Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This specialization consists of five core courses and a final capstone project, designed to provide beginners with a solid foundation in Java programming and software engineering fundamentals. Each course takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete with a flexible schedule, totaling around 20-30 hours per course. Learners will engage in hands-on programming exercises and build real-world projects, culminating in a portfolio-ready recommendation system. No prior programming experience is required.
Module 1: Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Estimated time: 24 hours
- Introduction to programming concepts using JavaScript
- Building basic web pages with HTML
- Styling web pages using CSS
- Creating interactive web features with JavaScript
- Building an interactive image filter web page
Module 2: Java Programming: Solving Problems with Software
Estimated time: 24 hours
- Introduction to Java syntax and structure
- Designing and implementing algorithms
- Debugging and testing Java programs
- Processing and analyzing data from CSV files
- Manipulating images using Java
Module 3: Java Programming: Arrays, Lists, and Structured Data
Estimated time: 24 hours
- Working with arrays and ArrayLists in Java
- Processing structured data (e.g., CSV, JSON)
- Implementing an encryption algorithm
- Breaking an encryption using frequency analysis
- Storing and retrieving data efficiently
Module 4: Java Programming: Principles of Software Design
Estimated time: 24 hours
- Applying object-oriented programming principles
- Designing programs with multiple classes
- Using Java interfaces for scalable solutions
- Analyzing and sorting earthquake data
- Building modular and reusable code
Module 5: Java Programming: Build a Recommendation System
Estimated time: 24 hours
- Designing a recommender engine
- Processing user ratings and preferences
- Implementing similarity algorithms
- Generating personalized recommendations
- Testing and evaluating recommendation accuracy
Module 6: Final Project
Estimated time: 30 hours
- Design and implement a fully functional recommender system
- Apply object-oriented design and data processing techniques
- Document and present project outcomes
Prerequisites
- No prior programming experience required
- Basic computer literacy
- Access to a computer with internet connection
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Write and debug Java programs to solve real-world problems
- Design and implement object-oriented software solutions
- Process and analyze structured data using Java
- Build interactive web pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Create a portfolio-ready recommendation engine