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Online programming courses can help you go from novice to expert in record time. You can use the knowledge to sharpen your skills or land a lucrative role in the field.
There are options for all skill levels and budgets. Benzinga is here to help you find the best course so you can enroll with confidence.
Quick Look: Best Online Programming Courses
Check out this programming courses list for a quick look at the best educational options on the market today:
- HTML Basics by Treehouse
- Programming Basics by IIT Bombay
- JavaScript Basics by TreeHouse
- HTML, CSS and Javascript for Web Developers by John Hopkins University
- Learn Computer Programming with C Language by Udemy
- Computer Science 101: Master the Theory Behind Programming by Kurt Anderson
- Java Programming Masterclass for Software Developers by Udemy
- Learning Path: CSS: Mastering Web Design with CSS3 Selectors by Udemy
- Object-Oriented Programming in Java by Microsoft
What Makes an Online Programming Course Great?
You could learn to code for free, but it helps to enroll in a course that gives you all the information you need along with opportunities to practice your new skill. You can find hundreds of online programming courses to choose from. It can be challenging to figure out which are worth your time, so here’s a brief checklist to help you out.
1. Led by an Experienced Developer
Online programing courses for beginners should be taught by someone who is well beyond the level of “trying it out” or “learning on the fly.” The instructor should be experienced in the field and offer nuggets of wisdom based on real-world scenarios that can help you excel. The best way to learn coding is from someone who has a breadth of experience that can speak to unique situations you would never find in a course or textbook.
2. Includes Exercises or Projects
Programming is a hands-on skill. Consequently, you want a course that offers exercises or projects so you can try your hand at some of the techniques introduced in the lessons. A final project that allows you to wrap up the entire course is an added bonus.
3. Self-Paced
How long does it take to learn coding? Everyone learns in different ways and prefers varying learning styles.
The best online programming courses should allow you to move at your own pace. Otherwise, you risk missing out on the most critical components of each lesson if you’re forced to rush through the material. Even computer programming certificate courses should give you the freedom to learn at your own pace because you plan to use this information as part of a new career.
Our Top Picks
Here are Benzinga’s top picks for online programming courses from leading learning platforms, like Coursera, edX, TreeHouse and Udemy. The classes are organized by skill level — beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
You can learn basic computer programming through each course, but you have the right to choose one that seems to best fit your situation. There’s also a description and enrollment fee included with each course to help you find the best fit.
Online Programming Courses for Beginners
If you want to learn programming from scratch, these online computer classes offer the tools you need. Online computer courses work differently for every learner, and certain programming classes will work better for you. You may have gotten a recommendation for the best online courses, but you should review them all to see for yourself. Start with these introductory courses.
1. HTML Basics by Treehouse
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Included with the monthly membership
Become an HTML subject-matter expert by enrolling in HTML Basics from Treehouse. These coding classes offer lessons on semantic markups, formatting page content, understanding file paths, displaying images and inline vs. block-level elements.
You learn how to code in 4 modules:
- Getting Started with HTML
- Structuring Your Content
- Images, Text and Links
- Going Further with HTML
Each module takes a step-by-step approach to teach computer coding. You learn programming systematically so that you aren’t overwhelmed as you move from one concept to another. Plus, you can see what basic coding does, giving you more insight into how the building blocks of coding language work together.
Facilitator Guil Hernandez is a front end web developer and JavaScript instructor at Treehouse.
Start your quest toward acquiring HTML knowledge with a free 7-day trial so you can try these and other computer coding classes.
2. Programming Basics by IIT Bombay
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Included with the monthly membership
Offered by IIT Bombay, this 9-week course introduces the basics of computer programming. It’s a component of the Fundamentals of Computer Science XSeries.
You’ll learn how to write C/C++ programs and apply them to solve real-world computational challenges. There are also lessons on good programming practices every developer should follow and how to handle large and challenging programs.
Enroll for free or upgrade to receive a Verified Certificate for only $149. You should have basic high school mathematics and pre-calculus knowledge before you sign up.
Expect to spend 6 to 8 hours per week working through this computer programming course.
3. JavaScript Basics by TreeHouse
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Included with the monthly membership
Want to learn JavaScript from scratch? Look no further than this beginner course from Treehouse.
In a little under 4 hours, you’ll discover how JavaScript works, where it’s used and its basic syntax. The course also includes lessons on basic programming concepts, including conditional statements, data types and variables, and how to troubleshoot programming problems.
Also led by Guil Hernandez, JavaScript Basics is divided into 4 coding lessons:
- Hello, JavaScript!
- Storing and Tracking Information with Variables
- Working with Strings
- Making Decisions in Your Code with Conditional Statements
Register for a free 7-day trial to get started.
