One of the most prestigious universities in the US is offering an online class for anyone who wants to learn to code

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ShutterStock / Timofey_123As technology becomes a more and more ubiquitous aspect of our lives, the importance and need for knowledgeable coders continues to increase. In 2016, everything from our kitchenware to our luggage has been implanted with some form of tech.

The “Internet of Things” will soon be wholly upon us, with our smart appliances making our day-to-day lives easier, and one coding language is well positioned to take a leading role when that time comes: Java.

Java is already the most popular programming language in the world, with jobs already in high demand and even more opportunities soon to be created. If you have been looking for a career shift, or simply have been wanting to learn to code for a while, Java is a great place to start. 

Now through Coursera, you can learn the language from some of the best minds at Duke University. Through the university's four-course specialization, students brand new to coding will learn to build software apps with Java.

The first class “Programming and the Web for Beginners” will take students through the process of building their first webpage and the construction of code, so that they will be able to solve programming problems and debug their creations through systematic trial. Such foundational knowledge will be invaluable in future courses. From there, you’ll pivot to focus more directly on creating and troubleshooting with Java, learning concepts such as loops and conditionals and how they apply to the language.

The final two courses will give students and even more in-depth understanding of Java, including how to perform quantitative analysis, store and manipulate data in an array, and break down complex problems into multiple classes, so you can tackle them logically. After completing the four courses you’ll be able to take part in a capstone project where you’ll use your newfound knowledge to build a DIY version of the Netflix and Amazon recommendation systems.

Altogether, the specialization consists of four courses and the capstone project, with each course running for four weeks. With instruction from four professors and lecturers from Duke University, you can rest assured you’ll be receiving quality instruction. If you’d like to try out a few courses before committing to all 20 weeks of instruction, you can enroll on a class-by-class basis for $79 a course. If you sign up for the entirety of the specialization upfront, you can get a 10% discount.

Classes start soon, so if you've been waiting to start your coding career, this is a great time to kick-start your education.

Programming and the Web for Beginners, $79, available at Coursera.
Duke University Build Software Applications Complete Specialization, $355, available at Coursera.