Who can enroll in this course?
This course is open to anyone with an active Purdue account. This includes students from all schools and majors, graduate students, faculty and staff.
How does the certificate work?
Each certificate has the Purdue College of Engineering logo, the recipients name, the name of the course, the month and year it was issued, and will be signed the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and Prof. Cole. Certificates are issued as a link to a university hosted certificate image. You can share this link on social media or with anyone who would like to verify your achievement. You can also download and print your certificate if you prefer a paper copy. A QR code on each certificate links back to its Purdue hosted image for verification purposes.
Will this course appear on my academic transcript?
No. This is a non-credit course that will not appear on your transcript or affect your GPA. There is no penalty for failing or dropping this course.
How much prior programming experience do I need?
None. This course is designed for beginners.
How much time will this course take?
There will be assignments due weekly. Most students who complete the course spend between 5 and 6 hours working on it each week. However, some students spend as little as 1 hour each week, and others spend over 10 hours.
When and where is class?
There are multiple in-person sections and one remote only section. Each section meets once each week for 1 to 2 hours. The time and location for each in-person section depends on how many students register. Once the section times and locations are set, each registered student is sent a survey asking them to choose the section that works best with their schedule. Since the capacity for each section is limited, section choice takes place on a first come first served basis. Also be aware that while attendance is strongly encouraged, it is not strictly necessary. The class lectures are pre-recorded and there are regular virtual office hours to help you if at any point you get stuck.
Is there a remote option?
Yes. There are both remote and in-person sections available. Before the start of class you will be sent a survey asking you to select your preferred section.
Is there a higher level version of this course.
Not yet, but an intermediate level of this course is in the early stages of development. Any news related to the development of higher level courses will be posted on this webpage. In the mean time, below are some online resources you might be interested in:
- The projects in the second part of our course textbook. Digital access is available FREE from Purdue libraries.
- "Talk Python To Me" podcast https://talkpython.fm/
- "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" book https://runestone.academy/runestone/books/published/thinkcspy/index.html
- "Real Python" online tutorials https://realpython.com/
What should I do if I need to drop this course?
Just send me an email from your Purdue email address stating that you need to drop and why. There is no penalty for dropping this course or for failing to pass. In either case, you are welcome to take the course again in a future semester.