Every PCB project relies on signal routing for reliable performance. Incorrect routing can lead to reflections, EMI, and signal degradation, even if the schematic is correct. Mastering these skills ensures that your designs work reliably—from USB circuits to general high-speed electronics.This course focuses on practical techniques to design reliable signal routing in multilayer PCBs, with a hands-on approach using KiCAD. Through a structured, demo-driven curriculum, you will learn controlled impedance routing, differential pair layout, noise reduction, and high-speed routing best practices. By following a consistent USB-to-UART project, you will see each concept applied directly, enabling you to design boards that are functional, reliable, and manufacturable.

Enjoy unlimited growth with a year of Coursera Plus for $199 (regularly $399). Save now.

Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Explain signal routing & integrity in multilayer PCBs, and describe power/ground design with decoupling & plane management.
Apply controlled impedance and differential pair routing, minimizing crosstalk, reflections, and EMI in high-speed PCB design.
Implement power/ground networks with decoupling and differential pair trace matching, verify designs with DRC/ERC, and generate Gerbers.
Skills you'll gain
Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile
December 2025
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 3 modules in this course
In this module, you’ll get hands-on learning by setting up a USB-to-UART board project and defining a 4-layer stack-up with separate power/ground planes in KiCAD. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of signal integrity, layer assignments, and basic trace routing to ensure clean signal paths.
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 peer review
This module covers essential high-speed PCB design techniques, focusing on controlled impedance and differential pair routing. You’ll learn how to minimize crosstalk, apply termination strategies, and optimize USB signal integrity for reliable performance.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 peer review
In this module you’ll apply practical routing techniques, including trace length matching, power and ground management, and decoupling in KiCAD. You’ll also analyze real-world USB PCB examples, review best practices, and finalize your board with DRC checks and 3D visualization
What's included
5 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews
Offered by
Why people choose Coursera for their career




Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. 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.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.