Intermediate Online Programming Course
After learning computer programming for beginners, consider these intermediate courses if you have some programming experience under your belt.
4. HTML, CSS and Javascript for Web Developers by John Hopkins University
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: Free
HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers is presented by John Hopkins University. It’s a component of the Ruby on Rails Web Development Specialization and covers the essential and more advanced knowledge web page coders need in their arsenal.
Facilitated by Yaakov Chaikin, Adjunct Professor in the Whiting School of Engineering, the class includes 5 coding tutorials:
- Introduction to HTML5
- Introduction to CSS3
- Coding the Static Restaurant Site
- Introduction to Javascript
- Using Javascript to Build Web Applications
Course material is delivered through video lessons, readings and quizzes. It takes 33 hours to complete the class.
5. Learn Computer Programming with C Language by Udemy
- Price: On Sale
Led by Computer Scientist and Software Engineer, Mohammad piroz Amin, this intermediate course focuses on programming using the C language.
You will learn about arrays, functions, strings, pointers, structures and unions, file handlings and so much more. You will also learn how to write code in Java and C++ by implementing the concepts introduced in the class.
Included in the enrollment fee is full lifetime access to 59 lectures jam-packed into 7.5 hours of on-demand video, 1 article and 1 downloadable resource. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
Have access to a computer with any operating system when you enroll.
6. Computer Science 101: Master the Theory Behind Programming by Kurt Anderson
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: Free
Interested in ramping up your computer programming skills to stand out from the masses? Consider this intermediate course to get you on the right path.
Computer Science 101: Master the Theory Behind Programming spans a little over 6 hours and includes 45 easy-to-follow, impactful lessons. The class is taught by Kurt Anderson, computer scientist and multimedia designer. It delves into the theory all programmers must know to excel in their role.
Lessons cover a medley of pertinent concepts, including time complexity, logarithmic functions, factorial functions, algebraic expressions, binary search algorithms and more.
Enroll for free today with a 1-month trial.
Advanced Online Programming Courses
Seasoned developers and programmers will find these courses useful.
7. Java Programming Masterclass for Software Developers by Udemy
- Price: On Sale
Planning to apply for a role as a Java developer and need to acquire the necessary skills? Or maybe you already have some experience under your belt and want to sharpen your current skill set. This Udemy bestseller has you covered.
Java Programming Masterclass for Software Developers offers 80 hours of on-demand video instruction to advance your knowledge and help you pass the Oracle Java Certificate exam the first time around. It also teaches industry “best practices” so you can work more efficiently.
When you enroll, you will also receive 2 articles, 1 downloadable resource and 36 coding exercises. These tools can be used to supplement what you learned in class. And you can complete the activities to apply your knowledge in a practice setting and work out any kinks.
The class is co-instructed by Tim Buchalka, Java, Python, Android and C# expert developer, and Goran Lochert, software engineer and indie game developer.
Have access to a computer with Linux, Mac or Windows before you sign up.
8. Mastering CSS by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: On Sale
Elevate your knowledge of CSS and become a master web designer. This highly-rated course from Udemy will show you how.
Mastering CSS is presented by Packt Publishing and includes the following modules:
- CSS Foundations
- Ramping Up
- Creating a Page Layout with Floats
- Creating Buttons with Modular, Reusable CSS Classes and CSS3
- Creating the Main Navigation and Drop
- Becoming Responsive
- Web Fonts
- The Workflow of HiDPI Devices
- Wrapping Up
Course material is delivered through 5 hours of on-demand video and 1 downloadable resource. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if the class doesn’t quite suit your needs.
9. Object-Oriented Programming in Java by Microsoft
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: Free
This advanced 4-week course from Microsoft teaches you everything you need to know about object-oriented design to land a lucrative developer role. It’s facilitated by Kasey Champion, a member of the Learning Team.
Object-Oriented Programming is divided into 3 core segments:
- Using Objects
- Building Your Own Objects
- Object Inheritance
There’s also a bonus module where you’ll be tasked with completing a capstone project.
It’s free to enroll, or you can upgrade your registration to receive a Verified Certificate and showcase your expertise for only $99. Have basic knowledge of Java programming before you sign up.
Expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week working through the course material.
Enroll in an Online Programming Course Today!
Whether you want to launch your career as a programmer or advance your skills, an online programming course is worth considering. Programming courses can take you from the couch to the computer terminal, and they offer you resources that you can come back to in the future. Online coding classes can help you start a new career learn a new skill or simply add to your resume. If you don’t know where to learn coding, you can sample these classes and more until you find something that works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn to code?
You can learn coding in several months by dedicating a couple of hours a day to it. Coding courses make this process much simpler for new programmers.
What are some excellent online programming courses?
Several of the best online coding courses include Java for Beginners, JavaScript Functions and HTML Basics.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community