What you will learn
- A broad and robust understanding of computer science and programming.
- How to think algorithmically and solve programming problems efficiently.
- Concepts like abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development.
- Familiarity in a number of languages, namely Python as well as C, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML.
- Functions, arguments, and return values variables and types; conditionals and Boolean expressions; and loops.
- How to handle exceptions, find and fix bugs, and write unit tests. Use third-party libraries; validate and extract data with regular expressions.
- Model real-world entities with classes, objects, methods, and properties; and read and write files.
This is Harvard’s famous CS50 course bundled together with CS50’s Introduction to Python as one program: Computer Science for Python Programming. Get an introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming using a language called Python.
In this two-course Professional Certificate program you can kick off your programming journey with an Introduction to Computer Science (CS50x), which focuses on computer science more generally as well as an entry into programming with Python along with C, SQL, and JavaScript, plus HTML and CSS.
To further your skills for programming with Python, you can then turn to course 2, CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python (CS50P). In this course, you will learn how to read and write code as well as how to test and "debug" it. This course recaps lessons learned in CS50x and then dives all the more deeply into Python itself.
The program features hands-on opportunities for exercises inspired by real-world programming problems. No software required except for a web browser, or you can write code on your own PC or Mac. Both courses in this program are entry-level courses for students with no programming experience or prior background, taught by David J. Malan who teaches CS50 on the Harvard campus - one of Harvard University’s largest courses!
Courses in this program
HarvardX's Computer Science for Python Programming Professional Certificate
- 6–18 hours per week, for 12 weeks
An introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming.
- 3–9 hours per week, for 10 weeks
An introduction to programming using Python, a popular language for general-purpose programming, data science, web programming, and more.
- Python programming skills are growing in demand from a wide range of companies. US companies made more than 756,000 unique job postings requiring Python programming in 2021, 29% more than in 2020.
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