Very large-scale integration (VLSI) is generally thought of as creating complex computer circuits by placing many different transistors together on one computer chip. Many people consider VLSI to be unpopular or even “dead” now, since it was popular during a time when computer functions were much more limited and integrated circuits only had a specific set of applications they could run.
Microprocessors are VLSI devices, and VLSI has a variety of important modern applications reducing the size of circuits, making circuits smaller, and making devices less expensive. In simple terms, VLSI is incredibly relevant to the way our devices operate, including computers, cell phones, and cameras.
Featured Programs
- University of Illinois VLSI CAD Part 1: Logic
- Future Learn Teaching Physical Computing with Raspberry Pi and Python
- MIT Photonic Integrated Circuits
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
Some consider VLSI to be something you wouldn’t normally learn on your own or that requires a formal education to understand. This is actually completely untrue! VLSI can be learned at home, on your own time, and on your own computer.
The courses on the list below have been chosen using our exclusive methodology and are all related to VLSI or the larger field of integrated circuits, so you can easily and efficiently learn how to work with complicated circuits. If you have ever been interested in pursuing VLSI as a career, look no further than the free courses on this list.
Ranking 10 Free Online Courses for VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration)
1. VLSI CAD Part I: Logic
Hosted by Coursera, offered by the University of Illinois
Coursera is widely considered to be one of the best and most efficient MOOC (massive open online course) platforms because they offer thousands of both free and paid classes and degree programs to students. Coursera is primarily focused on offering professional courses that help students advance their careers or even start new ones, and this course from the University of Illinois is certainly one of those career-advancing courses. This best free VLSI course is taught by Rob A. Rutenbar, a professor in the department of computer science at the University of Illinois. The class takes about 23 hours to complete, and you will receive a free shareable certificate at the end of the class that you can share on your LinkedIn profile.
There is some recommended background experience to help you work through this course efficiently. You should have some programming experience, whether Java, Python, or another language, and you should also have some knowledge of data structures and algorithms. By the end of the class, you will understand the major design tools that are used to create an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 23 hours
Curriculum: Intermediate
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with the University of Illinois, a preeminent university
- Earn a free shareable certificate upon completion
Cons:
- Requires some prerequisite knowledge on programming and data structures
2. VLSI CAD Part II: Layout
Hosted on Coursera, offered by the University of Illinois
This course on Coursera is the second part of the course in the number one spot. It’s absolutely essential that you take that course before you take this one, as it prepares you for the advanced VLSI material covered in the second part of the course. As mentioned above, this course is partnered with the University of Illinois and is taught by Rob A. Rutenbar, and this secondary course takes about 24 hours to complete. ⅕ of students who completed this course got some form of tangible career benefit from it, and half of the students who completed it got some form of pay increase or promotion. As with the previous course, a shareable certificate will be given to you upon completion.
In this part of the course, the focus of the material is to understand the logical and geometric representations of ASIC design. Some of the primary topics covered in the course include technology mapping, analysis of timing, and the placement and routing of ASIC design. The goal of the course is to help students understand how these systems work at the most basic level.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 24 hours
Curriculum: Intermediate
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with the University of Illinois, a preeminent university
- Earn a free shareable certificate upon completion
Cons:
- Requires some prerequisite knowledge on programming and data structures
- Requires you to have already taken the first half of the course
3. Teaching Physical Computing with Raspberry Pi and Python
Hosted by Future Learn, offered by Raspberry Pi and Teach Computing
While this course is not directly related to VLSI, it is directly related to physical computing and integrated circuits, which is vital to understanding VLSI. Raspberry Pi is a series of small, basic, single-board computers which were designed to promote the teaching of computer science in schools. Future Learn is a MOOC platform with a rotating variety of courses within their catalog, most of them partnered with preeminent universities and institutions. Courses don’t always stay for long on Future Learn, so it’s always smart to capitalize on them while you have the chance. This course takes about three weeks to complete if you work at a pace of about 2 hours a week, and extra benefits, including a certificate of achievement, can be added for a $49 fee.
This free online course teaches you how to teach physical computing, which will allow you to learn a lot about circuits even if you aren’t a teacher. Many say that the best way to fully learn something is to teach it to someone else, and by the end of this course you will feel confident about principles like sequence, selection, and iteration when it comes to physical computing.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With $49 fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 3 weeks
Curriculum: Intermediate
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with Raspberry Pi and Teach Computing, two authorities on physical computing
Cons:
- Does not focus primarily on VLSI
- Teaches you how to teach material
- Certificate of achievement costs $49
4. Photonic Integrated Circuits 1
Hosted by edX, offered by MIT
MIT, also known as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is one of the most prestigious technological universities in the United States, boasting a tiny 7-percent acceptance rate. While this school is the ultimate goal for many STEM-driven students, many will never have the chance to go there. They can, however, take a free MIT course on MOOC platforms like edX for free. This course takes approximately 8 weeks to complete when working at a pace of about 15-20 hours a week and is taught by multiple professors hailing from different universities around the country. A verified certificate from MIT can be added to the course for a fee of $559, which is still significantly less than a college course would cost.
