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Best Udacity Python Courses

Best Udacity Python Courses
Latest posts by Deb Mayberry (see all)

Udacity comprises multiple Python Courses from paid Nanaodegree courses to free courses for all levels of difficulty. But which one are the Best Udacity Python Courses you should take?

I have helped make a comprehensive list of all the Udemy Python courses based on the level of difficulty and student reviews. This article should help you understand what is available, which ones require prerequisites, based on students’ experience and course content.

Bottom line upfront: After analyzing the student response data for each course, I have determined that the best course for beginners is Introduction to Programming and the best course for Intermediates is Data Structures and Algorithms.

Out of all the Python Nanodegree courses, the ‘Introduction to Programming’ Course was the most popular to learn for beginners with a 47% student review, and ‘Data Structures and Algorithms’ had 10% student review.

If we were just to look at student review for beginners, then out of the 3 beginner courses ‘Introduction to Programming’ reached 59% student review. Out of 3 Intermediate Python courses, ‘Data Structures and Algorithms’ had a 50% student review.

Average star reviews for beginners Nanodegree Introduction to Programming 4.7 stars and the average star review for intermediate python Data Structures & Algorithms equates to the same 4.7 stars.

Now for the beginner’s course, the next best was Programming for Data Science with Python had fewer students 18% overall and 22% for all beginners, but a higher star rating of 4.8 out of 5. For Intermediate, it had slightly fewer students but the star rating was lower at 4.5.

Therefore, I am going to start by giving you an overview of the Best Udacity Python Courses, then give you an overview of the other Nanodegree and Free Python Courses for you because they intertwine with one another and also enhance each other.

In addition, I am going to add information on the Free Python Courses. They come into play to set up Nanodegree programs and they are free, so they are worth highlighting.

Introduction to Programming- For Beginners

Python Course

This course reflects 59% of student reviews, with an overall 4.7 rating out of 5 equating to 94% satisfaction

The course is an introduction to programming on the Web and to App development, machine learning, data science, and more

Length of Course

4-months (10-hrs / wk)
The program is demanding at least 10-hours per week, so that is 2 hours for 5 days or fewer than an hour from Monday to Sunday.

Skills to Learn

Students can expect to learn the basics of programming through HTML, CSS, Python, and JavaScript. with hands-on exercises and projects to practice coding fundamentals and to help build confidence with problem-solving.

Prerequisite

None

There is no coding experience required to take this course, nor is there any other experience required other than knowing how to navigate the Internet like searching for Google. You need to be self-motivated to learn and take part in projects with deadlines.  You will need to solve and describe math or programming problems.

In addition, your INTERNET must have a broadband connection for which you will need to install a professional code/text editor.

Cost

  • $529 / month for pay as you go
  • $1,796 lump sum for 4-months access

Career Opportunities for Programming

Taking programming leads you towards a career in Web and App Development, Machine Learning, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and more.

Graduates for this course will be able to:

  • Use HTML to create basic web pages
  • Use CSS to change the style of web pages
  • Write Python scripts that use core programming concepts
  • Run Unix shell and Python Code commands
  • Use Python to change files on your computer, get process data from web-based API,
  • Write basic JavaScript scrips and use JavaScript and DOM to create and change web page content

This Program Includes 4-Courses

online course

Course 1 – Introduction to Web Development

This course includes 3 lessons and 1 project.

The scope is to learn how to make basic web pages with HTML and how to add style pages with CSS. You will learn how the Web works, and learn to show your new skills by completing an Animal Trading Cards project by creating a web page from scratch.

  • Lesson 1- The Web and HTML
  • Lesson 2- Lab: Basic HTML Page
  • Lesson 3- Styling with CSS
  • Project: Animal Trading Cards

Students will learn to use HTML and CSS to make Animal Trading Cards. Demonstrate an understanding of linking CSS files in HTML files, implement CSS classes to avoid repetition, and create organized HTML codes.

Course 2 – Introduction to Programming with Python

This course includes 6 lessons and 1 project

This course is to learn basic programming and fundamentals of Python syntax by writing code to make a virtual turtle robot by writing colour shapes on the screen. Students will learn how to write Python functions, run CLI, manipulate strings and lists, refactor code to improve the structure.

  • Lesson 1- Turtles and Code
  • Lesson 2- Functions
  • Lesson 3- Shell Workshop
  • Lesson 4- Python at Home
  • Lesson 5- Strings and Lists
  • Lesson 6- Style and Structure
  • Course Project- Adventure Game

Students will create an interactive text-based adventure game with Python and show new skills in writing Python syntax, programming logic, refactor code using a function, write a complete Python script resulting in a playable game.

Course 3- Introduction to Programming with Python II

Includes 3 lessons and 1 project

The scope is to work with files on your computer, retrieve data using a web API, use Object-Oriented Programming, create classes, objects, and methods.

  • Lesson 1- Working with Files
  • Lesson 2- Web APIs
  • Lesson 3- Objects and Classes
  • Course Project- Rock Paper Scissors

Students will learn to apply Python and programming skills to pay the game Rock Paper Scissors by writing computer players that follow different strategies and adding a human player that lets them play against the computer.

Course 4- Introduction to JavaScript

This course includes 10 lessons and 1 project

The scope learns the history of JavaScript and the comparison to Python. Understanding DOM, nodes and elements, selecting items from DOM and learning to write JavaScript code to create a grid of squares and apply colours.

  • Lesson 1- What is JavaScript?
  • Lesson 2- Data Types & Variables
  • Lesson 3- Conditionals
  • Lesson 4- Loops
  • Lesson 5- Functions
  • Lesson 6- Arrays
  • Lesson 7- Objects
  • Lesson 8- The Document Object Model
  • Lesson 9- Creating Content with JavaScript
  • Lesson 10- Working with Browser Events
  • Project- Pixel Art Maker: Students will build a sing-page web app for users to draw pixel art

Instructors Overview

Karl Krueger- INSTRUCTOR

Karl was a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) at Google for eight years, building automation and monitoring web services online.

Kelly Howard- INSTRUCTOR

Kelly is the Product Lead for the Web Development Nanodegree programs at Udacity.

Julia Van Cleve-INSTRUCTOR

Julia is a Content Developer at Udacity and was previously a middle school math teacher.

James Parkes-INSTRUCTOR

James received his degree in Computer Science and mathematics, then became an Udacity instructor in several programs.

Abe Feinberg-INSTRUCTOR

Abe is a science teacher and educational psychologist.

Richard Kalehoff-INSTRUCTOR

Richard is a Course Developer. He has a degree in computer science.

Student Reviews

Udecity

Related Programs for Programming

Taking this program can complement the Nanodegree Python Programming for Data Science with Python for beginners, which students can prepare for a data science career by learning the fundamental data programming tools: Python, SQL, command line, and git.

Taking programming is a prerequisite for Front-End Web Developer for Intermediates, in which students learn how to build high-quality websites and dynamic applications to create stunning user experiences for the web.

Data Structures and Algorithms – For Intermediates

Python for intermediates

This course reflects 50% of student reviews, with an overall 4.7 rating out of 5 equating to 94% satisfaction

This course is a hands-on approach to practice 100+ data structures and algorithms that include technical mentorship to prepare students for interviews

Length of Course

4-months (with about 10 hours a week dedicated to studying and practicing)

Skills to Learn

Data Structures and Algorithms, Problem Solving, Interview Practice Problems, Python

Prerequisite

Before proceeding to sign up for this course, you will need to know Intermediate Python Programming Knowledge and Basic Algebra.

The instructors recommend taking Introduction to Programming Nanodegree program, if you are new to programming

Cost

  • $529 / month for pay as you go
  • $1,796 lump sum for 4-months access

Graduates for this course will be able to:

Students will deconstruct open-ended problems, understand concepts of time and space, and get learn tools for evaluating data structures and algorithms.

Course 1- Supervised Learning

Refresh python skills, learn the framework to deconstruct open-ended problems, understand the concepts of time and space complexity, evaluate different data structures and algorithms

This program includes 4-courses, 1 project

  • Lesson 1- Introduction
  • Lesson 2- Python Refresher
  • Lesson 3- How to Solve Problems
  • Lesson 4- Bit O Notation
  • Project: Unscramble Computer Science Problems
    Deconstruct a series of open-ended problems into smaller
    components

Course 2- Data Structures

Students will learn data structures that can store data. Manipulate data structures and examine the efficiency, and how to approach open-ended problems.

This program includes 4-courses, 1 project

  • Lesson 1- Collection data structures
  • Lesson 2- Recursion
  • Lesson 3- Trees
  • Lesson 4- Maps & Hashing
  • Projection: Show me the Data Structures
    Solve a series of open-ended practice problems, identify and implement data structures and corresponding methods which meet given constraints.

Course 3- Basic Algorithms

Students learn and implement basic algorithms for data structures and examine their efficiencies, use with and without recursions, and practice them.

Includes 3 lessons, 1 project

  • Lesson 1- Binary Search
  • Lesson 2- Sorting Algorithms
  • Lesson 3- Divide & Conquer Algorithms
  • Project- Problems vs Algorithms
    Request routing for web server, search-term auto-completion
    and Fibonacci.

Course 4 – Advanced Algorithms

Students learn more advanced algorithms, graph algorithms, and dynamic programming

Includes 4 lessons and 1 project

  • Lesson 1- Greedy Algorithms
  • Lesson 2- Graphy Algorithms
  • Lesson 3- Dynamic Programming
  • Lesson 4- Linear Programming
  • Project – Router Planner
    Students will learn to build a route-planning algorithm, select and implement data structure to represent points on a map, and then implement the A* algorithm to find the shortest path.

Instructors Overview

Brynn Claypoole- INSTRUCTOR

Brynn is a former Udacity employee who worked as Lead Data Analyst at Udacity before joining Facebook as Data Engineer. Currently, she is working as a software engineer with 10x Genomics.

