Fundamentals of Java Programming | Board Infinity
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Beginner Course 1 of the Java FullStack Developer Specialization

Learn Java from the JVM up to your own classes.

Three modules that start with how the Java platform actually runs your code, build the core syntax, and finish in object-oriented programming - constructors, inheritance, polymorphism and interfaces.

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≈ 19 hours 3 modules Beginner · no coding needed English · 24 languages available
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Loading video… Introduction to the course · 1:12

Learn by coding

2 hands-on labs, 10 assignments and coding demos

Certificate included

Shareable on LinkedIn the day you finish

Liked by 93% of learners

58,512 learners enrolled on Coursera

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01 About the course

A complete course in core Java for beginners.

Three modules, from how Java runs to full object-oriented programming - no prior coding assumed.

3
Modules
Fundamentals to OOP
69
Video lessons
Including live coding demos
10
Assignments
Plus 2 hands-on labs
19h
Total learning time
Self-paced, flexible deadlines

Fundamentals of Java Programming gives you the complete core Java skills that software development and Java developer roles demand - JVM architecture, Java syntax, OOP principles and hands-on lab projects.

You start by setting up your environment and understanding how the JVM, JRE and JDK work together, then master variables, data types, operators, arrays, strings and control statements. Finally you move into object-oriented programming: classes and objects, encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces and abstract classes used in real Java applications.

It's course 1 of Board Infinity's Java FullStack Developer specialization on Coursera - rated 4.4 out of 5 by 640 reviewers, with 58,512 learners enrolled.

Inside the course
01Java Fundamentals≈ 4h 02Core Java≈ 6h 03OOPS and Other Essential Concepts≈ 9h
02 Who it's for

Built for people writing their first line of Java.

If you're starting from zero or switching languages, the course was written with you in mind.

Beginners

Complete beginners

No prior coding, Java or computer science background needed - the course starts from what Java is.

Students

College students & graduates

Build the Java foundation for exams, projects, placements and Java certification.

Switchers

Developers moving to Java

Map what you know from another language onto Java's syntax, JVM and OOP model.

Full stack

Aspiring full stack developers

Start the path to a Java full stack career with the language the backend is built on.

03 What you'll learn

Four things you'll build. Real Java, real code.

You write and run Java from the first module - every module ends with code you wrote yourself.

Module 1

Your first running Java programs

A configured development environment, Hello World, and a lab on how Java code executes.

Module 2

Logic programs with core Java

Programs using input, operators, arrays and strings - including the classic FizzBuzz exercise.

Module 3

Class hierarchies with inheritance

Classes, constructors and inheritance between classes - built in the module 3 coding lab.

Module 3

OOP designs with interfaces

Polymorphism, overloading, overriding, abstract classes and interfaces in scalable designs.

1:1 coaching · optional add-on

Build with 1:1 coaching from industry experts.

A dedicated coach from your target domain: someone who has done the job, hired for it, and knows exactly what it takes.

Book a demo session
  • A coach matched to your goal in 24 hours
  • A written roadmap you keep
  • Weekly sessions for as long as you want them

60-minute demo session · 100% refundable · no obligation to continue

Plan your Java path

Backend, full stack or Android - where Java fits your goals.

Review your code

Your lab solutions and OOP designs checked line by line.

Prepare for interviews

JVM, OOP and coding questions practised with someone who hires.

Aim it at a role

Which Java roles this opens, and what to learn next.

2,000+Industry coaches
16Domains covered
4.8/5Average coach rating
48,000+Sessions delivered
04 Syllabus

Three modules, from Hello World to full OOP.

About 19 hours end to end, fully self-paced. Every module lists its learning objectives, its content, and what you'll walk out with.

69 videos 12 readings 10 assignments + 2 labs ≈ 19 hours
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain what Java is, its features and how it compares with C++
  • Set up a Java development environment
  • Describe how the JVM, JRE and JDK work together
  • Write a Hello World program and trace how Java code executes
What's inside
9 videos36 min
3 readings55 min
1 assignment + 1 lab120 min
Topics covered
What is Java? Features of Java C++ vs Java JVM, JRE & JDK Hello World How Java code executes
You'll build: a working Java setup and your first programs, plus a lab on program execution and output.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Use variables, data types, user input and type casting
  • Apply arithmetic, relational, logical and ternary operators
  • Work with arrays, strings, StringBuffer and StringBuilder
  • Control flow with conditionals, switch, loops and jump statements
What's inside
29 videos138 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments135 min
Topics covered
Variables & data types Type casting Operators & precedence Arrays Strings, StringBuffer & StringBuilder Loops, switch & jump statements
You'll build: logic programs in core Java - including the FizzBuzz exercise with conditions and loops.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Build classes and objects with access modifiers, encapsulation and getters/setters
  • Use default, parameterized and overloaded constructors, and constructor chaining
  • Apply inheritance, upcasting, downcasting, overloading and overriding
  • Design with abstract classes and interfaces
What's inside
31 videos142 min
6 readings160 min
5 assignments + 1 lab240 min
Topics covered
Classes & objects Encapsulation & abstraction Constructors & chaining Inheritance & casting Overloading & overriding Abstract classes & interfaces
You'll build: object-oriented Java applications, and a lab on constructors and inheritance.
05 Tools & skills

Master the tools Java developers use every day.

The tools you work in, and the skills you leave with.

Core platform

Java & the JDK

The JDK, JRE and JVM - what each one does and how your code runs on them.

IDE

Eclipse

A free, widely used IDE for writing, running and debugging Java programs.

IDE

IntelliJ IDEA

The other free option many Java teams use - set up step by step in module 1.

Design

Object-oriented design

Classes, inheritance, polymorphism and interfaces - how real Java applications are structured.

Skills you leave with

Twelve skills from the course, grouped the way Java work actually splits - the platform, the programming, and the design.

Java platform

Knowing what happens between your code and the machine.

  • Java
  • Java programming
  • Virtual machines
  • Development environment

Programming

The thinking that carries over to every language you learn next.

  • Computer programming
  • Programming principles
  • Algorithms
  • Computer programming tools

OOP & tools

What every Java developer interview tests.

  • Object-oriented programming
  • Object-oriented design
  • Eclipse (software)
  • Integrated development environments
Certificate

Proof you can link to.

Finish the graded work and Board Infinity issues a shareable certificate through Coursera - add it to your LinkedIn profile, resume or CV.

Issued on completion of the graded quizzes and assessments in all three modules. Counts toward the Java FullStack Developer specialization certificate as well.

On your profile in one click

Filed under Licenses & Certifications, where recruiters actually look.

Share it anywhere

On social media and in your next performance review.

Earned, not attended

Awarded on graded quizzes in all three modules - it certifies what you can code.

Two names on it

Board Infinity as the provider, Coursera as the platform.

06 Career impact

Java still runs the enterprise. Every team needs people who can write it.

These are the entry points this course prepares you for.

Where these skills are in demand

Junior Java Developer

The role this course maps to most directly: writing and maintaining Java code in a development team.

Core Java Developer

Roles built around core Java syntax, OOP and the JVM - exactly what this course covers.

Java Trainee / Graduate Engineer

Campus and graduate programs at service companies, where Java fundamentals are tested first.

Software Engineer (Java)

Designing classes and interfaces for applications that need to scale and stay maintainable.

Backend Developer

Server-side Java - the next step once you add data structures, APIs and frameworks.

Full Stack Java Developer

The career this specialization builds towards: Java backends with modern frontends.

Android Developer (entry)

Java fundamentals and OOP are the groundwork for Android app development.

QA Automation Engineer

Many test automation frameworks are written in Java - this is where that starts.

The honest comparison

What you're actually paying for

Every topic in this course exists free somewhere on the internet. Nobody is pretending otherwise. What a course adds is the order you learn it in, the practice that makes it stick, and something to show at the end.

