This course is part of the MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists Specialization

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Akos Ledeczi +1 more instructor

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MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists SpecializationVanderbilt University

About this Course

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This course teaches computer programming to those with little to no previous experience. It uses the programming system and language called MATLAB to do so because it is easy to learn, versatile and very useful for engineers and other professionals. MATLAB is a special-purpose language that is an excellent choice for writing moderate-size programs that solve problems involving the manipulation of numbers. The design of the language makes it possible to write a powerful program in a few lines. The problems may be relatively complex, while the MATLAB programs that solve them are relatively simple: relative, that is, to the equivalent program written in a general-purpose language, such as C++ or Java. As a result, MATLAB is being used in a wide variety of domains from the natural sciences, through all disciplines of engineering, to finance, and beyond, and it is heavily used in industry. Hence, a solid background in MATLAB is an indispensable skill in today’s job market.
Nevertheless, this course is not a MATLAB tutorial. It is an introductory programming course that uses MATLAB to illustrate general concepts in computer science and programming. Students who successfully complete this course will become familiar with general concepts in computer science, gain an understanding of the general concepts of programming, and obtain a solid foundation in the use of MATLAB.

Students taking the course will get a MATLAB Online license free of charge for the duration of the course. The students are encouraged to consult the eBook that this course is based on. More information about these resources can be found on the Resources menu on the right.

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 3 in the

MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 35 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

What you will learn

You will learn fundamental computer programming concepts such as variables, control structures, functions and many others.

You will learn about various data types and how to handle them in MATLAB.

You will learn the powerful support MATLAb provides for working with matrices.

You will learn about file input/output.

Skills you will gain

Computer ProgrammingProblem SolvingMatlabProgramming Language

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 3 in the

MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 35 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.81/5 (4,380 Ratings)

Akos Ledeczi

Professor of Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

419,395 Learners

2 Courses

Mike Fitzpatrick

Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Neurosurgery, and Radiology

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Neurological Surgery, Radiology & Radiological Sciences

419,395 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tenn., is a private research university and medical center offering a full-range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(64,895 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Course Pages

1 hour to complete

1 video (Total 2 min), 3 readings

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

The MATLAB Environment

We will learn how to start MATLAB and will familiarize ourselves with its user interface. We will learn how to use MATLAB as a sophisticated calculator. We will learn about syntax and semantics. We will see ways in which MATLAB provides help. Finally, we will learn how to create plots in MATLAB.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 132 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Matrices and Operators

The basic unit with which we work in MATLAB is the matrix. We solve problems by manipulating matrices, and operators are the primary means by which we manipulate them. We will learn how to define matrices, extract parts of them and combine them to form new matrices. We will learn how to use operators to add, subtract, multiply, and divide matrices, and we will learn that there are several different types of multiplication and division. Finally, we will learn MATLAB’s rules for determining the order in which operators are carried out when more than one of them appear in the same expression.

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 82 min), 1 reading, 4 quizzes

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Functions

Functions let us break up complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. We will learn how functions let us create reusable software components that can be applied in many different programs. We will learn how the environment inside a function is separated from the outside via a well defined interface through which it communicates with that outside world. We will learn how to define a function to allow input to it when it initiates its execution and output from it when it is done.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes

Week

Week 5

3 hours to complete

Programmer's Toolbox

MATLAB has useful built-in functions and we will explore many of them in this section. We will learn about polymorphism and how MATLAB exploits it to change a function's behavior on the basis of the number and type of its inputs. Because random numbers play an important role in computer programming, we will learn how to use the MATLAB random number generator. We will learn how to get input from the keyboard, how to print to the Command Window, and how to plot graphs in a Figure window. Finally, we will learn how to find programming errors with the help of the debugger.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 83 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 6

5 hours to complete

Selection

Selection is the means by which MATLAB makes decisions about the order in which it executes its statements. We will learn how to use the if-statement, which is the most important method of selection. We will learn how to use relational operators and logical operators. We will learn how to write polymorphic functions and how to make functions resistant to error.

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 80 min), 2 readings, 4 quizzes

Week

Week 7

7 hours to complete

Loops

Loops give computers their power. We will learn how to use both of MATLAB's loop constructs: the for-loop and the while-loop. We will learn how the break-statement works, and we will use nested loops. We will learn how to make loops more efficient. We will learn about logical indexing and will see how to use it to produce implicit loops that are efficient and easy for a user to understand.

7 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 133 min), 2 readings, 4 quizzes

Week

Week 8

6 hours to complete

Data Types

Computers operate on bits, but humans think in terms of numbers, words, and other types of data. Like any good language, MATLAB organizes bits into convenient data types. We will study those types in this section. We will learn that there are ten types of numbers and that there are conversion functions to change one type into another. We will learn much more about strings and how the characters in them are encoded as numbers. We will learn how to produce heterogeneous collections of data via structs and cells, and we will learn how to store points in time and time durations.

6 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 194 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 9

7 hours to complete

File Input/Output

Files are named areas in permanent memory for storing data that can be used as input or output to MATLAB and to other programs. We will be introduced to MATLAB’s most important methods for reading and writing files. We will learn how to create, read from, and write into MAT-files, Excel files, text files, and binary files. We will learn how to navigate among folders with MATLAB commands.

7 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 75 min), 5 readings, 5 quizzes

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TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING WITH MATLAB

by KBJun 23, 2020

I would like to thank vanderbilt university for providing such a wonderful course and i am much impressed by the use of the basic matrices in each and every programming purpose.thank you again!!!!:)))

by ZYOct 5, 2021

it is a little bit very basic for students with a background in programming but the problems specially close to the end was a little challenging which is great. overall it is a solid start with matlab

by DAJun 5, 2020

Instructor of this course Mike Fitzpatrick is a very good teacher who encourage students to do something new and interesting. I really enjoyed learning this course and learned new skills in MATLAB.

by MKSep 24, 2016

There is much more to MATLAB than what the course can cover. But It has definitely provided me with the necessary skills and confidence to use it in tackling the practical problems in the real world.

View all reviews

About the MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists Specialization

This Specialization aims to take learners with little to no programming experience to being able to create MATLAB programs that solve real-world problems in engineering and the sciences. The focus is on computer programming in general, but the numerous language features that make MATLAB uniquely suited to engineering and scientific computing are also covered in depth. Topics presented range from basic programming concepts in the first course, through more advanced techniques including recursion, program efficiency, Object Oriented Programming, graphical user interfaces in the second course, to data and image analysis, data visualization and machine learning in the third course.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Introduction to Programming with MATLAB