Mountains 101
- Free
- Paid certificate
- 2 weeks
Mountains 101 is the University of Alberta's interdisciplinary introduction to the mountain world, looking at the physical, biological and human sides of mountain places in Alberta and around the globe. Twelve lessons run from why mountains matter, through their geological origins, climate, how the human body copes at altitude, mountains as water towers, glaciers, mountains in the imagination, and hazards, to plant and animal adaptations, use and preservation, and what mountains face in a warming climate. Each lesson ends with a Tech Tip on staying safe in alpine terrain, such as choosing footwear or reading avalanche risk, and lessons are filmed in the field, in museums and labs and at alpine huts.
Coursera estimates the lessons at one to two hours each and lists two weeks at ten hours a week on a flexible timetable; no level is stated. The course is flagged as free, so every lesson is accessible without paying. A shareable certificate is offered for a fee that the page does not state, and financial aid is listed.
What you’ll learn
- Explain how mountains form and wear down over geological time
- Describe how altitude affects the human body and how mountain climates work
- Explain the role of mountains in water supply and how glaciers behave
- Identify how plants and animals adapt to mountain conditions
- Discuss how mountains are used, protected and affected by a warming climate
- Apply basic safety practices in alpine terrain
Who it’s for
Hikers, travellers and anyone curious about mountain environments; no science background is needed.
Syllabus
12 sections as listed on coursera.org, 16 h 39 min in total.
- Lesson 1: Why Mountains Matter 1 h 15 min
- Lesson 2: Origins 1 h 26 min
- Lesson 3: Climate 1 h 29 min
- Lesson 4: Bodies at Altitude 1 h 17 min
- Lesson 5: Water Towers 1 h 20 min
- Lesson 6: Glaciers 1 h 16 min
- Lesson 7: Imagination 1 h 17 min
- Lesson 8: Hazards 1 h 23 min
- Lesson 9: Mountain Biodiversity and Adaptations of Plants 1 h 39 min
- Lesson 10: Animal Adaptations 1 h 16 min
- Lesson 11: Use and Preservation 1 h 33 min
- Lesson 12: Future Mountains 1 h 28 min
Instructors
- Zac Robinson Associate Professor, Physical Education & Recreation, University of Alberta
- David Hik Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Course details
- Skills covered
- Environmental Issue
- Physiology
- Environment
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Biology
- Hazard Analysis
- Risk Management
- Water Resources
- Includes
- 12 modules · 12 assignments
- Subtitles
- 22 languages
On coursera.org
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 2,578 learners; 80,264 enrolled, as shown on the course page on 20 Oct 2026. These are coursera.org’s own figures, not ours.
Source: Coursera (opens in a new tab) · Verified · Report a change
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