This course is designed to introduce students to PIC (photonic integrated circuit) design by using a builders’ rulebook and architectural software tools. You will be taken through step-by-step sequences of how to code these circuits, allowing you to master important tasks like simulating PICs, laying out PIC chips, and performing a design rule check to revise your layout into a final blueprint.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With $559 fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 8 weeks
Curriculum: Intermediate
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with MIT, one of the most prestigious technological institutions
- Teaches you step-by-step circuit sequencing
Cons:
- Does not focus primarily on VLSI
- Certificate of achievement costs $559
5. Ultimate Guide to Raspberry Pi: Tips, Tricks and Hacks
Hosted by Skillshare, offered by Lee Assam
As mentioned previously, Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers that are designed to help you learn about physical computing in its most basic form. While Raspberry Pi does not directly focus on VLSI, it’s absolutely integral to understand basic physical computing before mastering VLSI. Skillshare is a unique MOOC platform as it allows instructors to upload their own course materials and projects to the site, where users can access everything with a flat-rate subscription membership. A Skillshare Premium membership would typically require you to pay to have access to the materials, but they are currently offering a 14-day free trial of the membership for new users. This is the perfect amount of time to complete this Raspberry Pi course, which takes 4.5 hours.
This free online course for VLSI assumes no prior programming or electrical engineering knowledge, which is perfect if you are a true beginner to physical computing and/or VLSI. During the course, Lee Assam, who has nearly two decades of programming experience, will teach you about important topics like setting up your Raspberry Pi computer, tips for not corrupting your SD card, and diving into Terminal and Linux commands.
Cost: Free (With Skillshare Premium 14-day free trial)
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 4.5 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Assumes no prior knowledge of computing or programming
- Teaches you how to set up your Raspberry Pi from step one
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
6. Computation Structures – Part 1: Digital Circuits
Hosted by edX, offered by MIT
This course combines elements of computer science and electrical engineering and is offered by MIT, which we previously mentioned as being one of the most prestigious technological universities in the country. This course is another amazing opportunity to take a course from MIT without ever having to apply or be admitted, and pay far less than anyone at the university would. This course takes about ten weeks to complete if you work at a steady pace, and a verified certificate for the course only costs $49 upon completion. This class is taught by Chris Terman, Steve Ward, and Silvina Hanono Wachman, who are all professors at MIT in the departments of computer science and electrical engineering.
This free online course for VLSI is the first of three parts of a load of coursework on digital systems, teaching users the fundamentals of digital circuit design. The coursework allows you to fully design your own computer system as long as you have some prior experience with electrical engineering and/or programming. The kind of browser you create during the course is perfect for simulation and design entry, and you will feel confident about your creation by the time it’s finished.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With $49 fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 10 weeks
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with MIT, a prestigious technological institution
- Create your very own computer system
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement costs $49
7. Digital Circuit Design and Implementation
Hosted by Udemy, offered by Shraddha V Shelke
Similar to Skillshare, which was discussed earlier in the list, Udemy is a MOOC platform that allows instructors to both upload and price their own course material according to the skill level and value they feel it provides. Udemy is different from Skillshare in the sense that you cannot access all content with a flat fee, instead you have to purchase individual courses in order to access their content. Luckily, however, Udemy gives you the opportunity to filter by only free courses, which means there’s never any money coming out of your pocket. This short online course, designed by Shraddha V Shelke, takes only an hour and a half to complete and has already had more than 2,000 successful students.
Shraddha V Shelke has been working in the academic and programming field for nearly a decade and is passionate about connecting her students with physical computation knowledge. During the course, you will cover important subjects like concepts of digital electronics, designing and implementing digital circuits, and simulation of digital circuits through using free simulation tools.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1.5 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Taught by an industry professional of nearly a decade
- Learn about the importance of digital circuits
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement does not come with the course
8. IoT Foundations: Fundamentals
Hosted by LinkedIn Learning, offered by Bruce Sinclair
Many people are familiar with LinkedIn or have a profile of their own on the site, as it’s often regarded as the most popular and best networking site for professionals. Fewer people, however, are familiar with LinkedIn’s sister site called LinkedIn Learning. The site is certainly a valuable resource to capitalize on, as it allows users to access thousands of career-building, professional courses for a flat monthly fee. When you’ve finished a course, you can even share it on your profile to be viewed by employers or colleagues. While the site normally requires you to pay, they offer a one-month free trial for new users, so you’ll have plenty of time to complete your first course.
IoT, otherwise known as the Internet of Things, is used to describe physical connected devices that make up the internet. Instructor Bruce Sinclair instructs users on the overview of the IoT, explaining the individual parts that make up the systems of the internet. While it is not specifically focused on VLSI, this course is essential for understanding why your programming knowledge is important.
Cost: Free Sign up for a free trial.
