Online Class: Cosmology 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
14Lessons
-
30Exams &
Assignments -
742Students
have taken this course -
8Hours
average time -
0.8CEUs
Course Description
In Cosmology 101, you will enjoy learning about a fascinating array of topics, including:
1. Discovering The Early Universe
A Definition – what is Cosmology? Contemplating the early beginnings, The Human Element, Searching both early religion and science for their explanations, The Historical Explanation, The Modern Definition
2. The Origins And Early Days Of Exploration
Seeing our World through the eyes of the Ancients, The Greeks, The Copernican Rebellion, Early Scientific Views, Pythagoras – not only theorems! Wandering stars , Aristotle, Sky Gods, Where was the Sun?
3. Size, Shape & Age Of Our Universe
Observing the heavens, Orbits & Ellipses , The Laws of Motion, Speculating on the Laws of Gravity, The Impact of Newton's theories, Defining our Universe, Bending our Universe – space & time, Colors, The Milky Way, Relativity, Classifying & Contradictions
4. Cosmology Isn't Theology Or Science Fiction Or Even Just Science
Cruising through the alternative theories – various beliefs, Life on earth and beyond, Where, when & how did life begin, Why is our Universe so suited to our Life?, How can we best calculate Life on Earth?
5. Off With A Bang – Possibly Down With A Crunch?
An explanation: Exactly where do Galaxies come from, Is there such a thing as Ancient Radiation?, Radiation Types, What are the Ingredients for an expanding Universe, Big Bang, Big Crunch, Can gravity be reversed?
6. Building Our Own Universe
Creating It Bit By Bit, The Basic Ingredients of our Universe, The Electron, The Atom, Quantum Mechanics, Max Planck, Karl Heisenberg, Antimatter, Particle Accelerators, Quarks
7. Natural Forces And The Role They Play
The Natural Forces, The Weak Force, The Strong Force, Holding it all together , You could ‘see' the force everywhere , Particles, Quantum Gravity
8. In The Dark
Dark Matter, WIMPs, MACHOs , Dark Energy, Constants , Gauging the piece of string
9. Is The Universe Really Just A Big Chemistry Set?
The chemicals elements that make up our entire Universe , After the Big Bang, The formation of heavier elements , Chemical barriers
10. Making Stars, Solar Systems & Galaxies - & That's Only A Start!
Stars are born, The Origins of stars and their galaxies, The Star Nurseries, Classifying our stars by their chemical make-up , Supernovae and their types, The Milky Way, The Stories some stars can tell, Black Holes – creating, categorizing, looking inside and breaking through
11. Time Travel
The Past, The Present & The Future , Einstein's work on time, The Speed of Light & can it possibly ‘slow down'?, Turning Time Back, Before the Big Bang Is the Universe Infinite?
12. The Greats & What They Have Done For Our World, Our The Universe
Pythagoras, Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Stephen Hawkings
13. The Greatest Cosmological Advances
COBE CERN, Hubble Telescope, WMAP, Keck Telescopes, Others
14. The End
What happens if our Sun burns out? The Big Chill, The Big Crunch, The Big Rip.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Discovering the Early Universe
Take Poll: Learning about Cosmology
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment: Defining Cosmology
Complete Exam: Lesson 1: Discovering the early Universe
Lesson 2: The Origins and Early Days of Exploration
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment: Greeks in Cosmology
Complete Exam: Lesson 2: The origins and early days of exploration
Lesson 3: Shape of Our Universe & Introduction to Stars
Review Article: Star Classification
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment: Laws of Motion
Complete Exam: Lesson 3: Size, shape & age of our Universe
Lesson 4: Cosmology isn't Theology or Science Fiction
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment: Living Characteristics
Complete Exam: Lesson 4: Cosmology isn't theology or science fiction – Science is about making testable predi
Lesson 5: Off With A Bang
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment: Understanding Big Bang
Complete Exam: Lesson 5: Off with a bang
Lesson 6: Building Our Own Universe
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment: The Universe's Composition
Complete Exam: Lesson 6: Building our own Universe
Lesson 7: Natural Forces and The Role They Play
Take Poll: Natural Forces
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment: The Four Forces
Complete Exam: Lesson 7: Natural forces and the role they play
Lesson 8: In the Dark
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment: Defining Dark Matter
Complete Exam: Lesson 8: In the dark
Lesson 9: Is the Universe Really Just a Big Chemistry Set?
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment: The Universe's Chemical Elements
Complete Exam: Lesson 9: In the Universe really just a big chemistry set?
Lesson 10: Making Stars, Solar Systems, and Galaxies
Review 2 Articles: Your Sky Tonight; Star Formation and Evolution
Take Poll: Naming Stars
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment: Explaining Stars
Complete Exam: Lesson 10: Making stars, solar systems & galaxies
Lesson 11: Time Travel
Review Video: Video on Special Theory of Relativity
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment: Theory of Relativity
Complete Exam: Lesson 11: Time travel
Lesson 12: The Greats & What They Have Done for Our Understanding of the Universe
Review Article: More about Hubble
Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment: Great Contributions
Complete Exam: Lesson 12: The greats & what they have done for our understanding of the Universe
Lesson 13: The Greatest Cosmological Advances
Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment: Explaining the Hubble Telescope
Complete Exam: Lesson 13: The greatest cosmological advances
Lesson 14: The End
Take Poll: Your Opinion Matters: Course Rating
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment: Extreme Changes
Complete Exam: Lesson 14: The end
Complete: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- 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, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- 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

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |

Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | Monthly |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Student Testimonials
- "Really liked the instructor-you can tell he has a sense of humor." -- Louise R.
- "This course was put togeather very well....The instructor did a very good job and was very fast on reviewing your work and getting your grade back." -- 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.
- "My instructor is excellent. She is very supportive, and quick to reply to queries. It's because of her that I have now enrolled on the Meteorology course." -- Gael M.
- View More Testimonials...