Course Syllabus

Learn the basics of object-oriented (OO) programming, a paradigm that uses objects that contain data in the form of instance variables and methods that control the behavior of the objects. This course is suitable for anyone and uses Java to demonstrate key OO concepts.

We will begin this course with an introduction to the difference between traditional structural program design and object-oriented (OO) programming. This course will explore the unique, dynamic approach that OO offers, and discuss why it is an effective and flexible paradigm. We then move into the essential concepts that are part of all OO programming, including inheritance, polymorphism, abstract classes, encapsulation, and coupling.

There are many benefits to learning OO programming, and especially its modularity. Modularity lets you break your code into smaller parts. This makes it easier to troubleshoot, gives you the powerful ability to reuse your code elsewhere, and makes your code adaptive and flexible. Although this course uses Java to introduce OO programming, it should prepare you to explore other languages since you can apply these concepts to nearly any other OO programming language.

This course includes the following units:

• Unit 1: Fundamental Concepts of OO Programming
• Unit 2: Using Java for OO Programming

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the differences between object-oriented and procedural languages;
• Explain the difference between classes and objects; and
• Explain object-oriented concepts such as inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism.

Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.

This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos.

All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course at this link.

Some parts of this course may have been created or reviewed with the support of artificial intelligence (AI). To make sure you receive accurate, high-quality, and academically sound learning materials, all AI-assisted content is carefully checked and approved by Saylor Academy's faculty and subject matter experts.

Only the final exam is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on the final exam.

Your score on the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. Be sure to study in between each attempt! If you do not pass the exam, you will not complete this course or receive a certificate of completion. You can attempt the exam as many times as you want.

You can see this assessment at this link.

The certificate earned by passing this self-paced course displays the program hours you completed and continuing education credits (CEUs). CEUs document successful completion of courses that are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of working adults. Many industries value CEUs, and now your certificate reflects them clearly, and they may be used to support career advancement or to meet professional licensing standards. This course contains 0.6 CEUs.

PRDV410: Introduction to Java and Object-Oriented Programming is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take 6 hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.

Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:

• Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
• Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.

This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.

To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require you to log in.

For more details and guidance, please review our complete Technical Requirements and our student Help Center.

Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App

You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and a free course completion certificate.