Not so long ago, programming was supposed to be the domain of “geeks”. But things have changed lately and a lot of entrepreneurs and marketers have admitted how the knowledge of how to program puts them ahead of the competition. Consider how many times during a day you interact with a computer program or a mobile app. If you spend an average of 4-5 hours on your phone or computer you have probably not realized that you are perpetually dealing with code.
Programming has been a popular choice for a career for a long time, with new and improved technologies coming up every day, it remains the top choice. If you are one of those who love technology and are a natural-born problem solver, you should consider a career in programming.
There is no limit to learning. It has become ridiculously easy to do so from the comfort of your home and an internet connection and pick up topics of your choice, such as learning C++ or learning about website layouts, parallax scrolling or CSS animation. Learning a new programming language, or several languages for that matter will not cost you an arm and a leg; because of the number of learning choices. So the most important thing is to find out a course that is most suited for you, and we have compiled a list of the best online courses for programming just for this purpose. Take a look at our list:
Top 14 Best Online Programming Courses
These are the best online courses for programming on the web, all thoroughly reviewed to ensure that you find the perfect one for your needs and skill level.
Let’s take a look!
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) – University of Michigan
This course is an early introduction to the programming language Python. The program will cover how a simple program is written using Python in the beginning and has no prerequisites except a basic understanding of mathematics and a zest to learn.
The course is offered by the University of Michigan and takes about 12 hours to complete, with a suggested 2-4 hours of study per week.
The course is available in English with subtitles in Korean, German, English Arabic and simplified Chinese. If you have some experience with computers and an interest in this simple yet fantastic language, this course is for you.
The course is divided into 7 modules:
- Why We Program: This is an introduction to Python
- Installing and Using Python: This module will prepare you before you start coding in Python
- Why We Program (2): This is a continuation from the first module
- Variables and Expressions: This module will teach you the inner workings of a program
- Conditional Code: This module will teach you how a computer makes choices
- Functions: This short chapter describes how functions work and how they can be used
- Loops and Iteration: This chapter shall cover the last two basic programming fundamentals.
Learn more about this course here.
Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML and CSS – Duke University
This course is being offered by the Duke University and aims to teach to look at things from a programmer’s perspective and foundational programming concepts such as conditional statements and loops.
People who have taken this 4-week course say that they have a better understanding of programming languages and 41% started a new career.
The course will cover the following:
- Designing a Webpage with CSS and HTML
- Programming Concepts and Algorithms
- JavaScript for Webpages
- Image Filters on the Web
You will have access to the lectures and assignments to this course once you enroll in this program. However, you should note that completing this course will not earn you credit from Duke University, but an electronic certificate will be provided to you which can either be printed or added to your LinkedIn profile.
Learn more about this course here.
Python Programming: A Concise Introduction – Wesleyan University
Presented by Wesleyan University, this beginner-level course has more than 80,000 students and takes approximately 14-16 hours to complete with a suggested study period of 4 hours a week. Students will learn about the basic concepts of Python 3 and how to install it.
The course is divided into 4 modules and you will face a test when one ends to be graded. This program is meant to be with people who have no background in programming.
The 4 modules are as follows:
- Beginning to Program in Python: As the name suggests, you will learn to write functions in Python using the editor
- Importing Libraries and Working With Lists: This will introduce you to data types and the random library
- Text and CSV files, Data Dictionaries, Tuples: This module looks at other collection data types
- Formatting, Sorting and others: The last module is the most comprehensive and will cover the menu-driven database program, functional values, sorting, formatting and statistics
Learn more about this course here.
edX offers hundreds of courses on programming, ranging from beginner to advanced. Here is taking a look at some of these courses:
Learn to Program in Java – Microsoft
Learn to Program in Java: This program aims to teach you the basics of one of the most popular programming languages, Java. This 4-week program is part of Microsoft’s Professional Program in Entry-Level Software Development and you will learn how to deal with code control structures, basic Java commands and so on. You can get a verified certificate for $99.
Programming for Teachers – Delft University of Technology
Programming for Teachers: Presented by the Delft University of Technology, this program is aimed at primary or secondary school teachers. This 8-week course covers programming basics, lists and randomness, timing and looks among other subjects and a verified certificate can be acquired for $50.
C Programming: Language Foundations – Darthmouth College
C Programming: Language Foundations: Offered by Dartmouth College, this 7-week program will guide you through arrays and logical statements. You can add a verified certificate for $49 for this course.
Developing International Software – Microsoft
Developing International Software: This program is also a part of Microsoft’s Professional Program in Entry-Level Software Development will teach you how to plan and is 12-week long, with the requirement of 3-5 hours of study per week. You can add a verified certificate for $99.
Object-Oriented Programming – IIT Bombay
Object-Oriented Programming: This 4-week course is offered by IIT-Bombay and focuses on object-oriented methodology. It includes topics such as polymorphism, standard C++ library and classes and methods among others. A certificate can be acquired for $49.
The Udacity educational institution also has a variety of courses like its competitors and has some of the best online courses for programming. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Introduction to Programming
Introduction to Programming: This program teaches you the basics of CSS, Python and HTML. This 4-month long course requires at least 10 hours of study per week.
Design of Computer Programs
Design of Computer Programs: This course teaches you programming principles and the duration is around 2 months. This program has leading industry professionals as instructors and is an advanced course.
Intro to Algorithms
Intro to Algorithms: This is a 4-month-long program that will introduce you to the analysis and design of algorithms. The free course will give you an intro to algorithms, whereas the Nanodegree program will introduce you to programming.
Programming Languages
Programming Languages: The course is an introduction to programming languages and will teach you parsing grammars, lexical analysis, string patterns, building a web browser and interpreting. The course duration is 2 months and requires previous programming experience.
Swift for Beginners
Swift for Beginners: This program focuses on Swift, the language used to develop iOS applications. This is a 7-day beginner-level course that will set you on your way to creating your first app. It covers functions, strings, variables and if statements. This course requires no prior programming experience.
Introduction to AJAX
Introduction to AJAX: A part of Front-End Web Developer Nanodegree, this 2-week course will introduce you to the use of data APIs to make use of a lot of freely-available resources. This course requires familiarity with CSS and HTML and some proficiency with JavaScript.
Conclusion
Programming has become one of the most sought-after professions in the world and dominates a lot of industries. If you are equipped with this valuable and future-proof skill, you will benefit significantly whether it’s for your own projects or to ensure a successful career. In this article, you saw the best online courses for programming and all of these can be accessed from the comfort of your home. On the completion of most of these courses, you can start coding much more quickly and effectively, allowing you to truly level up your career and your future.
If you want to discover more learning opportunities, then be sure to take a look at our list of the best online courses. Thanks for reading and as always, have a great day!