Boost Your Computer Programming Skills. With minimal previous exposure, learn two popular programming languages at an accelerated pace.

4.4

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931 ratings

Brandon Krakowsky

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Associated with the Master of Computer and Information Technology degree
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Introduction to Programming with Python and Java SpecializationUniversity of Pennsylvania

What you will learn

Describe core Python programming concepts, including how to configure tools for Python code and write fully functional programs using data structures
Examine core data science techniques and concepts using Python, including using data analysis libraries and developing data visualization skills
Apply core principles of object-oriented programming and Java to write fully functional programs using classes and methods, and perform unit testing
Understand Java inheritance and apply techniques for parsing text in files, using advanced data structures to store information, and debugging code

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization

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This Specialization starts out by teaching basic concepts in Python and ramps up to more complex subjects such as object-oriented programming and data structures in Java. By the time learners complete this series of four courses, they will be able to write fully-functional programs in both Python and Java, two of the most well-known and frequently used programming languages in the world today. Introduction to Programming with Python and Java is for students and professionals who have minimal or no prior programming exposure. It’s for motivated learners who have experience with rigorous coursework, and are looking to gain a competitive edge in advancing their career. It’s for folks who are thinking about applying to the University of Pennsylvania’s online Master of Computer and Information Technology degree and want to sample some of the lecture videos and content from the first course in the program. We hope this Specialization is for you. Topics in this Specialization include language syntax, style, programming techniques, and coding conventions. Learn about best practices and good code design, code testing and test-driven development, code debugging, code and program documentation, and computational thinking.

Applied Learning Project

Learners will write fully-functional Python programs, including an implementation of an online banking system and a data analysis project analyzing movies and ratings from IMDB. Learners will apply Python programming, file I/O, data analysis and visualization, using both PyCharm and Jupyter Notebook.

Learners will also write fully-functional Java programs, including a text file parser that reads, writes, and analyzes text files. Learners will apply Java programming, object-oriented principles, data structures, file I/O, unit testing, code debugging, using Eclipse.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Approximately 4 months to complete

Suggested pace of 6 hours/week

English

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Approximately 4 months to complete

Suggested pace of 6 hours/week

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 4 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Introduction to Python Programming

4.4

stars

824 ratings

This course provides an introduction to programming and the Python language. Students are introduced to core programming concepts like data structures, conditionals, loops, variables, and functions. This course includes an overview of the various tools available for writing and running Python, and gets students coding quickly. It also provides hands-on coding exercises using commonly used data structures, writing custom functions, and reading and writing to files. This course may be more robust than some other introductory python courses, as it delves deeper into certain essential programming topics.

Course2

Course 2

Data Analysis Using Python

4.6

stars

305 ratings

This course provides an introduction to basic data science techniques using Python. Students are introduced to core concepts like Data Frames and joining data, and learn how to use data analysis libraries like pandas, numpy, and matplotlib. This course provides an overview of loading, inspecting, and querying real-world data, and how to answer basic questions about that data. Students will gain skills in data aggregation and summarization, as well as basic data visualization.

Course3

Course 3

Introduction to Java and Object-Oriented Programming

4.3

stars

165 ratings

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.

Course4

Course 4

Inheritance and Data Structures in Java

4.7

stars

53 ratings

This course provides a comprehensive look at Java inheritance, including access modifiers and overriding methods. Students are introduced to abstract classes, and will learn how to read and write to files, use regular expressions for parsing text, and how to leverage complex data structures like collections and maps.

Instructor

Brandon Krakowsky

Lecturer

School of Engineering and Applied Science

77,279 Learners

7 Courses

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

Start working towards your Master's degree

This specialization is related to the 100% online Master of Computer and Information Technology from University of Pennsylvania. It will provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors so you can decide if the full online degree program is right for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
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.
Can I take the course for free?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
The courses were designed to be taken in sequence, starting with the first and ending with the last. That being said, learners can pick and choose the courses they are interested in based on their background.
Do I need to know how to program or have studied computer science in order to take this Specialization?
No, but the concepts move very quickly so it is helpful to have some introductory exposure (such as Penn’s Computational Thinking for Problem Solving). This Specialization is intended for anyone who has an interest in problem solving and wants to learn Python or Java.
What will I be able to do upon completing this Specialization?
Learners who complete this series of four courses will be able to write fully-functional programs in Python, applying core programming principles, file I/O, and data analysis and visualization. Learners will also be able to write fully-functional Java programs, applying principles of object-oriented programming, data structures, file I/O, unit testing, and code debugging.
How much math do I need to know to take this Specialization?
The only math that learners will need for this Specialization is arithmetic and basic concepts in logic.
Does this Specialization prepare me for the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) degree program at the University of Pennsylvania?
This Specialization gives learners exposure to material that they will encounter in the University of Pennsylvania’s MCIT Online degree. The Specialization certificate will be viewed favorably by the admissions committee, so be sure to mention it when you apply!
If you have a bachelor's degree and are interested in learning more about the fundamentals of computer science, we encourage you to apply to MCIT on-campus or MCIT Online. Please mention that you have completed this Speciialization in the application.
Where can I find more information about the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) degree program at the University of Pennsylvania?
Visit these links to learn more
MCIT Online: https://onlinelearning.seas.upenn.edu/mcit/
MCIT On-campus: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/mcit.php
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
No, this Specialization does not confer any university credit. However, this Specialization gives learners exposure to material in MCIT Online, a fully accredited degree from the University of Pennsylvania. The Specialization certificate will be viewed favorably by the MCIT Online admissions committee so be sure to mention it when you apply!

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Introduction to Programming with Python and Java Specialization

What you will learn

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization

Applied Learning Project