About this course

Want to learn how your radio works? Wondering how to implement filters using resistors, inductors, and capacitors? Wondering what are some other applications of RLC and CMOS circuits? This free circuits course, taught by edX CEO and MIT Professor Anant Agarwal and MIT colleagues, is for you.

The third and final online Circuits and Electronics courses is taken by all MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) majors.

Topics covered include: dynamics of capacitor, inductor and resistor networks; design in the time and frequency domains; op-amps, and analog and digital circuits and applications. Design and lab exercises are also significant components of the course.

Weekly coursework includes interactive video sequences, readings from the textbook, homework, online laboratories, and optional tutorials. The course will also have a final exam.

This is a self-paced course, so there are no weekly deadlines. However, all assignments are due when the course ends.

What You Will Learn

  • How to construct and analyze filters using capacitors and inductors
  • How to use intuition to describe the approximate time and frequency behavior of second-order circuits containing energy storage elements (capacitors and inductors)
  • The relationship between the mathematical representation of first-order circuit behavior and corresponding real-life effects
  • Circuits applications using op-amps
  • Measurement of circuit variables using tools such as virtual oscilloscopes, virtual multimeters, and virtual signal generators
  • How to compare the measurements with the behavior predicted by mathematical models and explain the discrepancies

Prerequisites

You should have a mathematical background of working with calculus and basic differential equations, and a high school physics background in electricity and magnetism. You should also have taken Circuits and Electronics 1 and Circuits and Electronics 2, or have an equivalent background in basic circuit analysis and first order circuits.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy the textbook for this course?
You may purchase the physical textbook or its ebook from Elsevier. An online version of the book will also be accessible for free to students who upgrade to the verified certificate track in the course.

Will the text of the lectures be available?
Yes, transcripts of the video lectures in the course will be made available.

Do I need to watch the lectures live?
No, you can watch the lectures at your leisure.

I don ‘t have the prerequisites, can I still take the course?
We do not check students for prerequisites, so you are certainly allowed to try. However, the course does rely on previous experience with the material in Circuits and Electronics 1 and Circuits and Electronics 2. If you do not know these subjects before taking the course, you will have to learn them in parallel with the new material.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet Your Instructors

Anant Agarwal

CEO and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT at edX
CEO of edX and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. His research focus is in parallel computer architectures and cloud software systems, and he is a founder of several successful startups, including Tilera, a company that produces scalable multicore processors. Prof. Anant won the Maurice Wilkes prize for computer architecture, and MIT's Smullin and Jamieson prizes for teaching. He is also the 2016 recipient of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize for Higher Education, which recognized his work in advancing the MOOC movement. Additionally, he is a recipient of the Padma Shri award from the President of India and was named the Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate in 2018. He holds a Guinness World Record for the largest microphone array, and is an author of the textbook "Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits."

Gerald Sussman

Professor, Electrical Engineering at MIT
Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT. He is a well known educator in the computer science community, perhaps best known as the author of "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs," which is universally acknowledged as one of the top ten textbooks in computer science, and as the creator of Scheme, a popular teaching language. His research spans a range of topics, from artificial intelligence, to physics and chaotic systems, to supercomputer design.
Piotr Mitros - Pearson Advance

Piotr Mitros

Former Chief Scientist at edX
Chief Scientist of edX and Research Scientist at MIT. His research focus is in finding ways to apply techniques from control systems to optimizing the learning process. He has worked as an analog designer at Texas Instruments, Talking Lights, and most recently, designed the analog front end for a novel medical imaging modality for Rhythmia Medical.
Chris Terman - Pearson Advance

Chris Terman

Senior Lecturer, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT
A Senior Lecturer in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Chris has been an award-winning lecturer for this course on campus since 1995. He has four decades of experience as a teacher, digital systems designer and courseware developer. Chris’ recent research is focused on educational technologies for teaching design skills.

Bonnie Lam

Graduate student, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT
Graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. Her research interests are digital design methodologies for low-power applications, and she is currently studying low-power techniques for ultrasound imaging. She received her Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) degree in Engineering Physics (Electrical Engineering Option) at the University of British Columbia in 2008 and her Masters of Science (S.M.) degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2010.

Testimonials

“Brilliant course! It’s definitely the best introduction to electronics in Universe! Interesting material, clean explanations, well prepared quizzes, challenging homeworks and fun labs”

Ilya

“6.002x will be a classic in the field of online learning. It combines Prof. Agarwal’s enthusiasm for electronics and education. The online circuit design program works very well. The material is difficult. I took the knowledge from the class and built an electronic cat feeder.”

