Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose

About this Course: Computer Science Programming with a Purpose

The course "Computer Science Programming with a Purpose" offers an engaging and practical introduction to computer programming, designed to empower learners with a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that drive modern technology.

 Through this course, participants explore the art of programming using Java, one of the most versatile and widely used programming languages. 

With a focus on problem-solving and algorithmic thinking, students learn to write efficient and elegant code to tackle real-world challenges. 

The course emphasizes the significance of programming in diverse fields, such as data science, artificial intelligence, and web development. 

By the end of the course, learners develop the confidence and competence to craft purposeful programs, and they acquire a solid foundation in computer science that paves the way for further exploration and application of programming concepts.

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.

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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.

SKILLS YOU WILL GAIN

• Programming Principles
• Computer Science
• Algorithms
• Java Programming
• 
  

Flexible deadlines

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Beginner Level

Approx. 88 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Russian, Thai, Indonesian, English, Spanish

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Princeton University

Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.

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