Scripting and Programming Foundations (edX)

Scripting and Programming Foundations (edX)

This course is an introduction to programming theory, covering basic elements such as variables, data types, flow control, and design concepts. The course is language-agnostic in nature, ending in a survey of languages and introduces the distinction between interpreted and compiled languages.

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

Computer programs are abundant in many people's lives today, carrying out applications on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, powering businesses, helping cars drive and planes fly, and much more. The course introduces computational thinking and algorithms, a sequence of instructions that solves a problem. Computational or mathematical thinking became increasingly important throughout the industrial age to enable people to successfully live and work. In the information age, computational thinking and algorithms will continue to be increasingly critical for work and everyday life.
Beyond business and personal computing devices such as PCs, tablets, and smartphones, embedded computers exist invisibly in nearly anything electrical today (e.g., TVs, cars, printers, thermostats, satellites, etc.) and require scripting and programming of instructions to perform efficiently.
This course is part of the Introduction to Information Technology MicroBachelors
Prerequisites:
None ... However, Information Technology Foundations is recommended.

What you'll learn
In this course, you will learn about the following concepts:

  • The basic computer programming elements, including data types, constants, variables, operators, and expressions
  • Basic constructs of programming including functions and control structure
  • Interpreting algorithms
  • The steps of the software design process
  • How to compare various scripting and programming languages
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

COBOL Programming with VSCode (Coursera) Coursera
IBM

COBOL Programming with VSCode (Coursera)

Professor Tak Auyeung of American River College, said it beautifully, “A programming language is not a fashion statement” it is used for a purpose. Whether it is to add new features, modify logic, create APIs to integrate it into other applications, or implement modern development practices, businesses around the world need application developers who know COBOL.

Sep 14th 2026
3 Weeks
Programming Reactive Systems (Scala 2 version) (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Programming Reactive Systems (Scala 2 version) (Coursera)

Reactive programming is a set of techniques for implementing scalable, resilient and responsive systems as per the Reactive Manifesto. Such systems are based on asynchronous message-passing, and their basic building-blocks are event handlers. This course teaches how to implement reactive systems in Scala and Akka by using high-level abstractions, such as actors, asynchronous computations, and reactive streams.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for the Raspberry Pi (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for the Raspberry Pi (Coursera)

The Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable single-board computer that you will use to design and develop fun and practical IoT devices while learning programming and computer hardware. In addition, you will learn how to set up up the Raspberry Pi environment, get a Linux operating system running, and write and execute some basic Python code on the Raspberry Pi. You will also learn how to use Python-based IDE (integrated development environments) for the Raspberry Pi and how to trace and debug Python code on the device.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to Programming with MATLAB (Coursera) Coursera
Vanderbilt University

Introduction to Programming with MATLAB (Coursera)

This course teaches computer programming to those with little to no previous experience. It uses the programming system and language called MATLAB to do so because it is easy to learn, versatile and very useful for engineers and other professionals. MATLAB is a special-purpose language that is an excellent choice for writing moderate-size programs that solve problems involving the manipulation of numbers.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Julia Scientific Programming (Coursera) Coursera
University of Cape Town

Julia Scientific Programming (Coursera)

This four-module course introduces users to Julia as a first language. Julia is a high-level, high-performance dynamic programming language developed specifically for scientific computing. This language will be particularly useful for applications in physics, chemistry, astronomy, engineering, data science, bioinformatics and many more.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
The Java Language (Coursera) Coursera
LearnQuest

The Java Language (Coursera)

This is the second course in the Java as a Second Language Specialization. In this course, we'll take a look at Java data types, discuss what primitive data types are, and explain data classes. We'll also explore characters and strings and you'll add a new class in the lab. Next, we'll take a look at Java Control Structures. We'll explain IF statements, Loops, and arrays, and will discuss Switch Statements and the Java Programming Environment.

Aug 31st 2026
3 Weeks
Simulation, Algorithm Analysis, and Pointers (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Simulation, Algorithm Analysis, and Pointers (Coursera)

This course is the fourth and final course in the specialization exploring both computational thinking and beginning C programming. Rather than trying to define computational thinking, we’ll just say it’s a problem-solving process that includes lots of different components. Most people have a better understanding of what beginning C programming means!

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Problem Solving Using Computational Thinking (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Problem Solving Using Computational Thinking (Coursera)

Have you ever heard that computers "think"? Believe it or not, computers really do not think. Instead, they do exactly what we tell them to do. Programming is, "telling the computer what to do and how to do it." Before you can think about programming a computer, you need to work out exactly what it is you want to tell the computer to do. Thinking through problems this way is Computational Thinking. Computational Thinking allows us to take complex problems, understand what the problem is, and develop solutions. We can present these solutions in a way that both computers and people can understand.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose (Coursera)

The basis for education in the last millennium was “reading, writing, and arithmetic;” now it is reading, writing, and computing. Learning to program is an essential part of the education of every student, not just in the sciences and engineering, but in the arts, social sciences, and humanities, as well. Beyond direct applications, it is the first step in understanding the nature of computer science’s undeniable impact on the modern world.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Python Scripting for DevOps (Coursera) Coursera
LearnQuest

Introduction to Python Scripting for DevOps (Coursera)

This course is the first course in a series that aims to prepare you for a role working as a programmer. In this course, you will be introduced to the five main concepts in procedural programming: user input, console output, variable declaration and assignment, decision branching and iteration. Labs will allow you to apply the material in the lectures in simple computer programs designed to re-enforce the material in the lesson.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks