Introduction to Programming & Java Coding Basics for Non-Developers

Introduction to Programming and Java Basics for Non-Developers is a skills-focused, hands-on coding course that teaches students the fundamentals of programming object oriented (OO) applications with Java to a basic level, using sound coding skills and best practices for OO development.  This course is presented in a way that enables you to embrace the fundamentals of coding as well as an introduction to Java, in a gentle paced environment that focuses on coding basics.  

Throughout the course, you’ll explore the application development cycle, structure of programs, and specific language syntax. The course introduces important algorithmic constructs, string and character manipulation, dynamic memory allocation, standard I/O, and fundamental object-oriented programming concepts. The course explains the use of inheritance and polymorphism early on so you can practice these skills extensively in the hands-on labs. Structured programming techniques and error handling are emphasized. The course includes the processing of command line arguments and environment variables, so you’ll be able write flexible, user-friendly programs.  You’ll leave this course armed with the required skills to begin your learning journey as a Java programmer using modern coding skills and technologies. 

Working in a lab-intesive hands-on learning environment, guided by our expert team, you’ll explore:

• The steps involved in the creation and deployment of a computer program
• What OO programming is and what the advantages of OO are in today's world
• To work with objects, classes, and OO implementations
• The basic concepts of OO such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction
• The basic constructs that all programming languages share
• The basic Java constructs supporting processing as well as the OO orientation
• How to use Java exception handling
• About and how to use classes, inheritance and polymorphism
• About use collections, generics, autoboxing, and enumerations
• How to take advantage of the Java tooling that is available with the programming environment being used in the class

This course is intended for anyone who is new programming, and wants to start learning how to code using Java. Please note that although this course is for beginner-level students, it is technical in nature. If you're moving from a truly non-technical role into coding for the first time, please reach out to us for some additional guidance or light course prep suggestions which can really be helpful before you jump into this course head-on. We want your experience to be exciting, challenging and useful, without being overwhelming. We're here to help!

Before attending this course, you definitely should be able to:

• Use computers to start programs, open and save files, navigate application menus and interfaces
• Understand logical concepts such as comparisons
• Understand number theory
• Create, understand, and follow structured directions or step-by-step procedures
• Understand and apply abstract concepts to concrete examples

Attendees might include:

• Technically-minded attendees who want or who want to begin the process of becoming an OO application developer
• Technical team members from non-development roles, re-skilling to move into software and application development roles within an organization
• Recent college graduates looking to apply their college experience to programming skills in a professional environment, or perhaps needing to learn the best practices and standards for programming within their new organization
• Technical managers tasked with overseeing programming teams, or development projects, where basic coding knowledge and exposure will be useful in project oversight or communications needs