with certificate classes are flexible, allowing you to merge with your usual responsibilities such as work
  8. You will be learning from computer science professors and scientists from some of the best universities and top companies wherever you are in the world
  9. You will earn an accredited, recognized certificate that will set you above the competition

 Free Online Embedded Systems Course with Certificate

The free online embedded systems course with certificate are:

  • Embedded Systems by Georgia Tech
  • Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments
  • Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Getting Started
  • Diploma in Building and Installation of Embedded Systems
  • Embedded Systems – Shape the World: Microcontroller Input/ Output
  • Modeling and Debugging Embedded Systems
  • Architecture and Physical Interfacing of Embedded Systems
  • Embedded Systems: Digital Switch Interfacing
  • Fundamentals of TinyML
  • Real-Time Embedded Systems Theory and Analysis
  • IoT System Design: Software and Hardware Integration
  • Deploying TinyML

1.     Embedded Systems by Georgia Tech

This is the only free online embedded systems course with certificate offered on Udacity by Georgia Tech and takes 16 weeks to complete. Participants are required to be at the intermediate skill level to apply for the course. That means you need to have prior experience or knowledge of computer science or computer systems.

The course is taught by industry professionals. It includes three lessons that cover the various topic on an embedded processor, software optimizations, and advanced optimizations. The course also contains quizzes. It is self-paced, allowing you to start and finish on your own time.

Apply Here

2.     Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments

This is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered on Coursera by the University of Colorado, Boulder. I mentioned earlier that these free online embedded systems course with certificate are offered online by some of the best universities in the world and CU Boulder is a prestigious one as well.

This course is specifically designed with zero knowledge of embedded systems software. By joining the course, you will explore embedded systems, their fundamentals, and their applications. For those looking for ways to learn how to develop embedded software, this is a golden opportunity for you. Completing this course will give foundational knowledge and put you in the intermediate skill level to take the first course.

The course consists of four modules with a quiz which is taught weekly but you can always take it on your own time. The course takes approximately 9 hours to complete and you get a certificate of completion which isn’t free by the way. You will need to pay a token to earn the certificate.

Apply Here

3.     Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Getting Started

If you are already an embedded systems specialist, coder, or computer scientist looking to get more inspiration to put your career to the next level, you should consider taking this course. It is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered by arm Education on edX. You will gain enough practical skills to get you started on developing an embedded system.

While the course is entirely free, the certificate isn’t, you’ll need to pay a one-time fee of $99 to get the certificate and also unlimited access to the course materials. With a weekly commitment of 3-6 hours, you will complete the course in 6 weeks. Of course, it is self-paced.

Apply Here

4.     Diploma in Building and Installation of Embedded Systems

With your knowledge of embedded systems now stronger, you can go on to take this free online course on Alison to learn the intricacies of building electronic projects with the use of embedded systems. The course is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate taught by NPTEL, equipping you with the relevant skills needed to manipulate, plan and build projects using an embedded system.

The course is self-paced but the total duration is 10-15 hours to complete. At the end of the course, you will earn a digital certificate.

Apply Here

5.     Embedded Systems – Shape the World: Microcontroller Input/ Output

The University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with edX is offering this free online course. It is an introductory course on embedded systems with a focus on microcontroller input/output. It is more of a hands-on, lab-based course with little theory. So, you must have had basic or foundational knowledge of embedded systems to take this course.

If you are looking to gain more practical skills on embedded systems and inspiration to build one, this is your course, don’t miss the opportunity. While the course is free, the certificate isn’t, to get one, you need to pay $199 and also get unlimited access to the course. The course takes 8 weeks to complete with a weekly commitment of 8-10 hours. You can always complete it on your own time though.

Apply Here

6.     Modeling and Debugging Embedded Systems

This is also one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered by the prestigious University of Colorado, Boulder on Coursera. It is for intermediate skill level, so it is for those who have basic knowledge of the embedded systems, who are embedded systems designers, coders, and computer scientists.

If you are in any of these categories and looking to gain more skills to expand your knowledge base, then consider taking this course. You will learn how to debug deeply embedded systems and much more. The course consists of four modules which take a total time of 8 hours to complete. There is a paid certification available upon completion.

Apply Here

7.     Architecture and Physical Interfacing of Embedded Systems

This is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered by NPTEL on Alison. This course introduces learners to the features and working principles of microcontrollers. And further explores the architecture, programming, and interfacing or microcontroller.

It takes 4-5 hours to complete the course and instantly earn a free digital certificate upon completing the course.

Apply Here

8.     Embedded Systems: Digital Switch Interfacing

One of the perks of free online courses is how they are broken down and taught step-by-step. The course Embedded Systems: Digital Switch Interfacing is almost like the one above but focuses on the digital switch interfacing microcontrollers. You will learn the right software to download and install on your computer and the switch interface of MSP430.

A beginner obviously can’t take this course, they’d get lost, but if you are already a developer of embedded systems and want to acquire more skills, you should take this course. You will acquire skills that will help you in developing embedded systems. The course is also from Alison and takes 4-5 hours to complete with a digital certificate.

Apply Here

9.     Fundamentals of TinyML

This is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered by Harvard University on edX. TinyML is a kind of “language” and this course introduces you to this language and how you can apply it with machine learning into developing embedded systems. And if you do not have knowledge of machine learning, you’ll learn it in this course.

The course is taught by an associate professor at Harvard and a lead AI advocate from Google, you’re literally learning from the best. While the course is free, the certificate isn’t, with $199 you can get a certificate and unlimited access to the course content. With a commitment of 2-5 hours per week, you can complete the course in 5 weeks.

Apply Here

10.  Real-Time Embedded Systems Theory and Analysis

This is another of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered by the University of Colorado, Boulder. This is an advanced-level course for which learners must have some prior experience in C programming, operating system, and embedded hardware before enrolling.

The course consists of 4 modules, 12 videos, and one quiz. Although self-paced, it takes approximately 60 hours to complete. A certificate is available upon completion.

Apply Here

11.  IoT System Design: Software and Hardware Integration

This is one of the free online embedded systems course with certificate offered on edX by Waseda University. The course explores the interaction between software and hardware, equipping you with skills to develop your own Internet of Things (IoT) system.

This free online course is taught by 3 professors from the university who will teach you how to design a basic system, low-level programming, and hardware control. With a commitment of 4-6 hours per week, you can complete the course in 4 weeks. A paid certificate is also available.

Apply Here

12.  Deploying TinyML

On our final list of free online embedded systems course with certificate is the course Deploying TinyML offered by the prestigious Harvard University on edX. The course is taught by an associate professor at Harvard and a technical leader from Google, learning directly from industry experts.

Participating in this course will equip you with various technical and programming skills such as programming in TensorFlow Lite and training, writing, and deploying your code to a microcontroller-based device. The course takes 5 weeks to complete with a weekly commitment of 2-4 hours. There’s a paid certificate at the end of the course.

Apply Here

This wraps up the list of free online embedded systems course with certificate and I hope they have been helpful. All of these courses are free and offer a certificate, some of which are expensive, especially the ones from edX. You can take as many of these courses as you want and get a certificate you can afford as it will help bring more opportunities to you, especially if you are entering the workforce.

Free Online Embedded Systems Course with Certificate – FAQs

What should I learn for embedded systems?

To learn embedded systems, you need to have knowledge of programming language, know your microcontroller, basic electronics, and learn C/C++.

How can I learn embedded systems on my own?

You can learn embedded systems on your own by learning C programming and the others above and enroll in an online embedded systems course to expand your skill and practice hands-on projects.

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