Stan

“Brilliant course! It’s definitely the best introduction to electronics in Universe! Interesting material, clean explanations, well prepared quizzes, challenging homeworks and fun labs”

Ilya

“6.002x will be a classic in the field of online learning. It combines Prof. Agarwal’s enthusiasm for electronics and education. The online circuit design program works very well. The material is difficult. I took the knowledge from the class and built an electronic cat feeder.”

Stan

About this course

A supply chain entails two or more parties that are linked together by material, information and money flows. The management of a supply chain attempts to coordinate the activities of the parties so that merchandise is produced and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, and at the right time, in order to minimize system-wide costs while satisfying service level requirements.

As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course will expose learners to concepts and models important in supply chain and manufacturing system planning,so that you canbettercoordinatevarious resources and assets to optimize the delivery of goods, with an emphasis on key tradeoffs and phenomena. There will be a particular emphasis on how to cope with variability as it arises across a supply chain. The course will introduce a set of operational tactics for dealing with supply chain variability, including:

  • Risk pooling
  • Inventory placement
  • Integrated planning and collaboration
  • Information sharing
  • Delayed differentation
  • Dual sourcing
  • Smoothing

Lectures, computer exercises, and case discussions introduce various models and methods for supply chain analysis and optimization.

Develop the engineering and management skills needed for competence and competitiveness in today’s manufacturing industry with the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters Credential, designed and delivered by MIT’s #1-ranked Mechanical Engineering departmentin the world. Learners who pass the 8 courses in the program earn the MicroMasters Credential and qualify to apply to gain credit for MIT’s Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing & Design program.

 

What you’ll learn

  • Concepts and models for effective supply chain and manufacturing system planning
  • Operational tactics for managing variability
  • Integrated planning and collaboration

Prerequisites

Graduate-level Introduction to Logistics Systems or Operations Management

Frequently asked questions

For more information, please see the POM FAQ Page.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet your instructors

Stephen Graves

Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stephen Graves is the Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management and a Professor of Operations Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He has a joint appoitnemnt with the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. Graves develops and applies operations research models and methods to solve problems in manufacturing and distribution systems and in service operations. Graves holds an AB in mathematics and social sciences and an MBA from Dartmouth College, and an MS and a PhD from the University of Rochester.

Sean Willems

Haslam Chair in Supply Chain Analytics at University of Tennessee Sean Willems is the Haslam Chair in Supply Chain Analytics at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. In 2000, he co-founded Optiant, a provider of multi-echelon inventory optimization tools, which was later acquired by Logility, Inc. He has been a visiting professor of operations management at the MIT Sloan School of Management since 2016. His work with companies such as Hewlett Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and Intel has led to finalist selections for the 2003, 2010, and 2017 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences.

About This Course:

As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course focuses on decision making for system design, as it arises in manufacturing systems and supply chains.

You will learn about frameworks and models for structuring key system design issues and trade-offs that arise in today’s supply chains and manufacturing systems.

The course will also cover various models, methods and software tools for decision support for:

  • Logistics network design
  • Capacity planning and flexibility
  • Make-buy
  • Supply chain contracting
  • Supply chain risk mitigation

You will learn through industry applications and cases to illustrate concepts and challenges.This course should be taken in sequence following Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Planning.

Develop the engineering and management skills needed for competence and competitiveness in today’s manufacturing industry with the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters Credential, designed and delivered by MIT’s #1-ranked Mechanical Engineering department in the world. Learners who pass the 8 courses in the program will earn the MicroMasters Credential and qualify to apply to gain credit towards MIT’s Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing & Design program.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Frameworks and models forsystem design
  • Decision supportmodels
  • Methods and software tools for supply chain contracting and risk mitigation

Prerequisites:

Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Planning is required unless there is a strong prior knowledge of Logistics Systemsand Operations Management

Frequently Asked Questions:

For more information, please see the POM FAQ Page.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet Your Instructors:

Stephen Graves

Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stephen Graves is the Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management and a Professor of Operations Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He has a joint appoitnemnt with the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. Graves develops and applies operations research models and methods to solve problems in manufacturing and distribution systems and in service operations. Graves holds an AB in mathematics and social sciences and an MBA from Dartmouth College, and an MS and a PhD from the University of Rochester.

