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AP Computer Science A

Beginner Java Programming

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Based on 72 ratings
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Programming can be difficult at first but it doesn't have to be. Using animations and simple explanations, we make difficult concepts easy. Lift off your Computer Science journey here.

This course teaches you Java programming fundamentals using the AP Computer Science A syllabus. We cover all 10 units of the AP Computer Science A course using practical examples and in-depth explanations.

In this course, you will learn:

Read more

Programming can be difficult at first but it doesn't have to be. Using animations and simple explanations, we make difficult concepts easy. Lift off your Computer Science journey here.

This course teaches you Java programming fundamentals using the AP Computer Science A syllabus. We cover all 10 units of the AP Computer Science A course using practical examples and in-depth explanations.

In this course, you will learn:

  • Key introductory programming concepts such as variables, conditional statements, and loops

  • Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts including inheritance

  • Data structures such as arrays, 2D arrays, and ArrayLists

  • Complex programming concepts such as recursion

We use animations to provide step by step explanations of how Java programs actually run. By showing what happens when we run a program, students can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of programming. Each lesson introduces concepts in a concise, easy to understand manner. We recommend taking the course in order as each concept we introduce builds upon the next.

By the end of the course, you will have a strong understanding of Java Programming and have a solid general programming foundation. This will ensure that you are prepared to succeed in the AP Computer Science A course.

If you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help. Thank you for learning with us.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Build a strong programming foundation
  • Understand the fundamentals of java programming
  • Apply java programming concepts
  • Successfully prepare for the ap computer science a exam

Syllabus

Unit 1: Primitive Types
Why Programming? Why Java?
Compilation and Execution
Java Programming Tool Setup
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This is an AP-style Unit 1 MCQ Test.

In the real AP exam, the MCQ section consists of 45 questions and the duration is 90 minutes.

Therefore, you should always aim to solve one MCQ in 2 minutes.

This test consists of 5 questions so you should aim to finish it within 10 minutes.

This is an AP-style Unit 3 MCQ Test.

In the real AP exam, the MCQ section consists of 45 questions and the duration is 90 minutes.

Therefore, you should always aim to solve one MCQ in 2 minutes.

This test consists of 5 questions so you should aim to finish it within 10 minutes.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers all 10 units of the AP Computer Science A course, providing a structured approach to exam preparation
Uses animations to provide step-by-step explanations of how Java programs run, which can deepen understanding
Introduces key introductory programming concepts such as variables, conditional statements, and loops, building a strong foundation
Includes AP-style MCQ tests, which simulate the real exam environment and help students practice time management
Teaches object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts including inheritance, which is a core paradigm in modern software development
Recommends taking the course in order, as each concept builds upon the next, which may be restrictive for some learners

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Beginner java for ap computer science a

