Fundamentals of Semiconductor Characterization (Coursera)

Fundamentals of Semiconductor Characterization (Coursera)

The goal of this course is to review the fundamentals of semiconductor materials, p-n junction diodes, and MOS capacitors. There are many semiconductor technologies based on different material systems, but the most important is complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, or CMOS for short. This course will focus on semiconductor materials and devices relevant to CMOS manufacturing, but the concepts can be applied much more broadly.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Many of you may have already completed a semester-long class focused on devices, perhaps even more than one. However, if you took that class a while ago or have only the minimum exposure to semiconductor devices, we have developed this short course to review the fundamentals you will need to be successful in this specialization.
This course is part of the Semiconductor Characterization Specialization.

What you'll learn

  • Review energy band diagrams of metals, semiconductors, and insulators.
  • Explain the relationship between conductivity, carrier concentration, and mobility.
  • Distinguish between direct and indirect bandgap semiconductors.

Syllabus

Course Introduction
The goal of this course is to review the fundamentals of semiconductor materials, p-n junction diodes, and MOS capacitors. There are many semiconductor technologies based on different material systems, but the most important is complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, or CMOS for short. This course will focus on semiconductor materials and devices relevant to CMOS manufacturing, but the concepts can be applied much more broadly. Many of you may have already completed a semester-long class focused on devices, perhaps even more than one. However, if you took that class a while ago or have only the minimum exposure to semiconductor devices, we have developed this short course to review the fundamentals you will need to be successful in this specialization.

Week 1.1: Semiconductor Basics
This week provides a brief overview of the basics of semiconductors. This information may be familiar to some, but it may provide a solid introduction to others.

Week 1.2: P-N Junction Diodes
This week, you will learn about the band diagrams and current voltage characteristics of p-n junction diodes.

Week 1.3: MOS Capacitors
This week, you will learn about metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors and oxide charges.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Advanced Semiconductor Packaging (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Advanced Semiconductor Packaging (Coursera)

Throughout this course, you will be introduced to Pathway for Assembly and Packaging technologies for 7-nanometer silicon feature sizes and beyond. The course will present the evolution and impact of packaging on product performance and innovation. Specifically, we highlight how packaging has enabled better products via the use of heterogeneous integration by improving the interconnects for thermal management and signal integrity.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Digital Skills: Mobile (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Accenture

Digital Skills: Mobile (FutureLearn)

Learn about mobile design, development and creating mobile experiences, as well as bigger concepts related to mobile technology. Understand the importance of mobile in the digital world. In 2018, over half of global website traffic was generated through mobile phones. On this course, you will explore what mobile is, the growth of mobile technology and benefits associated with it.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Electric Cars: Policy (edX) EdX
Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Electric Cars: Policy (edX)

Learn about the role of public policy in steering technological innovation and infrastructural change toward zero-emission mobility. Electric cars are more than a novel means of mobility. They have been recognized as an essential building block of the energy transition. Fulfilling their promise will imply a significant change in the technical, digital and social dimensions of transport and energy infrastructure.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Migration, Mobilities and Citizenship (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bristol

Migration, Mobilities and Citizenship (FutureLearn)

Explore who counts as a ‘migrant’ to better understand the processes and experiences of migration. Develop critical thinking skills around the concepts of migration and mobilities. This two-week multidisciplinary course will enable you to develop all the critical thinking skills you need surrounding the twin concepts of migration and mobilities. You’ll explore contemporary human movements within their historical context, and will also cover the current global situation of COVID-19, as well as the relation of race and racism to migration.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Introduction to Semiconductors, PN Junctions and Bipolar Junction Transistors (edX) EdX
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST,HKUSTx

Introduction to Semiconductors, PN Junctions and Bipolar Junction Transistors (edX)

An intuitive approach to operational principles of semiconductor devices. The course covers PN junction diodes, optical sensors, solar cells, LEDs, and Bipolar Junction Transistors. As a topic of study, semiconductor devices offer a unique challenge due to the complex mathematics involved. In this course, we take a more intuitive approach to explore the underlying concepts. Eschewing mathematics, we use engaging animations to help you visualize the working principles of many common semiconductor devices.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Electric Vehicles and Mobility (Coursera) Coursera
École des Ponts ParisTech

Electric Vehicles and Mobility (Coursera)

The purpose of Electric Vehicles and Mobility is to help you, whatever your profile, your training or your country, find your own answers to questions such as: - Will electric vehicles be the last to be allowed in megalopolises in the 21st century? - Does the environmental gain from vehicle electrification justify heavy investment in charging infrastructure? - Are electric vehicles only for wealthy people in developed countries?

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Semiconductor Process 2 (Coursera) Coursera
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - KAIST

Introduction to Semiconductor Process 2 (Coursera)

This course aims to provide a general understanding of semiconductor process. This course explores the principles and basic theory of semiconductor device and process. Furthermore, the students will learn the overall semiconductor process such as oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, lithography, etching, thin film deposition, plasma, metallization, and packaging.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Recent Advances in Freeform Electronics (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

Recent Advances in Freeform Electronics (Coursera)

In this course, the learners will understand fundamental basic backgrounds of p-n junctions, diodes and MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors). Also, recent approaches on flexible / stretchable electronics, transparent optoelectronics, and printed electronics using one dimensional or two dimensional nanomaterials will be introduced.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Electron and Ion Beam Characterization (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Electron and Ion Beam Characterization (Coursera)

Electron and ion beams are widely used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of semiconductor materials and devices. They can be used to image structures with sub-nm resolution and to provide information about elemental composition and dopant concentration. This course describes the fundamentals of electron and ion beam characterization and includes a project that analyzes the surface roughness of a solar cell.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
High Voltage Schottky and p-n Diodes (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

High Voltage Schottky and p-n Diodes (Coursera)

This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5722, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. This course is primarily aimed at first year graduate students interested in engineering or science, along with professionals with an interest in power electronics and semiconductor devices .

Oct 19th 2026
4 Weeks