Sean Willems

Haslam Chair in Supply Chain Analytics at University of Tennessee Sean Willems is the Haslam Chair in Supply Chain Analytics at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. In 2000, he co-founded Optiant, a provider of multi-echelon inventory optimization tools, which was later acquired by Logility, Inc. He has been a visiting professor of operations management at the MIT Sloan School of Management since 2016. His work with companies such as Hewlett Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and Intel has led to finalist selections for the 2003, 2010, and 2017 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences.

About this course

Structure determines so much about a material: its properties, its potential applications, and its performance within those applications. This course from MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering explores the structure of a wide variety of materials with current-day engineering applications.

The course begins with an introduction to amorphous materials. We explore glasses and polymers, learn about the factors that influence their structure, and learn how materials scientists measure and describe the structure of these materials.

Then we begin a discussion of the crystalline state, exploring what it means for a material to be crystalline, how we describe directions in a crystal, and how we can determine the structure of crystal through x-ray diffraction. We explore the underlying crystalline structures that underpin so many of the materials that surround us. Finally, we look at how tensors can be used to represent the properties of three-dimensional materials, and we consider how symmetry places constraints on the properties of materials.

We move on to an exploration of quasi-, plastic, and liquid crystals. Then, we learn about the point defects that are present in all crystals, and we will learn how the presence of these defects lead to diffusion in materials. Next, we will explore dislocations in materials. We will introduce the descriptors that we use to describe dislocations, we will learn about dislocation motion, and will consider how dislocations dramatically affect the strength of materials. Finally, we will explore how defects can be used to strengthen materials, and we will learn about the properties of higher-order defects such as stacking faults and grain boundaries.

 

What you’ll learn

  • How we characterize the structure of glasses and polymers
  • The principles of x-ray diffraction that allow us to probe the structure of crystals
  • How the symmetry of a material influences its materials properties
  • The properties of liquid crystals and how these materials are used in modern display technologies
  • How defects impact numerous properties of materials—from the conductivity of semiconductors to the strength of structural materials

Prerequisites

  • University-level chemistry
  • Single-variable calculus
  • Some basic linear algebra

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet your instructors

Silvija Gradečak

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jessica Sandland

Lecturer & Digital Learning Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jessica Sandland is a Lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Engineering and an MITx Digital Learning Scientist. Jessica leads online learning initiatives in DMSE, creating MOOCs and designing blended courses for MIT students. She has coordinated the development of a wide variety of DMSE’s online courses.

About this course

As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course aims to provide exposure to key principles and practices used in engineering management. Learners are given opportunities to apply basic functional business knowledge from Management in Engineering: Strategy and Leadership
through the analysis of case studies. The focus is on the application of individual skills and management tools required for the management of innovation.

Managerial ability is an important element of technology companies in an increasingly global and diverse business environment. This course provides an overview of management issues for graduate engineers. Topics are approached in terms of career options as an engineering practitioner, manager, and entrepreneur. Through selected readings from texts and cases, the focus is on the development of individual skills and management tools.

Develop the engineering and management skills needed for competence and competitiveness in today’s manufacturing industry with the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters Credential, designed and delivered by MIT’s #1-ranked Mechanical Engineering department in the world. Learners who pass the 8 courses in the program will earn the MicroMasters Credential and qualify to apply to gain credit towards MIT’s Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing & Design program.

 

What you’ll learn

How to carry out risk analyses for developing business and technology strategies
How to choose effective development, marketing and operations approaches in specific business cases
How to deploy best management practices with an emphasis on technology

 

Prerequisites

Topics in Engineering Management is required unless there is a strong prior knowledge andunderstanding of business organizations.

 

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet your instructors

Jung-Hoon Chun - Pearson Advance

Jung-Hoon Chun

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jung-Hoon Chun is director of the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity and a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been a member of the MIT Mechanical Engineering faculty since 1989, and has over 100 publications and patents to his credit.

Abbott Weiss

Senior Lecturer, Supply Chain Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Throughout his career, Abbott Weiss has been on the leading edge of supply chain thinking and practice--designing and executing powerful business solutions integrating multi-billion dollar global transportation, logistics, order fulfillment, manufacturing, customer services, planning, and materials systems. He is currently a consultant and a Senior Lecturer at MIT in supply chain management.

“This course taught me how to think about the business aspect of my engineering organizations, and thus make better decisions as both an engineer and aspiring leader within the company. I feel much more equipped to make business decisions while applying my engineering know-how!”

“This course taught me how to think about the business aspect of my engineering organizations, and thus make better decisions as both an engineer and aspiring leader within the company. I feel much more equipped to make business decisions while applying my engineering know-how!”