According to learners, the "AP Computer Science A: Beginner Java Programming" course is a highly effective introduction to Java, particularly aimed at preparing students for the AP Computer Science A Exam. Many highlight the unique use of animations as a major strength, finding they make complex concepts and the internal workings of programs easy to visualize and understand. The course is widely praised for covering the AP syllabus comprehensively and providing a strong foundational understanding. While some learners feel there could be more challenging practice problems, especially for advanced topics like recursion, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, establishing it as an excellent starting point for beginner programmers.
Provides a firm base in core Java concepts.
"By the end of the course, you will have a strong understanding of Java Programming and have a solid general programming foundation."
"I gained a really solid foundation in Java fundamentals like OOP and data structures."
"This course is excellent for building the basic programming skills needed for future studies."
"It covers the core concepts clearly, giving me confidence to move forward."
An excellent starting point for new coders.
"As a complete beginner to programming, I found this course amazing and easy to follow."
"This course is excellent for beginners! It made learning Java fun and accessible."
"If you have no prior coding experience, this is the ideal place to start."
"I highly recommend this course to anyone just starting their programming journey."
Visuals and simple language aid understanding.
"The animations made understanding difficult programming concepts incredibly easy for me."
"I found the step-by-step visual explanations of how the code runs very helpful."
"Using animations and simple explanations... make difficult concepts easy."
"The instructor breaks down complex ideas with great clarity, making it accessible for beginners."
Covers all necessary topics for the AP exam.
"This course teaches you Java programming fundamentals using the AP Computer Science A syllabus."
"It covers all the topics required for the AP Computer Science A exam thoroughly."
"I feel much more prepared for the AP test after going through this material."
"The structure follows the AP units, which is perfect for exam preparation."
Some wish for more exercises & challenges.
"I felt some topics could use more diverse or challenging practice problems."
"While the explanations are great, I needed to find additional exercises outside the course."
"The coding sessions were helpful but could be expanded with more complex tasks."
"More opportunities for hands-on coding beyond the provided examples would be beneficial."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in AP Computer Science A: Beginner Java Programming with these activities:
Review Basic Arithmetic and Algebra
Strengthen foundational math skills to better understand the logic and calculations involved in programming concepts.
Browse courses on Order of Operations
Show steps
  • Review order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS).
  • Practice solving simple algebraic equations.
  • Work through example problems involving arithmetic expressions.
Review Head First Java
Reinforce Java fundamentals with a beginner-friendly book that uses visual aids and real-world examples.
View Head First Java: A Brain-Friendly Guide on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the first few chapters covering basic Java syntax and concepts.
  • Work through the code examples provided in the book.
  • Attempt the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Solve Basic CodingBat Problems
Practice fundamental Java concepts like loops, conditionals, and arrays through targeted coding exercises.
Show steps
  • Visit the CodingBat website (codingbat.com).
  • Select the Java section.
  • Solve problems from the Warmup-1, Warmup-2, and String-1 categories.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Simple Calculator Program
Apply learned concepts by building a practical application that performs basic arithmetic operations.
Show steps
  • Design the user interface (console-based or GUI).
  • Implement methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
  • Handle user input and perform calculations accordingly.
  • Test the program thoroughly with various inputs.
Write a Blog Post Explaining Recursion
Deepen understanding of recursion by explaining the concept in a clear and concise manner for a general audience.
Show steps
  • Research recursion and gather examples.
  • Outline the blog post with an introduction, explanation, and examples.
  • Write the blog post, focusing on clarity and simplicity.
  • Include code snippets to illustrate the concept.
  • Proofread and edit the post before publishing.
Review Effective Java
Learn advanced Java best practices to write more efficient and maintainable code.
View Effective Java (3rd Edition) on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to object-oriented programming and data structures.
  • Study the examples and explanations provided in the book.
  • Apply the principles learned to your own coding projects.
Contribute to a Java Open Source Project
Gain real-world experience by contributing to an existing Java project, improving coding skills and collaboration abilities.
Show steps
  • Find a Java open source project on GitHub or GitLab.
  • Read the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.
  • Respond to feedback from project maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete AP Computer Science A: Beginner Java Programming will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
A software developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This role involves writing code, testing software, and debugging errors. This course helps build a strong foundation in Java programming, which is widely used in software development. The course's coverage of object-oriented programming, data structures, and recursion are very relevant to the daily tasks of a software developer, where logical thinking and coding skills are paramount. Someone in this role will use the programming skills learned in the course to create and improve software products.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer
Mobile Application Developer
A mobile application developer creates software applications for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This role requires a strong understanding of programming languages and mobile development frameworks. This course's focus on Java programming can help build the foundation for Android mobile application development, which is a very popular platform using Java. The concepts of object-oriented programming, data structures, and recursion taught in the course are essential for any mobile application developer, since they allow for creation of complex, high performance software.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer
Web Developer
A web developer is responsible for designing, coding and modifying websites, from layout to function, according to a client's specifications. This may include both front end and back end programming. While this course focuses on Java, the programming fundamentals including variables, loop and conditional statements, data structures, object-oriented programming, and recursion are universally applicable to website development. A web developer will find this course useful for understanding the core principles of programming, making more advanced web development easier in the future.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Game Developer
A game developer creates video games for various platforms, often using programming languages to implement gameplay mechanics and interactivity. This course's comprehensive introduction to Java programming, including object-oriented concepts and data structures, directly translates to the fundamentals required for game development. Someone wishing to become a game developer would find this course helpful in building a strong programming foundation, which is often a prerequisite for more specialized game development studies. The skills in this course help game developers design and bring their game ideas to life.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyzes large datasets using statistical methods and programming to extract meaningful insights. While this course focuses on Java, the programming fundamentals including variables, loop and conditional statements, data structures, and recursion are valuable for learning other languages useful in data science, such as Python or R. The problem solving and analytical thinking developed during the course's Java programming curriculum would also be helpful to a professional in this area. A data scientist will find this course useful as they require a strong programming base.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer is responsible for testing software to ensure it is free of bugs before it gets released to the public. The programming skills learned in this course may be useful for a quality assurance engineer to write testing scripts and tools to automate parts of the testing process. The fundamentals of Java programming, object oriented programming, and data structures covered in the course are helpful for someone to enter the field. A quality assurance engineer can apply the concepts from this course directly to software testing procedures.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Engineer
Automation Engineer
An automation engineer designs, develops, and maintains automated systems and processes. This role often requires programming knowledge to create scripts and software that control these systems. This course provides the foundational Java programming knowledge, including object-oriented programming principles, that is relevant to automation engineering tasks. Though this course is not specialized toward automation, an automation engineer would find that building a strong programming base will be useful in their automation related work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer
Computer Science Teacher
A computer science teacher educates students in the principles of computer science and programming. The comprehensive coverage of the AP Computer Science A syllabus in this course will be extremely helpful for an aspiring computer science teacher. This course's content, covering core concepts such as variables, loops, conditional statements, object-oriented programming, data structures, and recursion, can form a great base for a computer science educator. The course's material may be used to teach their own students how to program.
See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Science Teacher
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages and organizes databases, which includes creating, securing, and maintaining data storage. Although this course teaches core Java programming concepts, the foundational knowledge of variables, data structures, and logic translates to areas of database administration. A database administrator may use the logical and analytical skills from the course in their work to manage databases and data access. This course may be useful for a database administrator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
Systems Analyst
A systems analyst studies an organization's computer systems and procedures, designing solutions to improve efficiency and productivity. While no specific system analysis skills are taught in this course, the course's strong focus on computer programming concepts, such as variables, loops, logical statements, and object-oriented programming can help a systems analyst have a deeper understanding of the systems they work with. A systems analyst could find that having a strong understanding of programming is helpful for their role. This course may be useful a systems analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst
Technical Writer
A technical writer produces documentation and guides for software and other technical products. The exposure to Java programming concepts, including variables, loops, object oriented design, and recursion, gained in this course may give a technical writer a deeper understanding of the technical subject matter that they are writing about. A technical writer who needs to document programming languages would be able to reference the material learned in this course. This course may be useful for a technical writer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer
Network Engineer
A network engineer designs, implements, and maintains computer networks. While this course's focus is on Java programming fundamentals, the logic and problem solving skills gained from learning computer programming can be helpful to a network engineer. The ability to grasp complex concepts, which is necessary to learn programming, is also valuable for someone working with network infrastructure. A network engineer may find this course useful for developing their logical thinking skills.
See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer
IT Support Specialist
An Information Technology or IT support specialist provides technical assistance to computer users. Although programming is not the main focus of IT support, understanding fundamental computer concepts, such as variables and logical expressions, as well as debugging, covered in this course may prove useful for an IT support specialist. The programming concepts taught in the course can help them better understand the systems they work with. An IT support specialist may find that this course is useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for IT Support Specialist
Project Manager
A project manager plans, executes, and oversees all aspects of a project to ensure it is completed on time and within budget. While this course focuses on Java programming, the problem-solving and logical thinking skills developed through learning to program may be helpful in project management. A project manager will find that understanding programming concepts may help them manage technical projects and teams. Project managers may find this course useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
UI Designer
A user interface or UI designer is responsible for planning and creating easy to use, attractive user interfaces for software and websites. This role often crosses over into the realm of user experience, or UX design. While this course primarily focuses on Java programming fundamentals, the logical thinking and problem-solving skills learned in programming may be applicable to any design field. UI designers may find this course helpful for developing a more logical, analytical approach due to the problem solving that goes into programming
See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in AP Computer Science A: Beginner Java Programming.
Cover image
Head First Java
Save
Head First Java visually rich and engaging tutorial that provides a solid foundation in Java programming. It uses a unique learning style that goes beyond syntax and helps you understand how to think like a Java programmer. is particularly helpful for beginners as it breaks down complex concepts into easily digestible chunks. It is often used as a supplementary textbook in introductory Java courses.
Head First Java: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Paperback
$$
Head First Java
Kindle Edition
$$
Effective Java (3rd Edition)
Save
Effective Java provides invaluable insights into best practices for Java programming. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic design principles to advanced concurrency techniques. While it may be challenging for absolute beginners, it's an excellent resource for solidifying your understanding of Java and writing high-quality code. is commonly recommended for intermediate to advanced Java developers.
Effective Java (3rd Edition)
Paperback
Check
Effective Java (3rd Edition)
Kindle Edition
Check

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Lift Off Study
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Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers all 10 units of the AP Computer Science A course, providing a structured approach to exam preparation
Uses animations to provide step-by-step explanations of how Java programs run, which can deepen understanding
Introduces key introductory programming concepts such as variables, conditional statements, and loops, building a strong foundation
Includes AP-style MCQ tests, which simulate the real exam environment and help students practice time management
Teaches object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts including inheritance, which is a core paradigm in modern software development
Recommends taking the course in order, as each concept builds upon the next, which may be restrictive for some learners
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