What Is Programming? And How To Get Started
January 28, 2025
Article
This course is part of Introduction to Programming with Python and Java Specialization
Instructor: Brandon Krakowsky
38,827 already enrolled
Included with
(325 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
High school or college math.
“Introduction to Python Programming” Coursera course or equivalent prior knowledge of basic programming concepts.
(325 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
High school or college math.
“Introduction to Python Programming” Coursera course or equivalent prior knowledge of basic programming concepts.
Identify core aspects of object-oriented programming and features of the Java language.
Use Eclipse for writing and running Java code.
Develop programs that use Java collections and apply core object-oriented programming concepts using classes, polymorphism, and method overloading.
Test code by applying principles of test-driven development using Java's unit testing framework.
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This course provides an introduction to the Java language and object-oriented programming, including an overview of Java syntax and how it differs from a language like Python. Students will learn how to write custom Java classes and methods, and how to test their code using unit testing and test-driven development. Topics include basic data structures like Arrays and ArrayLists and overloading methods.
Welcome to Java! This first module provides an introduction to the Java language and object-oriented programming. It includes an overview of Java syntax, in particular, how it differs from a language like Python. Topics will include variables and data types, loops and conditionals, printing to the console, scanning for user input, and code documentation. This module also explains the structure and inner-workings of a Java class and teaches you how to define your own custom classes and methods.
38 videos10 readings3 assignments2 app items
In this module, you will be taught to test your code to get it working. The best way to do this is to write a set of unit tests that you can run against your program, at any time. In this module, we'll learn how to do unit testing in Java, and why we want to do it. We’ll also learn all about Java Arrays, which are collections of items, and ArrayLists, which are kind of like arrays, but much more flexible. These work just like lists in Python. ArrayLists are part of Java’s larger Collections Framework, which we’ll continue to reference throughout this course.
23 videos5 readings2 assignments2 app items
So far, we’ve been defining variables as instance variables in our Java classes. Instance variables are just variables defined inside a class, and every instance of a class can have a different value for an instance variable. In this module, we’ll look at defining static variables in our Java classes. Static variables are also defined as variables inside a class, but with the keyword 'static'. Static variables have the same value for every instance of a class. In fact, you don’t even need to create an instance of a class to use a static variable! We’ll also look at static methods. And just like static variables, you don’t need to create an instance of a class to use, or call, a static method. In this module, we’re also going to introduce polymorphism, which refers to overloading and overriding. We’ll focus on overloading, which is having two or more methods in the same class, with the same name.
21 videos2 readings2 assignments1 app item
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The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
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Reviewed on May 28, 2022
A 10 out of 10 course. Very well designed and the assignments are great for enhancing learning and understanding.
Reviewed on Jun 26, 2023
The lecturer was excellent. his teaching style is very smart and understanable to everyone,and explanation part is also great. wish to learn from him again.
Reviewed on Nov 2, 2022
Amazing course and really , really usefull for professional coding , thank you so much for providing me financial aid really loved the experience
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The only math that learners will need for this Specialization is arithmetic and basic concepts in logic.
If you enjoyed this course, we recommend Courses 1, 2 and 4 in the series!
If you would like to learn the fundamentals of computer science beyond the basics of programming, consider applying to the Master of Computer and Information and Technology (MCIT) at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League computer science master’s program for people without a computer science background. For an on-campus experience, explore here. If you prefer an online setting, apply to MCIT Online. In fact, the lectures in this series are also used in the online degree program! The Specialization certificate will be viewed favorably by the admissions committee, so be sure to mention it when you apply.
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:
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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 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.
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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.
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