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Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose

Approx. 88 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course teaches programming concepts using the Java programming language. It covers fundamental programming concepts, object-oriented programming (OOP) principles, and intermediate and advanced Java programming.

Key Learning Points

Learn Java programming from scratch
Understand object-oriented programming concepts
Build intermediate and advanced Java programs

Learning Outcomes

Understand programming concepts and principles
Develop intermediate and advanced Java programs
Apply object-oriented programming principles in software development

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic computer skills
Familiarity with programming concepts is helpful

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

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Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals
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Object Oriented Programming in Java

Notable People in This Field

Computer Scientist
Computer Scientist

Related Books

Description

The basis for education in the last millennium was “reading, writing, and arithmetic;” now it is reading, writing, and computing. Learning to program is an essential part of the education of every student, not just in the sciences and engineering, but in the arts, social sciences, and humanities, as well. Beyond direct applications, it is the first step in understanding the nature of computer science’s undeniable impact on the modern world. This course covers the first half of our book Computer Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach (the second half is covered in our Coursera course Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines). Our intent is to teach programming to those who need or want to learn it, in a scientific context.

We begin by introducing basic programming elements such as variables, conditionals, loops, arrays, and I/O. Next, we turn to functions, introducing key concepts such as recursion, modular programming, and code reuse. Then, we present a modern introduction to object-oriented programming. We use the Java programming language and teach basic skills for computational problem solving that are applicable in many modern computing environments. Proficiency in Java is a goal, but we focus on fundamental concepts in programming, not Java per se. All the features of this course are available for free. It does not offer a certificate upon completion.

Outline

BASIC PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS
Why programming?
Program development
Built-in data types
Type conversion
Supplements for Lecture 1
Optional Enrichment on Basic Programming Concepts

CONDITIONALS AND LOOPS
Conditionals: the if statement
Loops: the while statement
An alternative: the for loop
Nesting
Debugging
Supplements for Lecture 2
Optional Enrichment on Conditionals and Loops

ARRAYS
Basic concepts
Typical array-processing code
Two-dimensional arrays
Supplements for Lecture 3
Optional Enrichment on Arrays

INPUT AND OUTPUT
Standard input and output
Standard drawing
Fractal drawings
Animation
Supplements for Lecture 4
Optional Enrichment on Input and Output

FUNCTIONS AND LIBRARIES
Basic concepts
Case study: Digital audio
Application: Gaussian distribution
Modular programming and libraries
Supplements for Lecture 5
Optional Enrichment on Functions and Libraries

RECURSION
Foundations
A classic example
Recursive graphics
Avoiding exponential waste
Dynamic programming
Supplements for Lecture 6
Optional Enrichment on Recursion

PERFORMANCE
The challenge
Empirical analysis
Mathematical models
Doubling method
Familiar examples
Supplements for Lecture 7
Optional Enrichment on Performance

ABSTRACT DATA TYPES
Overview
Color
Image processing
String processing
Supplements for Lecture 8
Optional Enrichment on Abstract Data Types

CREATING DATA TYPES
Overview
Point charges
Turtle graphics
Complex numbers
Supplements for Lecture 9
Optional Enrichment on Creating Data Types

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
Popular languages
Java in context
Object-oriented programming
Type checking
Functional programming
Supplements for Lecture 10

Summary of User Reviews

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course covers a wide range of Java programming concepts and provides ample practice exercises to reinforce learning.

Pros from User Reviews

Clear and concise explanations of programming concepts.
Hands-on practice exercises that help reinforce learning.
Instructors are knowledgeable and responsive to student questions.
Course content is well-organized and easy to follow.

Cons from User Reviews

Some students found the pace of the course to be too fast.
The course may be too basic for those with prior programming experience.
The grading system for assignments and quizzes can be confusing.
Some students found the course to be too theoretical with not enough practical applications.

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