What is optimization?

Optimization is the act of selecting the best possible option to solve a mathematical problem when choosing from a set of variables. The concept of optimization has existed in mathematics for centuries, but in more recent times, scientists have discovered that other scientific disciplines have common elements, so the idea of optimization has carried over into other areas of study from engineering to economics to physics to biology. Optimization seeks to discover the maximum or minimum of a function to best solve a problem. It involves variables, constraints, and the objective function, or the goal that drives the solution to the problem. For example, in physics, an optimization problem might seek to discover the minimum amount of energy needed to achieve a certain objective. The advent of sophisticated computers has allowed mathematicians to achieve optimization more accurately across a wide range of functions and problems.

Why learn optimization?

Optimization helps data scientists and computer systems process data more effectively, estimate how many resources it will take to solve a problem, and search for the best solution based on the data available. These features make optimization a key tool that can help those who collect and analyze data. The methods of optimization work hand in hand with statistics and linear algebra to help you understand and process large amounts of data. Solving complex problems that rely on data becomes much easier when you apply the methods and formulas of optimization to them, which makes it essential for machine learning. In fact, today's computer science relies heavily on the relationship between machine learning and optimization. The principles of optimization apply in a different way in business, because nearly every business decision centers on maximizing or minimizing various factors and outcomes.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn optimization?

When you study optimization with online courses on Coursera, you can gain a broad base of knowledge as well as applications that allow you to put what you learn into practice. Beginning courses include those in which you learn the basics of optimization, whereas more advanced courses go deeper into topics like stochastic processes, machine learning through specific applications, or how to estimate financial models.

What are the benefits of taking an online Optimization course?

Online Optimization courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Optimization skills. Choose from a wide range of Optimization courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Optimization courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Optimization, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Optimization Courses - Learn Optimization Online

Explore the Optimization Course Catalog

Status: Free
Johns Hopkins University
Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced
Skills you'll gain: Risk Modeling, Regression Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, Business Process Modeling, Business Risk Management, Business Modeling, Data Modeling, Resource Allocation, Statistical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Process Optimization, Financial Analysis, Spreadsheet Software, Predictive Analytics, Transportation Operations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
Supply Chain Optimization
Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Inventory Management System, Process Optimization, Operations Research, Demand Planning, Resource Allocation, Capacity Management, Operational Efficiency, Microsoft Excel, Cost Reduction, Simulation and Simulation Software, Probability Distribution
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Arizona State University
Design of Experiments
Skills you'll gain: Experimentation, Sample Size Determination, Research Design, Regression Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Methods, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Software, A/B Testing, Sampling (Statistics), Data Analysis, Estimation, Mathematical Modeling, Probability & Statistics, Data Transformation, Descriptive Statistics, Probability Distribution, Variance Analysis, Quality Control
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
357 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Columbia University
Financial Engineering and Risk Management
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Derivatives, Financial Market, Securities (Finance), Investment Management, Asset Management, Credit Risk, Mortgage Loans, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Capital Markets, Financial Modeling, Securities Trading, Regression Analysis, Market Liquidity, Futures Exchange, Risk Management, Equities, Finance, Market Data
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
362 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
National Taiwan University
Operations Research (3): Theory
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Network Model, Statistical Methods, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Machine Learning, Transportation Operations, Graph Theory, Operational Analysis, Process Optimization, Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Feasibility Studies, Numerical Analysis, Resource Allocation, Engineering Analysis, Calculus, Algorithms
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
87 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
The University of Melbourne
Advanced Modeling for Discrete Optimization
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Mathematical Modeling, Operations Research, Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Algorithms, Data Structures
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
138 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Minnesota
Optimization for Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Mathematical Modeling, Business Modeling, Business Analytics, Analytics, Data Modeling, Business Mathematics, Process Optimization, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Linear Algebra, Spreadsheet Software, Graphical Tools
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Theoretical Computer Science, Algorithms, Computational Logic, Computational Thinking, Pseudocode, Data Structures, Design Strategies, Combinatorics, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Graph Theory, Advanced Mathematics, Analysis, Emerging Technologies
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
193 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
The University of Melbourne
Solving Algorithms for Discrete Optimization
Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Computational Logic, Advanced Mathematics, Combinatorics, Algorithms, Applied Mathematics, Graph Theory, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Thinking, Programming Principles, Performance Tuning, Linear Algebra
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
43 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Microsoft
Data Processing and Optimization with Generative AI
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Data Ethics, Data Quality, Data Cleansing, Data Integrity, Data Synthesis, Data Processing, OpenAI, Microsoft Power Platform, Data Transformation, Personally Identifiable Information, Information Privacy, Natural Language Processing
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Columbia University
Optimization Methods in Asset Management
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Investment Management, Asset Management, Market Liquidity, Risk Management, Financial Market, Equities, Capital Markets, Statistical Methods, Risk Analysis, Securities Trading, Market Dynamics, Financial Analysis, Market Data, Statistical Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
41 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Stanford University
Shortest Paths Revisited, NP-Complete Problems and What To Do About Them
Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Graph Theory, Theoretical Computer Science, Network Routing, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Design Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
821 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks