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Duke University

Python Programming Fundamentals

This introductory course is designed for beginners and individuals with limited programming experience who want to embark on their software development or data science journey using Python. Throughout the course, learners will gain a solid understanding of algorithmic thinking, Python syntax, code testing, debugging techniques, and modular code development--essential skills for a successful career in software engineering, development, or data science. By the end of this course, you will learn to: - Gain a stepwise approach to problem-solving using algorithms and programming logic. - Apply common functions, conditional statements, and loops to build Python scripts and programs. - Work with the VS Code programming environment to enhance coding proficiency. - Use testing and debugging strategies to ensure code reliability. - Perform logical and mathematical operations on datasets. In the final week of the course you will apply your new algorithm design and programming skills to a data analysis problem: analyzing heart rate data.

Status: Microsoft Visual Studio
Status: Algorithms
BeginnerCourse24 hours

Featured reviews

BK

Reviewed Dec 9, 2025

Exactly what I was looking for, with good exercises, mostly useful feedback from AI evaluations.

PG

Reviewed Jul 24, 2026

Good class. Made me stretch to figure things out. I with the projects had a way of giving more help during the process but I figured it out. Thanks Duke!

UM

Reviewed Jan 25, 2025

I really liked the step by step approach described in this course to solve a problem.

CM

Reviewed Aug 13, 2025

Good course for beginners. A little more explanation and help with the assignments would be nice

SC

Reviewed Nov 22, 2025

Very thorough course and is still provides challenge as a beginner course.

DM

Reviewed Oct 10, 2023

Learning made easy. This is so rich yet easy to follow. I certainly recommend this course!!

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