About this course

Managerial ability is an important element of technology companies in an increasingly global and diverse business environment. Combining learned heuristics and techniques for effective decision-making while leveraging technical knowledge is a highly in-demand skill by employers at technical companies. This course will help you bridge the gap between engineers and business people, placing you in an important position that few others can fill.

As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course aims to teach learners key principles and practices used in engineering management. You will first learn basic business functional knowledge–financial accounting, sales, marketing, operations, and topics related to entrepreneurship. The focus is on the development of individual skills and management tools.

Develop the engineering and management skills needed for competence and competitiveness in today’s manufacturing industry with the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters Credential, designed and delivered by MIT’s #1-ranked Mechanical Engineering department in the world. Learners who pass the 8 courses in the program will earn the MicroMasters Credential and qualify to apply to gain credit towards MIT’s Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing & Design program.

 

What you’ll learn

  • Fundamental business knowledge across finance, sales, and marketing
  • Construct financial statements and perform ration analyses
  • Apply analytical tools to business decisions
  • Develop a technical strategy that can be applied across multiple industries

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of business organizations. Technical background (e.g. Bachelor’s in engineering) is also beneficial.

 

Frequently asked questions

For more information, please see the POM FAQ Page.

 

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet your instructors

Jung-Hoon Chun - Pearson Advance

Jung-Hoon Chun

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jung-Hoon Chun is director of the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity and a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been a member of the MIT Mechanical Engineering faculty since 1989, and has over 100 publications and patents to his credit.

Abbott Weiss

Senior Lecturer, Supply Chain Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Throughout his career, Abbott Weiss has been on the leading edge of supply chain thinking and practice--designing and executing powerful business solutions integrating multi-billion dollar global transportation, logistics, order fulfillment, manufacturing, customer services, planning, and materials systems. He is currently a consultant and a Senior Lecturer at MIT in supply chain management.

“This course taught me how to think about the business aspect of my engineering organizations, and thus make better decisions as both an engineer and aspiring leader within the company. I feel much more equipped to make business decisions while applying my engineering know-how!”

“This course taught me how to think about the business aspect of my engineering organizations, and thus make better decisions as both an engineer and aspiring leader within the company. I feel much more equipped to make business decisions while applying my engineering know-how!”

Program Overview

Are you interested in learning more about the science and engineering behind the electronic, optical, and magnetic materials that make up our modern world? Are you an undergraduate studying chemistry, physics, or engineering, or are you a graduate of one of these fields looking to grow your knowledge base? Would you like to explore a new field while building upon your knowledge in your primary field of specialization?

The MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering would like to invite you to pursue an Materials for Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Devices xMinor on edX. This program includes intermediate and advanced level undergraduate coursework that, together with your undergraduate science or engineering degree, will prepare you for employment or graduate study in fields relating to electronic, optical and magnetic materials science and engineering.

The first course in this series, 3.012Sx: Structure of Materials, will provide you with an introduction some of the most fundamental concepts in materials science. You will learn to describe the underlying structure of materials, develop a basic understanding of crystallography, and learn how structure influences the properties of materials. You will explore the structure of various types of materials– crystalline, non-crystalline, and liquid crystalline, and this knowledge will lay the groundwork for more advanced coursework. In the second course, 3.024x: Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials, you will learn to use the principles of quantum mechanics, solid state physics, and electricity & magnetism to describe the origins of the electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of materials. In the final course, 3.15x: Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Materials and Devices, you will take the fundamentals that you learned in previous courses and learn how these principles are applied in the design of electronic, optical and magnetic devices. Finally, you will demonstrate your learning by completing a comprehensive, proctored final program examination.

What is an xMinor? An MITx xMinor is a sequence of intermediate and advanced undergraduate courses, plus at least one proctored exam. xMinors are valuable additions to an undergraduate education; they may open additional career options for you or may strengthen your preparation for a Masters program. The courses are drawn from MIT curricula; some universities may incorporate them into their own curricula, offering them to their students as ways to enhance their undergraduate experience.

Recommended prerequisites: one year of introductory college-level calculus, chemistry and physics; differential equations.

