Online Class: Cosmology 101 — A Simple Guide to the Universe

This course will provide you with a great amount of information about our world, our universe, and beyond our Milky Way.

Self-Paced, Online Class
Library Subscription
 
  • 14
    Lessons
  • 16
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 8
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.8
    CEUs
  •  
    Video Audit
    Available
 
 

Course Description

Cosmology 101: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe

In a vast universe filled with unimaginable wonders and secrets, there's no shortage of mysteries to be unraveled. Our course, Cosmology 101, is crafted to guide you through a profound journey across time and space, delving into the intricate fabric of the cosmos.

From the earliest human perceptions of the universe to the most recent scientific breakthroughs, we aim to offer you a comprehensive understanding of cosmology, the study of the universe's origin, evolution, and eventual fate.

Course Highlights

  • Discovering The Early Universe: Dive deep into the world of cosmology, beginning with its foundational concepts. Here, you'll understand the confluence of religious, cultural, and scientific perspectives that have shaped our view of the cosmos through the ages.

  • The Origins And Early Days Of Exploration: Step into the minds of ancient civilizations and understand the cosmos from their perspective. This module unravels the trailblazing discoveries from the times of the Greeks to the Copernican revolution.

  • Size, Shape & Age Of Our Universe: Explore the fundamental principles that govern the universe. From Newton's groundbreaking laws of motion to Einstein's relativity, you'll grasp the magnitude and intricacies of our cosmic home.

  • Cosmology Beyond Boundaries: Understand that cosmology isn't solely rooted in science. It extends beyond theology and science fiction, intertwining with alternative theories and beliefs about life's origins and the suitability of our universe for life.

  • Creation and Collapse of the Universe: Grasp the principles of the Big Bang and other theories like the Big Crunch. Dive into the mysteries of ancient radiation and explore the potential reversal of gravity.

  • Building Our Own Universe: Uncover the fundamental building blocks of the universe. From the basic atom to the complexities of quantum mechanics, this module offers a glimpse into the universe's microscopic world.

  • Natural Forces And Their Impact: Explore the forces that hold the universe together. Delve into quantum gravity and understand the visible and invisible forces that shape our reality.

  • Into the Abyss - Dark Secrets of the Cosmos: Understand the enigmatic dark matter and dark energy, fundamental constants, and the intricate balance that sustains our universe.

  • The Cosmic Chemistry: Discover the elemental makeup of the universe. Learn about the formation of elements post the Big Bang and the chemical barriers that exist.

  • Stellar Genesis: Understand the life cycle of stars, the stories they tell, and the secrets of black holes. Delve into the birth of galaxies and the mysteries they hold.

  • Time Travel - Beyond Now: Explore the concepts of time, from Einstein's theories to the fascinating prospects of time dilation and travel.

  • Legends of Cosmology: Appreciate the monumental contributions of legendary figures like Pythagoras, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein, whose work laid the foundations of our cosmic understanding.

  • Pioneering Cosmological Discoveries: Get acquainted with the latest tools and discoveries that have expanded our understanding of the universe, from the Hubble Telescope to CERN.

  • The Cosmic Endgame: Ponder on the eventual fate of our universe. Will it end in a Big Chill, a Big Crunch, or perhaps a Big Rip?

Each lesson in this course is meticulously designed to offer a mix of theoretical knowledge, interactive assignments, and real-time evaluations, ensuring a holistic learning experience.

Enroll in Cosmology 101 and journey through the cosmos, understanding its past, present, and potential future. Allow us to guide you through the wonders of our universe, exploring the known and venturing into the unknown.

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Course Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Discovering the Early Universe

    Cosmologists work to understand how the Universe originally came into being, why it looks as it does now, and what the future holds.
  • Lesson 2: The Origins and Early Days of Exploration

    With time to observe the heavens, early humanity did come up with some very elaborate, somewhat bizarre, and sometimes even gruesome explanations for why the night sky looks as it does.
  • Lesson 3: Shape of Our Universe & Introduction to Stars

    Ancient Greeks were fascinated by the perfection of the circle and logically held the belief that the planets moved in perfect circular patterns.
  • Lesson 4: Cosmology isn't Theology or Science Fiction

    Cosmology is a Science and science is all about making testable predictions.
  • Lesson 5: Off With A Bang

    In this lesson we will attempt to address certain elementary questions regarding our being and our surroundings.
  • Lesson 6: Building Our Own Universe

    The weirdest thing of all about our Universe is that everything in it contains the same basic materials! Or so Scientists believed for centuries.
  • Lesson 7: Natural Forces and The Role They Play

    What is meant when scientists refer to a 'force?' They have classified every single force in the Universe into one of four groups: electromagnetic, gravity, strong and (the opposite) weak.
  • Lesson 8: In the Dark

    The first astronomers were interested in the ocular properties of light, such as how light focuses as it passes through lenses,how it bends and splits through prisms and how it is reflected by things such as mirrors.
  • Lesson 9: Is the Universe Really Just a Big Chemistry Set?

    All the "stuff" in this universe contains a large variety of interesting bits and pieces. At a sub-microscopic level, ALL this stuff is made up of combinations of various types of atoms – otherwise called ‘chemical elements'.
  • Lesson 10: Making Stars, Solar Systems, and Galaxies

    It was some hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, that the hydrogen and helium which had formed in the early Universe began to aggregate under the pull of gravity.
  • Lesson 11: Time Travel

    Sometimes the more we read and study the less we understand, especially when it comes to something like Time. Questions abound not only about time, but space time and the possibility of time travel.
  • Lesson 12: The Greats & What They Have Done for Our Understanding of the Universe

    Just 5 of the great men who have contributed so much to our understanding of the Universe are listed in this lesson; but there are so many more that we could add to this but room (and time) prevents us.
  • Lesson 13: The Greatest Cosmological Advances

    While it is true that improved human understanding of the origins of the Universe is derived from many different sources there are certain scientific institutions who have influenced Cosmology the most.
  • Lesson 14: The End

    We need to keep in mind that although scientists may very well come up with what sounds, to us, like concepts of what is going to happen in the future - that their thoughts are only 'theories' and not 'certainties.'
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe the early universe.
  • Summarize the origins and early days of exploration.
  • Describe the size, shape and age of the universe.
  • Summarize the events of the Big Bang.
  • Describe how the universe was built.
  • Define natural forces.
  • Summarize how stars, solar systems and galaxies were formed.
  • Summarize theories about time travel.
  • Summarize the greatest cosmological advances and the people who helped discover them.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Cosmology 101: A Simple Guide to the Universe
Course Number: 7550428
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: July 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.8 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams

Student Testimonials

  • "Great instructor. I did not contact for any reason, but always provided a bit of feedback for each exam and assignment." -- David M.
  • "The Web site worked well - better than most. Someone thought carefully and executed well in putting the Web site together." -- Fcraig C.
  • "The subject matter was difficult but I enjoyed the challenge." -- Maria D.
  • "Really liked the instructor-you can tell he has a sense of humor." -- Louise R.
  • "The instructor did a very good job and was very fast on reviewing your work and getting your grade back." -- JOE S.
  • "This course was put togeather very well." -- JOE S.
  • "The website worked well - better than most. Someone thought carefully and executed well in putting the website together." -- FCraig C.
  • "The information presented was well done and informative. It created a very good summary of the material and gave a general understanding about the topic." -- Richard S.
  • "I find the instructor very helpful and prompt in grading assignments and exams and in answering my questions or concerns." -- Jameel M.
  • "The whole course was helpful." -- Colin P.