IBM Java Developer Professional Certificate Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This IBM Java Developer Professional Certificate Course on Coursera is a hands-on, beginner-friendly program designed to equip aspiring developers with job-ready Java skills. Spanning approximately 16 weeks with a recommended 6-8 hours per week, the course covers core Java programming, object-oriented design, database integration, RESTful web services with Spring Boot, testing, DevOps practices, and a capstone project. Learners will gain practical experience through real-world projects using tools like Eclipse, MySQL, GitHub, and JUnit, preparing them for entry-level roles in backend or full-stack development.
Module 1: Introduction to Software Engineering
Estimated time: 6 hours
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) phases
- Agile methodology and Scrum framework
- DevOps principles and practices
- Key roles in software engineering teams
Module 2: Java Programming Basics
Estimated time: 12 hours
- Variables, data types, and operators
- Control flow: conditionals and loops
- Methods and parameter passing
- Arrays and basic data structures
Module 3: Object-Oriented Programming in Java
Estimated time: 12 hours
- Classes and objects
- Inheritance and polymorphism
- Encapsulation and abstraction
- Reusable component design
Module 4: Java Application Development
Estimated time: 12 hours
- Java Collections Framework
- Exception handling and error management
- File input/output operations
- Building data-processing applications
Module 5: Java and Databases
Estimated time: 12 hours
- SQL fundamentals and database design
- JDBC API for database connectivity
- CRUD operations in Java
- Integrating MySQL with Java applications
Module 6: Java Web Services with Spring Boot
Estimated time: 18 hours
- RESTful API concepts and design
- Spring Boot fundamentals
- Dependency injection and inversion of control
- Building and deploying microservices
Module 7: Testing, Debugging, and DevOps for Java
Estimated time: 12 hours
- Unit testing with JUnit
- Debugging techniques in Eclipse
- Version control with GitHub
- CI/CD pipeline basics
Module 8: Capstone Project
Estimated time: 16 hours
- Design and implement a full-stack Java application
- Integrate REST API using Spring Boot
- Connect to a MySQL database with CRUD functionality
- Include unit tests and deploy via GitHub
Prerequisites
- Basic computer literacy
- Familiarity with fundamental programming concepts (helpful but not required)
- Willingness to learn through self-paced, hands-on practice
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Build and run core Java applications using Eclipse
- Apply object-oriented programming principles to create reusable code
- Develop RESTful APIs using Spring Boot
- Connect Java applications to MySQL databases using JDBC
- Test, debug, and deploy Java applications using GitHub and CI/CD tools