What you will learn

  • You will develop an understanding of the materials and devices essential to modern display technologies, such as the structure of liquid crystals and the design principles used to tailor light emitting diodes
  • You will receive a solid grounding in electronic, optical, and magnetic materials science, which will give you the background to undertake future studies fields such as advanced materials and electronic materials
  • You will have knowledge of the science of photovoltaic technology and design, preparing you to contribute to the future of clean energy solutions
  • You will know the fundamental operating principles of optical fibers and optoelectronic devices
  • You will understand the origins of the magnetic behavior of materials and the operating principles behind magnetic storage media

Program Class List

1
Structure of Materials

Course Details
Discover the structure of the materials that make up our modern world and learn how this underlying structure influences the properties and performance of these materials.

2
Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials

Course Details
Discover the physical principles behind diodes, light-emitting devices, and memories.

3
Electrical, Optical & Magnetic Materials and Devices

Course Details
In 3.15x we will explore the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials and learn how electronic devices are designed to exploit these properties.

4
Capstone Exam – Materials for Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Devices

Course Details
Take the Comprehensive Exam in Materials for Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Devices to earn the MITx xMinor credential.

Meet your instructors

Polina Anikeeva

Class of 1942 Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Polina Anikeeva received her BS in Physics from St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University in 2003. After graduation, she spent a year at the Los Alamos National Lab where she developed photovoltaic cells based on quantum dots. In 2004 she enrolled in a PhD program in Materials Science at MIT and graduated in 2009 with her thesis dedicated to the design of light emitting devices based on organic materials and nanoparticles. She completed her postdoctoral training in neuroscience at Stanford University, where she created devices for optical stimulation and electrical recording from neural circuits. Polina joined the faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT in July 2011, where she is now a Class of 1942 career development associate professor. Her lab focuses on the development of flexible and minimally invasive materials and devices for neural recording, stimulation and repair. Polina is also a recipient of NSF CAREER Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, Dresselhaus Fund Award, and the Technology Review TR35 among others. If you would like to learn more about Prof. Anikeeva’s research interests, take a look at her talk at TEDx Cambridge.

Silvija Gradečak

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Caroline Ross

Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT
Caroline Ross is Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her undergraduate and PhD degrees from Cambridge University, UK, was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, and worked at Komag, a hard disk company, before joining MIT. Prof. Ross studies the magnetic properties of thin films and nanostructures for data storage and logic applications, and methods for creating nanoscale structures based on directed self-assembly and lithography.

Jessica Sandland

Lecturer & Digital Learning Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jessica Sandland is a Lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Engineering and an MITx Digital Learning Scientist. Jessica leads online learning initiatives in DMSE, creating MOOCs and designing blended courses for MIT students. She has coordinated the development of a wide variety of DMSE’s online courses.

About This Course:

This course from MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering introduces the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, solid state physics, and electricity and magnetism. We use these principles to describe the origins of the electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of materials, and we discuss how these properties can be engineered to suit particular applications, including diodes, optical fibers, LEDs, and solar cells.

In this course, you will find out how the speed of sound is connected to the electronic band gap, what the difference is between a metal and a semiconductor, and how many magnetic domains fit in a nanoparticle. You will explore a wide range of topics in the domains of materials engineering, quantum mechanics, solid state physics that are essential for any engineer or scientist who wants to gain a fuller understanding of the principles underlying modern electronics.
 

What You’ll Learn:

  • Discover the quantum mechanical origins of materials properties
  • Explain the origin of electronic bands in semiconductors
  • Learn the operating principles of solid state devices such as solar cells and LEDs
  • Understand the materials physics that underlies the optical and magnetic behavior of materials

Prerequisites:

Differential and Integral Calculus University-level Electricity & Magnetism Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering, or a knowledge structure and bonding in solid state materials.
 

Who Can Take This Course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet Your Instructors:

Polina Anikeeva

Class of 1942 Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Polina Anikeeva received her BS in Physics from St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University in 2003. After graduation, she spent a year at the Los Alamos National Lab where she developed photovoltaic cells based on quantum dots. In 2004 she enrolled in a PhD program in Materials Science at MIT and graduated in 2009 with her thesis dedicated to the design of light emitting devices based on organic materials and nanoparticles. She completed her postdoctoral training in neuroscience at Stanford University, where she created devices for optical stimulation and electrical recording from neural circuits. Polina joined the faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT in July 2011, where she is now a Class of 1942 career development associate professor. Her lab focuses on the development of flexible and minimally invasive materials and devices for neural recording, stimulation and repair. Polina is also a recipient of NSF CAREER Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, Dresselhaus Fund Award, and the Technology Review TR35 among others. If you would like to learn more about Prof. Anikeeva’s research interests, take a look at her talk at TEDx Cambridge.

