The fastest-growing language
This Program is Perfect For
- Beginners eager to build programming confidence
- Intermediate learners ready to deepen their understanding of Python’s structure
- Aspiring developers seeking professional-level fluency and toolkit readiness
Meet the growing demand for Python developers
Python, one of the most widely used programming languages in the open source community, is in high demand by employers in just about every industry. It is especially important for people interested in breaking into data science and machine learning.
Fortunately, the elegance and simplicity of Python makes it one of the easiest languages to master. In this 6.5-unit Python Specialization, you can start as a novice and, in just four to six months of hands-on practice, master the fundamentals.
Gain Python skills for a competitive edge on the job market
Suggested order of courses:
Courses
Program Requirements
Total: 6.5 units
- 3 courses
- End with specialization completion review.
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python for Programmers | 3.0 | Online Self-paced | |||
| Python Programming for Beginners | 1.5 | Live-Online | Online Self-paced | ||
| Python: Object-Oriented Programming | 2.0 | Live-Online |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialization in Python Completion Fee |
1. Required Course(s): Minimum 6.5 Units
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text: Murach's Python Programming, 2nd Edition, Joel Murach and Michael Urban, Mike Murach and Associates Inc., 2021, ISBN-13: 9781943872749.
Recommended Text: The Quick Python Book, 3rd Edition, Naomi R. Ceder, Manning Publications, 2018, ISBN-10: 1617294039, ISBN-13: 978-1617294037.
Additional Information
AI*: This course introduces AI midway through the term as a supervised enhancement tool, helping students refine their own handwritten coding assignments and reflect on the insights gained, while also evaluating how different GenAI systems support their work.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 05-02-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-09-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-16-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-30-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 06-06-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 06-13-2026 | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
No meeting on May 23, 2026. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials: Access to a computer with Python version 3.6 or higher and Jupyter Notebook is required. The recommended software to obtain the required tools for this course is Anaconda, free Individual Edition: https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual
Recommended Tools & Materials:
Learn to Program with Python 3: A Step-by-Step Guide to Programming, 2nd edition, Irv Kalb, Apress, 2018, ISBN: 9781484238783.
Murach's Python Programming (2nd Edition), Joel Murach, Michael Urban, Mike Murach and Associates, 2021, ISBN: 9781943872749.
Think Python, Allen B. Downey, O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2015, ISBN: 9781491939413.
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials: Access to a computer with Python version 3.6 or higher and Jupyter Notebook is required. The recommended software to obtain the required tools for this course is Anaconda, free Individual Edition: https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual
Recommended Tools & Materials:
Learn to Program with Python 3: A Step-by-Step Guide to Programming, 2nd edition, Irv Kalb, Apress, 2018, ISBN: 9781484238783.
Murach's Python Programming (2nd Edition), Joel Murach, Michael Urban , Mike Murach and Associates, 2021, ISBN: 9781943872749.
Think Python, Allen B. Downey, O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2015, ISBN: 9781491939413.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 07-09-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-16-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-23-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-30-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-06-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-13-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-20-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-27-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Access to a computer with Python version 3.9 or higher is required. python.org is where to get the official version. The default "IDLE" editor is recommended, but students can use any Python development environment, as long as you can produce ".py" files.
Recommended Textbook:
Object-Oriented Python, Irv Kalb, 2022. ISBN 9781718502062
|| Prerequisites: Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
2. Completion Review:
Please enroll in the Python Specialization Completion Fee only after all of the specialization requirements have been met and your final grades are posted.
Establish Candidacy
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