Intro to Systematic Program Design in Python Part 1

This course is part of the UBC Certificate in Introduction to Systematic Program Design in Python.

This introductory programming course focuses on systematic programming methods foundational to writing well-designed programs. The course is taught using Python, a beginner-friendly, versatile programming language.

Through readings, videos, short auto-graded questions and practice programming problems, learn processes for creating well-tested programs that are easy to update in the future. The course concludes with a small project that will allow you to practise and showcase your skills.

You’ll learn how to:

• identify information in a problem domain and represent that information as data in your program
• use examples and tests to decide and document what your program should do
• write small, well-designed and well-tested programs

By the end of this course, you’ll know how to:

• write small programs that are readable, well-organized, well-documented and well-tested
• design the data representation for a reasonably complex problem
• describe the information encoded in given data
• identify the correspondences between a data definition and a program and how changes to a data definition could potentially affect a program.

How am I assessed?

You’re graded on comprehension checks and design self-assessments. Before registering for Intro to Systematic Design in Python Part 2, you need achieve a minimum of 70% in this course.

Expected effort

Plan to spend approximately 10 hours per week completing coursework and assignments. Expect a rigorous and challenging university-level experience with rewarding outcomes.

Technology requirements

To take this course, you should have an email account, internet access and an up-to-date web browser. You’ll also need access to a desktop or laptop computer.

Course format

This course is 100% online and instructor supported. You can join a group chat with your instructors via Zoom during virtual office hours, Wednesdays 5-6pm and Sundays 5-6pm. All times are in the Pacific Time zone.