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 38 minutes
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Learn how the IoT works from a technical standpoint
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement does not come with the course
- Does not focus specifically on VLSI
9. IC Design & Manufacturing Process: Beginners Overview to VLSI
Hosted by YouTube, offered by Systemverilog Academy
YouTube is always a great place to look for free online courses, especially if you’re just looking for a crash-course style overview. Every video on YouTube is completely free to watch and rewatch at any time, so if you find a course you like, you can always go back to it to take notes or review materials. YouTube is free to join as long as you have a Google account, and you can save and make playlists with videos to review later.
This 30-minute course from Systemverilog Academy is designed to give you a beginner’s overview of VLSI. Systemverilog Academy has an entire playlist on YouTube full of beginner SV tutorials and courses, so you can always go to their channel if you want to learn more from them. During this course, you’ll connect the various pieces of information scattered by RTL design.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 32 minutes
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Connects all of the difficult pieces in VLSI design
- Crash course-style, quick introductory video
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement does not come with the course
10. CMOS Digital VLSI Design
Hosted by Swayam, offered by IIT Roorkee
This course from Swayam has nearly 5,000 students enrolled already, and is designed specifically for final year undergraduate students or first year master’s degree students. The course takes approximately 8 weeks to complete and is available for any student to learn from for free, although you will have to take a proctored exam if you want to earn a verified certificate. You should have some basic coursework done on semiconductors and digital electronics before starting this class.
During the class, you will cover basic device understanding as well as complex digital circuits. The free online course for VLSI is taught from a design perspective, and eight assignments are provided for you to complete that will strengthen your understanding of the topic.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With proctored exam)
Time to Complete: Approximately 8 weeks
Curriculum: Intermediate
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Offers 8 assignments to help solidify your knowledge
- Teaches you how to deal with complex digital circuits
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement requires you to take a proctored exam
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Online Courses for VLSI
VLSI is an incredibly complex and intricate thing to learn, and it’s been around since the 1970s. Taking a course in VLSI, even if you have a strong programming or electrical engineering background, can be incredibly scary. It might feel daunting to take on a course in a subject that many say is already “dead” with the introduction of modern computers, cell phones, and cameras. VLSI, however, is definitely not dead, and is actually an incredibly valuable skill to learn if you want to know more about programming, integrated circuits, and/or design.
If you have questions about VLSI courses after reading this list, that’s what the following section is designed for. In the next few paragraphs, we’ll be outlining some of the most commonly asked questions about free courses for VLSI and doing our best to answer them. Hopefully, our answers will help you feel a bit more confident about taking one of the courses on this list and pursuing your VLSI dreams.
Who Should Take A Free Online Course for VLSI?
Anyone can take a VLSI course, even if you have no experience with programming or electrical engineering. While these courses are certainly achievable with no computer background, there are things that would make taking them a lot easier. If you already have an undergraduate degree or are pursuing an undergraduate degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a similar field, these courses will likely come much easier to you than if you had no experience at all. Many of these courses are designed for those who are in the final year of their undergraduate degree or the first year of their master’s program, so some prerequisite coursework in the fields of computer science or engineering would greatly help you in your pursuit of learning VLSI.
What Will I Gain From A Free Online Course for VLSI?
Having a mastery of VLSI can open up a lot of doors for you and introduce you to a lot of different career paths. Having a solid background in physical computing, design, and computer science is something that’s regularly needed in many different types of businesses, and someone who has completed coursework in VLSI could pursue jobs like:
- Software test engineer: Software test engineers test out different types of software. They evaluate the software they are supposed to be testing, figure out what kind of analysis the software requires, and run a variety of automated and manual tests to make sure the software is running properly. They will also interpret the results of their tests to make sure that the software is producing the desired result.
- Tech support engineer: A tech support engineer works with a company to help them solve technology-related issues. Additionally, a tech support engineer might work with a company’s customers or clients externally to resolve their tech issues with a product or piece of software. The technical problems that these engineers solve could include things like network configuration or the configuration of operating systems.
- ASIC front end designer: As someone working as an ASIC design engineer, most of your time will be spent working on SOC design. You will also work to create, implement, debug, and troubleshoot complex designs. The front end of ASIC design is typically concerned with the testing of a digital system or unit, so you will likely be working with something before it goes live.
Are Free Online Courses for VLSI Difficult?
VLSI, like many other computer science or engineering-related industries, is difficult to learn when you don’t have a lot of experience. As previously mentioned, you will likely find it a lot easier to learn VLSI if you have some kind of background in computer science or engineering, and the material will feel more familiar to you. If you don’t have any experience in these fields, the coursework will be more challenging. However, since many of the courses on this list have live professors who want to help you, you always have someone to direct your questions toward. They want you to succeed!
Are Free Courses for VLSI Worth It?
100-percent yes. Higher-level computer science and engineering-related courses are typically classes that you would have to pay for at the university level, and they usually cost thousands of dollars. On this list, you have the opportunity to get that kind of education for free, instructed by professors who come from these prestigious institutions. Why not take advantage of it? The only thing you have to lose is your time, which definitely won’t be wasted.
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
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