Competitive Programming for Beginners (Coursera)

Competitive Programming for Beginners (Coursera)

This online course will help you to join the world of competitive programming and even become worldwide competitions participant! The course includes theoretical and practical aspects that are necessary to solve problems of any difficulties. After this course, you will learn what types of problems you will have to solve at the competitions, what is the effective program, how to estimate the algorithms efficiency, how to use basic algorithms and ideas during the problems solution.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will also learn how to submit your solution to the testing system.
What You Will Learn

  • Basic Algorithms
  • Number and Graph Theories
  • Dynamic Programming

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Basic Algorithms
In this first module of our course we will: talk about how to measure efficiency of the developed algorithm; learn what is asymptotics; learn how to implement some simplest algorithms.

WEEK 2
Number Theory
In this module of our course we will: talk about integer data types in existing programming languages, limitations of these types and ways to pass those limitations in competitive programming tasks; look at some applications of the modulo calculations related to the calculation of the greatest common divisor; learn what the regular and extended Euclid's algorithm is and how they are used in math (to prove important theorems) and in programming.

WEEK 3
Dynamic Programming
In this module we will talk about the dynamic programming. You surely have been faced with it when you implemented prefix sums or the sieve of Erathosphenes. Also it turns out to be a part of a large number of algorithms, so it’s extremely important to learn the topic in small details.

WEEK 4
Graph Theory
In this closing part of our course we shall get acquainted with the basic definitions and algorithms of graph theory in regard to competitive programming in general

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Algorithms, Part II (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Algorithms, Part II (Coursera)

This course covers the essential information that every serious programmer needs to know about algorithms and data structures, with emphasis on applications and scientific performance analysis of Java implementations. Part I covers elementary data structures, sorting, and searching algorithms. Part II focuses on graph- and string-processing algorithms.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Mathematical Thinking (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Introduction to Mathematical Thinking (Coursera)

Learn how to think the way mathematicians do - a powerful cognitive process developed over thousands of years. Mathematical thinking is not the same as doing mathematics – at least not as mathematics is typically presented in our school system. School math typically focuses on learning procedures to solve highly stereotyped problems. Professional mathematicians think a certain way to solve real problems, problems that can arise from the everyday world, or from science, or from within mathematics itself.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2 (Coursera)

Cloud computing systems today, whether open-source or used inside companies, are built using a common set of core techniques, algorithms, and design philosophies—all centered around distributed systems. Learn about such fundamental distributed computing "concepts" for cloud computing. Some of these concepts include: Clouds, MapReduce, key-value stores, Classical precursors, Widely-used algorithms, Classical algorithms, Scalability, Trending areas, And more!

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Learn Imba (Coursera) Coursera
Scrimba

Learn Imba (Coursera)

In this class, you'll dive into Imba, the programming language used to build scrimba.com. Imba, a compile-to-JavaScript language, packs a punch with nifty features for whipping up web apps, including built-in tags and styles. We'll cover the ABCs of Imba syntax and work on creating a Dopamine Box app. By the finish line, you'll be armed with the skills to construct your very own web app UI using Imba.

Sep 14th 2026
1 Week
Development of Real-Time Systems (Coursera) Coursera
EIT Digital

Development of Real-Time Systems (Coursera)

This course is intended for the Master's student and computer engineer who likes practical programming and problem solving! After completing this course, you will have the knowledge to plan and set-up a real-time system both on paper and in practice. The course centers around the problem of achieving timing correctness in embedded systems, which means to guarantee that the system reacts within the real-time requirements.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Programming Languages, Part C (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Programming Languages, Part C (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of programming languages, with a strong emphasis on functional programming. The course uses the languages ML, Racket, and Ruby as vehicles for teaching the concepts, but the real intent is to teach enough about how any language “fits together” to make you more effective programming in any language -- and in learning new ones.

Sep 21st 2026
3 Weeks
Cluster Analysis in Data Mining (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cluster Analysis in Data Mining (Coursera)

Discover the basic concepts of cluster analysis, and then study a set of typical clustering methodologies, algorithms, and applications. This includes partitioning methods such as k-means, hierarchical methods such as BIRCH, and density-based methods such as DBSCAN/OPTICS. Moreover, learn methods for clustering validation and evaluation of clustering quality. Finally, see examples of cluster analysis in applications.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Minnesota

Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics (Coursera)

Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics is a graduate-level, hands-on interactive exploration of real informatics tools and techniques offered by the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota's National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. We will be incorporating technology-enabled educational innovations to bring the subject matter to life. Over the 10 modules, we will create a vital online learning community and a working healthcare informatics network.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
VLSI CAD Part I: Logic (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

VLSI CAD Part I: Logic (Coursera)

A modern VLSI chip has a zillion parts -- logic, control, memory, interconnect, etc. How do we design these complex chips? Answer: CAD software tools. Learn how to build thesA modern VLSI chip is a remarkably complex beast: billions of transistors, millions of logic gates deployed for computation and control, big blocks of memory, embedded blocks of pre-designed functions designed by third parties (called “intellectual property” or IP blocks). How do people manage to design these complicated chips? Answer: a sequence of computer aided design (CAD) tools takes an abstract description of the chip, and refines it step-wise to a final design.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Algorithms, Part I (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Algorithms, Part I (Coursera)

This course covers the essential information that every serious programmer needs to know about algorithms and data structures, with emphasis on applications and scientific performance analysis of Java implementations. Part I covers elementary data structures, sorting, and searching algorithms. Part II focuses on graph- and string-processing algorithms.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks