Introduction to Scripting in Python Specialization

Discover new skills with 30% off courses from industry experts. Save now.

Introduction to Scripting in Python Specialization

Launch Your Career in Python Programming. Master the core concepts of scripting in Python to enable you to solve practical problems.

Instructors: Joe Warren

49,081 already enrolled

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

4 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.7

(2,960 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

4 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.7

(2,960 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

What you'll learn

Developed by Rice University's world-class Computer Science & Data Science faculty, this specialization is intended for beginners who would like to master essential programming skills.

What’s included

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

9 practice exercises

Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from Rice University

Specialization - 4 course series

Each course ends with a practical project utilizing Python scripting skills. The introductory projects will focus on typical core scripting problems such as processing dates and finding differences in similar files. Later in the specialization, you will learn to work with data stored in files to do sports analytics and data visualization. These projects include reading historical data on baseball, computing statistics from this data, and analyzing the results. Finally, the specialization culminates in a project where you will import economic data from the World Bank, process that data, and visualize this data overlaid on a world map.

Python Programming Essentials

Course 18 hours4.8 (3,535 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This course will introduce you to the wonderful world of Python programming! We'll learn about the essential elements of programming and how to construct basic Python programs. We will cover expressions, variables, functions, logic, and conditionals, which are foundational concepts in computer programming. We will also teach you how to use Python modules, which enable you to benefit from the vast array of functionality that is already a part of the Python language. These concepts and skills will help you to begin to think like a computer programmer and to understand how to go about writing Python programs.

By the end of the course, you will be able to write short Python programs that are able to accomplish real, practical tasks. This course is the foundation for building expertise in Python programming. As the first course in a specialization, it provides the necessary building blocks for you to succeed at learning to write more complex Python programs. This course uses Python 3. While many Python programs continue to use Python 2, Python 3 is the future of the Python programming language. This first course will use a Python 3 version of the CodeSkulptor development environment, which is specifically designed to help beginning programmers learn quickly. CodeSkulptor runs within any modern web browser and does not require you to install any software, allowing you to start writing and running small programs immediately. In the later courses in this specialization, we will help you to move to more sophisticated desktop development environments.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Python Programming

Category: Programming Principles

Category: Debugging

Category: Computer Programming

Category: Integrated Development Environments

Category: Development Environment

Python Data Representations

Course 28 hours4.7 (1,125 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This course will continue the introduction to Python programming that started with Python Programming Essentials. We'll learn about different data representations, including strings, lists, and tuples, that form the core of all Python programs. We will also teach you how to access files, which will allow you to store and retrieve data within your programs. These concepts and skills will help you to manipulate data and write more complex Python programs.

By the end of the course, you will be able to write Python programs that can manipulate data stored in files. This will extend your Python programming expertise, enabling you to write a wide range of scripts using Python This course uses Python 3. While most Python programs continue to use Python 2, Python 3 is the future of the Python programming language. This course introduces basic desktop Python development environments, allowing you to run Python programs directly on your computer. This choice enables a smooth transition from online development environments.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Python Programming

Category: Data Structures

Category: File Management

Category: Debugging

Category: Scripting Languages

Category: Development Environment

Category: Data Storage

Category: Program Development

Category: Scripting

Python Data Analysis

Course 39 hours4.7 (890 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This course will continue the introduction to Python programming that started with Python Programming Essentials and Python Data Representations. We'll learn about reading, storing, and processing tabular data, which are common tasks. We will also teach you about CSV files and Python's support for reading and writing them. CSV files are a generic, plain text file format that allows you to exchange tabular data between different programs. These concepts and skills will help you to further extend your Python programming knowledge and allow you to process more complex data.

By the end of the course, you will be comfortable working with tabular data in Python. This will extend your Python programming expertise, enabling you to write a wider range of scripts using Python. This course uses Python 3. While most Python programs continue to use Python 2, Python 3 is the future of the Python programming language. This course uses basic desktop Python development environments, allowing you to run Python programs directly on your computer.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Manipulation

Category: Data Structures

Category: Data Import/Export

Category: Data Analysis

Category: Data Storage

Category: Scripting

Category: Python Programming

Category: Data Processing

Python Data Visualization

Course 48 hours4.6 (546 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

This if the final course in the specialization which builds upon the knowledge learned in Python Programming Essentials, Python Data Representations, and Python Data Analysis. We will learn how to install external packages for use within Python, acquire data from sources on the Web, and then we will clean, process, analyze, and visualize that data. This course will combine the skills learned throughout the specialization to enable you to write interesting, practical, and useful programs.

By the end of the course, you will be comfortable installing Python packages, analyzing existing data, and generating visualizations of that data. This course will complete your education as a scripter, enabling you to locate, install, and use Python packages written by others. You will be able to effectively utilize tools and packages that are widely available to amplify your effectiveness and write useful programs.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Python Programming

Category: Package and Software Management

Category: Software Installation

Category: Data Visualization Software

Category: Software Documentation

Category: Plot (Graphics)

Category: Data Integration

Category: Data Import/Export

Category: Data Processing

Category: Data Cleansing

Category: Scripting

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Joe Warren

Rice University

11 Courses409,240 learners

Scott Rixner

Rice University

11 Courses409,240 learners

Offered by

Rice University

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Each of the four courses in the specialization is designed to be completed in a month.

No prior programming experience is necessary.

Depending on your previous experience, you may be able to take some of the courses concurrently. However, if you are a beginner, we recommend that you take the courses in order.

Introduction to Scripting in Python Specialization

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

What’s included

Advance your subject-matter expertise