10 Self-Paced Physics Courses Online 2025

Many American universities offer individual online courses for introductory college coursework. This applies to subjects like biology, chemistry, algebra, and even physics. Before you start an entire degree program, you could take care of those topics you struggle with the most by taking self-paced physics courses online.

This is where you purchase one online course at a time by paying one flat fee for course modules, e-textbooks, instructions, and other course materials. We invite you to learn more about this option, which you can pursue at various accredited self-paced online colleges.

What Is a Self-Paced Physics Course?

A self-paced physics course is typically worth three or four semester hours and teaches physics subject matter at your own pace over the course of several weeks. The exact course duration and costs vary depending on the institution you select. There are several self-paced physics courses with titles like ''Physics 101,'' ''Intro to Modern Physics,'' and others that fulfill general education requirements or satisfy the lower-level requirement for majoring in the subject.

What Will I Learn in a Self-Paced Online Physics Course?

Self-paced online physics courses will provide an introductory education to several college-level physics topics. What you learn will depend on the specific programs you select. Still, many undergraduate physics courses will survey topics like thermodynamics, kinematics, electromagnetism, classical mechanics, Newton's laws, and other elements of general physics.

This is a great way to satisfy general education requirements or begin your journey toward an undergraduate degree in physics. You can even find self-paced quantum mechanics courses online and master some of the most difficult topics in physics.

Best Self-Paced Online Physics Courses

Consider one of these 10 online physics courses from various accredited and reputable institutions. This section includes a brief course description along with the expected enrollment costs.

1. Doane University - Introductory Physics I

Doane University offers multiple self-paced physics and other natural science courses at various levels. Its introductory physics course assumes a basic competency in high school algebra but no other prerequisites. Upon completion, students will possess a baseline understanding of physics concepts, like kinematics, dynamics, rotational mechanics, and other physical phenomena.

Cost: $1,846 (three credit hours)

2. University of New England - Physics II Lecture & Lab

You can purchase this four-credit-hour course to take both the physics lecture and lab altogether for only $1,850. For non-science majors, this could fulfill half your general education natural science requirements for many undergraduate degree programs.

You must first take college algebra and PHYS 1010 as prerequisites, but the University of New England offers these courses (self-paced and online) as well.

Cost: $1,850

3. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences - Foundations of Physics II

This course is more advanced for students who've already taken calculus. The delivery method is self-paced, fully online, and asynchronous (no set class times). It has both lecture and laboratory components and if this is your first course at the school, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the program cost.

Cost: $520 per credit hour

4. Southern California University of Health Sciences - Physics II

The Southern California University of Health Sciences offers a convenient and online way to take Physics II over the course of five weeks. You can take course modules at your own pace to learn challenging topics, like thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and optics. This course is available all year long, every five weeks.

Cost: $1,545 (three credit hours)

5. University of Texas at Austin - Elementary Physics for Nontechnical Students

The University of Texas at Austin offers a solid opportunity for non-science majors to complete physics at their own pace. This is one of several courses the university offers, provided in a self-paced online format, through its ''University Extension.'' It promises to teach the fundamentals of mechanics, heat, and sound for a reasonable tuition fee of only $895.

Cost: $895

6. Upper Iowa University - Physics I

Upper Iowa University offers two web-based and self-paced physics courses, along with their corresponding laboratory components. The Physics I course covers essential topics, such as kinematics, Newton's Laws, gravity, and rotational motion. All undergraduate online courses at this university cost $399 per credit hour.

Cost: $399 per credit hour

7. University of Phoenix - General Physics I with Laboratory

The University of Phoenix specializes in online, web-based coursework in several subjects. This includes an introductory physics and lab course for four credit hours at a tuition rate of $398 per credit hour. The university claims you can ''go to class any time'' and courses are available all year long.

Cost: $1,762

8. Prereqcourses.com - Introductory Physics I

Prereqcourses.com collaborates with other universities to offer various self-paced online courses with plenty of helpful student support from instructors. The introductory physics course costs only $675, counts for three credit hours, and does not impose any deadlines for course duration.

It involves an introduction to the following topics: kinematics, gravity, momentum, rotational motion, solids and fluids, waves, sounds, energy, and thermodynamics.

Cost: $675

9. University of New England - Physics I

This intro-level course teaches physics at a basic algebraic level and does not assume prior calculus training. It costs $1,850 but does not charge anything extra for the online textbook. The University of New England permits students to learn at their own pace, with most students taking less than 16 weeks to finish everything.

Cost: $1,850

10. Liberty University - Physics 101

Liberty University does not require enrollment in its degree or certification programs to take classes, which means anyone can take this introductory physics course for transferrable college credit. Liberty designed the course material for non-science, non-math majors seeking to fulfill general education requirements.

Cost: $390 per credit hour

FAQs About Self-Paced Coursework in Physics

Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) for self-paced physics coursework. These are some practical concerns for online learners who wish to know more about course content and costs.

What Skills Can I Learn in Physics Courses?

The primary objective of any physics course is to train students to understand physical principles, and then apply them for practical purposes. This coursework can help you learn how to solve quantitative problems, organize and interpret scientific data, conduct experiments, develop theories and hypotheses, and other problem-solving strategies.

Physics is a challenging and quantitative subject, so it helps to take it at a slower pace if science courses are normally difficult for you. Also, check to see if the physics department that furnishes the courses will offer tutoring services if you encounter any stumbling blocks.

Are There Any Self-Paced Online Physics Courses With Certificates?

Yes, although many online courses are stand-alone classes, you can apply them toward certificate programs. It's also common for certain courses to qualify for certain certifications by themselves. You can find an example of this at Liberty University, which grants students a certificate for teaching physics to junior high and high school students after completing a 21-credit hour certification program.

Can You Study Physics Online for Free?

You can study physics online for free if you can secure scholarship funding or tuition remission for the cost of the course. This is less common for singular, self-paced courses, but there are institutions, foundations, and federal funding programs that may address the expenses associated with self-paced courses. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), for example, provides Title IV funds, which you can apply to individual prerequisite courses.

Enroll in Self-Paced Courses

Learn.org invites you to explore self-paced courses in several academic subjects, including the physical sciences. Today's online learning resources give you every opportunity to complete entire degree programs or focus on specific prerequisite courses at your own pace.