Jessica Sandland

Lecturer & Digital Learning Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jessica Sandland is a Lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Engineering and an MITx Digital Learning Scientist. Jessica leads online learning initiatives in DMSE, creating MOOCs and designing blended courses for MIT students. She has coordinated the development of a wide variety of DMSE’s online courses.

About this course

This course will explain the basis of the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials including semiconductors, metals, organics and insulators, and will show how devices are built to take advantage of those properties. It is illustrated with a wide range of devices, placing a strong emphasis on new and emerging technologies. Applications presented include diodes, transistors, photodetectors, solar cells (photovoltaics), displays, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers and optical communications, photonic devices, magnetic data storage, motors, transformers and spintronics.

Image attribution: Disk drive: KEURT Datenrettung, Lasers: US Navy Surface Warfare Center, Computer Chip: Jon Sullivan

What you’ll learn

Part 1: The origins of semiconductor properties

  • Carrier action in semiconductors: drift, diffusion, recombination and generation
  • The behavior of p-n junctions at equilibrium and under bias
  • The derivation and application of the ideal diode equation, and how real diodes differ from ideal diodes
  • Operating principles of bipolar junction transistors and MOSFETs

 

Part 2: The fundamental operating principles of photodevices

  • LED and heterojunction laser materials selection and design
  • Fundamentals of organic electronics and liquid crystal displays An overview of photonic systems
  • Optical fibers: dispersion, losses, and design choices

 

Part 3: Fundamentals of magnetism

  • The role anisotropy plays in the magnetic behavior of materials
  • The operating principles of transformers and DC motors
  • How data is stored on hard disks
  • Principles of optical and magnetooptical storage like an expert

Prerequisites

Physics, calculus, and chemistry at the first year university level
Familiarity with materials structure and bonding
A background in solid state physics is helpful, but is not absolutely essential

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Meet your instructors

Caroline Ross

Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT
Caroline Ross is Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her undergraduate and PhD degrees from Cambridge University, UK, was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, and worked at Komag, a hard disk company, before joining MIT. Prof. Ross studies the magnetic properties of thin films and nanostructures for data storage and logic applications, and methods for creating nanoscale structures based on directed self-assembly and lithography.

Jessica Sandland

Lecturer & Digital Learning Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jessica Sandland is a Lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Engineering and an MITx Digital Learning Scientist. Jessica leads online learning initiatives in DMSE, creating MOOCs and designing blended courses for MIT students. She has coordinated the development of a wide variety of DMSE’s online courses.

About this course

The MITx xMinor in Materials for Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Devices is a certification program offered by MITx that is designed and administered by MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. This xMinor credential consists of three college-level undergraduate courses and a comprehensive, proctored final examination.

Only people who have earned certificates of completion in 3.012x, 3.024x, and 3.15x are qualified to take this exam.

What you’ll learn

  • Your knowledge of the course material will be tested.

Meet your instructors

Silvija Gradečak

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Polina Anikeeva

Class of 1942 Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Polina Anikeeva received her BS in Physics from St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University in 2003. After graduation, she spent a year at the Los Alamos National Lab where she developed photovoltaic cells based on quantum dots. In 2004 she enrolled in a PhD program in Materials Science at MIT and graduated in 2009 with her thesis dedicated to the design of light emitting devices based on organic materials and nanoparticles. She completed her postdoctoral training in neuroscience at Stanford University, where she created devices for optical stimulation and electrical recording from neural circuits. Polina joined the faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT in July 2011, where she is now a Class of 1942 career development associate professor. Her lab focuses on the development of flexible and minimally invasive materials and devices for neural recording, stimulation and repair. Polina is also a recipient of NSF CAREER Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, Dresselhaus Fund Award, and the Technology Review TR35 among others. If you would like to learn more about Prof. Anikeeva’s research interests, take a look at her talk at TEDx Cambridge.

Caroline Ross

Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT
Caroline Ross is Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her undergraduate and PhD degrees from Cambridge University, UK, was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, and worked at Komag, a hard disk company, before joining MIT. Prof. Ross studies the magnetic properties of thin films and nanostructures for data storage and logic applications, and methods for creating nanoscale structures based on directed self-assembly and lithography.

Jessica Sandland

Lecturer & Digital Learning Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jessica Sandland is a Lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Engineering and an MITx Digital Learning Scientist. Jessica leads online learning initiatives in DMSE, creating MOOCs and designing blended courses for MIT students. She has coordinated the development of a wide variety of DMSE’s online courses.