Abe Feinberg-CONTENT DEVELOPER

Abe is a Content Developer at Udacity and previously taught university courses in psychology and computer science.

Kyle Stewart-Franz- CONTENT DEVELOPER

Kyle has developed projects for a variety of Udacity’s Nanodegree programs, such as Self-Driving Car Engineer, Robotics, and Blockchain.

Student Reviews

Udecity student reviews

Related Programs for Data Structures and Algorithms

Intro to Machine Learning with TensorFlow – Intermediate, which teaches the foundation of machine learning algorithms, data cleaning, supervised and unsupervised learning.

Intel Edge for loT Developers -which is an advanced course that includes Edge AI applications, and Leverage the Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO™ Toolkit

Other Python Courses for Beginners

Programming for Data Science with Python

This Programming for Data Science with Python course received a 4.8 star out of 5 equates to 96%. Only 22% of the Python Beginners students took this course, at it was a fraction of a percentage from the most popular Introduction to Programming course, but I feel it deserves recognition in this article too.

Programming for Data Science with Python helps career-oriented individuals to prepare for a career in data science by learning Python, SQL, command line, and git.

AI Programming with Python

This AI Programming with Python course is the 3rd beginner’s program that sets a student up for an AI software engineer by learning the skills to design and implement relational databases, manage applications, build dynamic software applications backend systems, configure and deploy applications to the cloud.

Other Python Courses for Intermediates

Full Stack Web Developers

This course is one out of 3 python intermediate courses and it received a 4.7 star out of 5 rating from students, equating to 94% satisfaction from 44% of students that took Python courses.

Full-stack Web Developers course is to learn to design and develop powerful modern web applications that is used to form apps, websites, and systems.

Intermediate Python

The third intermediate Python course is Intermediate Python, and it received a 4.1 star out of 5 from students, equating to 82% of satisfaction from 6% of python students that tool courses.

The Intermediate Python course is about practicing Python and its language that is used for Data Science, Machine Learning, and more for intermediates.

Free Python Courses

Udacity provides free Udacity courses to their students that can help students brush up or learn some basic skills to help them through the Nanodegree Python courses that include 1- beginners’ course, 8-intermediate course, and 1-advanced courses.

Free Beginners Python Course

Intro to Data Analysis- explore a variety of datasets, posing and answering your own questions, and use Python libraries.

Free Intermediates Python Course

Linear Algebra Refresher Course – learn linear algebra by doing code with your own library of linear algebra functions

Intro to Data Science- survey the main topics in data science so you can understand the skills that are needed to become a data scientist

Authentication & Authorization: OAuth – learn to implement OAuth 2.0 framework to allow users to log in securely

Designing RESTful APIs – learn to build and secure a web server with RESTful developer-Friendly API

Full Stack Foundations- create your own web application from scratch

Software Debugging- learn how to debug programs using scientific methods and build debugging tools

Intro to Relational Databases- learn the basics of SQL and how to connect Python code to a relational database

HTTP & Web Servers – learn how HTTP works with Python code and command-line tools

Free Advanced Python Course

Design of Computer Programs- learn how to model problems and how to optimize performance by using Python features

FAQs

Question: What Does Udacity Include in the Nanodegree Course Programs?

Answer: All Programs Include:
• Real-world projects
• Technical mentor support
• Project Reviews and Feedback
• Career services- resume support, Github review, Linkedin Profile optimization
• Flexible Learning Program
• Student Community
• Estimated Length of time of completion
• Pre-requisite information
• Details on what you will learn by course, and by lesson
• Instructor Information
• Student Reviews
• Pricing Packages
and more

Question: What is Nanodegree?

Answer: A Nanodegree is an online certificate for students that have achieved a technical specialized skill related to Computer Sciences.

Question: How to Get Customer Support?

Answer: Udacity has multiple avenues for customers to get support. To help with common questions, they provided an FAQ site so that travelers can look up common questions and get answers immediately.

Udacity has a support connection on Twitter too. They also have a Chat with Us icon to click on for live chat that is also available on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also click on a link to create an assigned ticket for the fastest support.

Conclusion

I concluded that the best Python course for beginners is Introduction to Programming because of the number of students that rated the program and that 94% were happy with the program.

The next runner-up is Programming for Data Science with Python because it receives a 96% satisfaction review with only 22% of participation.

For Intermediate Python courses, I concluded that Data Structures and Algorithms is the best because it also received 94% satisfaction with 50% of students that signed up for the course.

Udacity has an extensive list of Python courses for all levels of difficulty. They provide free Python courses to paid Nanaodegree Python courses full of a wealth of course and lesson content with hands-on projects that you can do in the comfort of your own home with tools already available on your web.

Taking a Python course can lead you into a computer science job whether you want to analyze, and troubleshoot data, create secure logins for users, to create user-friendly programs. The list is extensive and in high demand for businesses of all sizes.