What you get
This course
DIY with free content
A sequenced learning pathFundamentals → core Java → OOP
3 modules that build on each other
Fragmented playlists, no sequence
Practice with feedbackLearning that sticks
10 graded assignments + 2 labs
Watching, not writing code
Interview-ready topicsWhat Java interviews test
JVM, OOP, constructors, interfaces
Gaps you find in the interview
Proven with learnersNot an untested tutorial
4.4/5 from 640 reviews, 58,512 enrolled
Hard to judge quality
Proof for recruitersShareable, on LinkedIn
Shareable Coursera certificate
Nothing to show
07 Where to go next

More from the Java FullStack Developer specialization.

This course stands on its own - but it's also the first step of a three-course path. Enrolling automatically enrolls you in the specialization.

You're here Course 1

Fundamentals of Java Programming

JVM, core Java and object-oriented programming - the foundation of the specialization.

≈ 19 hours · 3 modules
Back to top
Course 2

Frontend for Java Full Stack Development

The frontend half of full stack: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and frameworks for Java applications.

≈ 22 hours
View course
Course 3

Data Structures & Backend with Java

Data structures and server-side Java - the backend skills that complete the full stack.

≈ 19 hours
View course
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Board Infinity runs 270+ courses and 57 specializations on Coursera - browse the full catalogue.

Know exactly what you're signing up for.

3 modules · 69 lessons · 10 assignments + 2 labs · free PDF

08 FAQ

Common questions

Everything learners ask before enrolling, answered plainly.

About the course

Complete beginners - no prior coding, Java or programming experience is required. It's ideal for college students, fresh graduates, career switchers and anyone who wants to learn Java programming from scratch.

How Java works (JVM, JRE, JDK), core Java syntax including variables, data types, operators, arrays and strings, control flow using loops and conditional statements, and full object-oriented programming - encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, constructors, interfaces and abstract classes.

The Java Development Kit (JDK), an IDE such as IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse (both free), and the Java Runtime Environment. The course includes a step-by-step development environment setup so beginners can start coding quickly.

No. The course starts with what Java is and how the Java Virtual Machine works, and builds up through core Java to OOP - making it accessible for complete beginners, including learners from non-technical backgrounds.

About 19 hours across 3 modules, with 69 video lessons, 12 readings, 2 hands-on labs and 10 assignments. At 10 hours a week that's about two weeks. It's fully self-paced, with no fixed live sessions - you can pause between modules and revisit any video or lab.

Unlike free tutorials or fragmented playlists, this course offers a structured curriculum mapped to Java developer job requirements - with graded assessments, hands-on coding labs, discussion forums and a Coursera certificate. You write and debug actual Java programs rather than just watching.

Career & certificate

Yes. Completing all graded quizzes and assessments earns you a Coursera certificate from Board Infinity that you can share on LinkedIn and add to your resume. It also counts toward the Java FullStack Developer specialization certificate.

Yes. It covers the topics Java developer interviews commonly test - JVM architecture, OOP principles, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, method overloading, constructors and interfaces - and the hands-on labs give you real code examples to walk through in technical rounds.

Entry-level roles such as Junior Java Developer, Core Java Developer, Java Trainee and Software Engineer (Java) - the entry points to a full stack Java developer career. The next two courses of the specialization add the frontend and backend skills for full stack roles.

Yes. As a Board Infinity learner you get access to a community where Java developers, students and career mentors share code reviews, job leads and interview tips, alongside the Coursera discussion forums.

You can access course materials for free on Coursera where an audit option is offered. To earn the certificate and unlock graded labs and assignments, enroll in the paid version or apply for Coursera's financial aid, available for eligible learners.

Want someone reviewing your code?

Board Infinity 1:1 coaching pairs you with a practitioner while you take the course.

See 1:1 coaching

Your first Java program could be running today.

Three modules. Nineteen hours. Real Java you wrote yourself - and a certificate to show for it.

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Fundamentals of Java Programming · by Board Infinity · offered on Coursera

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