Optics Courses and Certifications

Physics of Geometrical and Physical Optics

Learn how waves and light behave: apply the lens equation, image formation, interference, and diffraction using graphical analysis, algebra, vector analysis, and calculus.

• Coursera
• 4 weeks, 5 hours a week
• Self-Paced
• Paid Course

Optics

Study geometrical and wave optics: ray-tracing, thin and thick lenses, aberrations, apertures and stops, Maxwell's equations, polarization, interference, and Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction.

• MIT OpenCourseWare
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course

Optics Fundamentals for Ray Tracing and Lens Design

94 ratings at Udemy

A practical guide to understand optics, ray tracing, and lens design for optical system development.

• Udemy
• 2 hours
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course

Introduction to Biomedical Optics: From Theory to Applications

Explores how light–tissue interactions, optical instrumentation, and transport models enable biomedical diagnostics and multimodal imaging.

• Swayam
• 12 weeks
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course

IIT Kharagpur;  NPTEL

Wave Optics

Explore the wave nature of light through mathematical treatments of diffraction, interference, polarization, and their practical optical applications.

• Swayam
• 12 weeks
• Available until Oct 9, 2026
• Free Online Course

IIT Roorkee;  NPTEL

Applied Optics

Learn classical optics through geometrical and wave optics, with detailed study of interference, diffraction, polarization, birefringence, and engineering applications.

• Swayam
• 12 weeks
• Available until Oct 9, 2026
• Free Online Course

Optics

Builds modern optics from geometric imaging through wave phenomena, Fourier optics, lasers, and nonlinear optics with optical design simulation.

• XuetangX
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course

NPTEL;  IISc Bangalore

Ultrafast Optics and Spectroscopy

Explore ultrafast pulse propagation, laser systems, pulse measurement, nonlinear optics, and spectroscopy across molecular and condensed-matter processes.

• Swayam
• 12 weeks
• Available until Oct 9, 2026
• Free Online Course

3Blue1Brown

Understanding Prisms Through Springs - Optics Puzzles Part 3

Explore the physics behind prisms and light refraction, delving into oscillating charges, wave interactions, and harmonic oscillators to understand how the index of refraction arises and varies with color.

• YouTube
• 29 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Physics with Professor Matt Anderson

Ray Optics - Module 27

Master ray optics fundamentals covering mirrors, lenses, reflection laws, image formation, and the thin lens equation through comprehensive geometric optics principles.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 39 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Thorlabs

Optics 101 - Translating Theory into Practice

1 rating

An introduction to how light behaves in matter, linking geometric and wave optics to optical components, materials, thin-film coatings, and manufacturing limits.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

CoA Physics

Optics: Refraction, Reflection, and Snell's Law - Lecture 2

Master the principles of optical physics through comprehensive coverage of refraction, reflection, Snell's Law, and practical problem-solving in ray optics.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 15 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

CoA Physics

Geometric and Physical Optics with Problem Solving - Lecture 9

Master fundamental optics concepts through detailed problem-solving examples covering geometric optics, telescopes, and double-slit interference patterns with practical applications.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 18 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

CoA Physics

Geometric Optics: Real and Virtual Images, Principal Rays and Lens Equations - Lecture 3

Master the fundamentals of optical physics through hands-on simulations and practical examples, covering real/virtual images, geometric optics, principal rays, lens equations, and magnification concepts.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

NPTEL-NOC IITM

Introduction to Optics - Lecture 2

Explore fundamental principles of image formation, optical aberrations, resolution limits, and illumination techniques in microscopy, including point-spread function and Koehler methods.

• YouTube
• 41 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video