Java is one of the leading programming languages today, and in an effort to create a qualified pipeline of professionals to take on these roles, Udacity is launching the Java Programming Nanodegree program.
This program truly stands out from other Java development courses because not only does it cover the basics of coding in Java, students will also walk away with a fully functional Java-based app — covering everything from design to testing and deployment — to show future employers.
According to GitHub’s annual analysis report, Java is the third most popular language of projects on the site, only dipping below Python in 2019.
As for the demand for Java developers, it stays at a very high level year after year.
According to a recent report by analytical company Burning Glass, Java Developer is one of the most common tech occupations in the U.S., with a total number of open job postings nearly reaching 4,000 in February 2020 in the U.S. alone.
What is Java?
Java is a 25 -year-old programming language used for applications and front-end web development. Originally developed in 1991 and officially released in 1995, Oracle is now the developer of Java and keeps a free and open-source implementation of Java called OpenJDK.
Java is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, like C++, Python and JavaScript, which means the language is based on objects, which contain data and methods. Java is also class-based, which means initial values and behaviors are defined as “classes” of objects.
Program Details
The Java Programming Nanodegree program will prepare students to write applications in Java, understand best practices in Java, automate and build continuous integrations processes for Java apps, write full coverage test suites using JUnit, and overall, land a sweet new job as a Java Developer.
To get the most out of this course, it’s important to have a thorough foundation of programming basics. No prior Java experience is required, but it is important to be familiar with the following concepts:
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditionals
- Arrays
- Methods
In three months (at 10 hours a week), students who enroll in the Java Programming Nanodegree program will learn everything from the fundamentals of Java programming, to more advanced techniques, as well as build, deploy and automation basics.
Specific projects include:
Project 1: Develop a Hotel Reservation App
Throughout this project, students will demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamentals of the Java programming language, including variables, methods, loops, classes, types and OOP basics. Students will create an application for making hotel reservations that handles searching for a room based on dates, viewing prices and selecting a room. Overall, this project is a solid foundational overview of Java.
Project 2: Upgrade a Web Crawler with Concurrency
This project involves utilizing advanced features in Java, including functional programming, I/O, serialization, reflection and concurrency. Students will be given an outdated web crawler and asked to upgrade it to use multi-core architectures. Overall, this project will help students solidify their knowledge of advanced Java techniques.
Project 3: Scale and Refactor the UdaSecurity Program
No programmer is ready to enter the wild without understanding the concepts of app deployment. This project will cover compiling, packaging and executing Java programs, as well as build automation and test coverage. Students will be given a basic program called UdaSecurity that helps users manage their home security. To scale the program, students must refactor it into a multi-module Maven project and add a suite of unit tests using Unit 5 and Mockito. Overall, this project will prepare students to take on their first Java developer role in the real world.
Learning from Top Java Engineers
To develop this program’s world-class curriculum, we collaborated with professionals from top-rated tech companies, like Boeing and CPA Global. Each of these collaborators contributed guidance and feedback to focus the program on the most in-demand skills. Each of the instructors also has extensive Java development and teaching experience.
Instructors
- Jeff Philips, Senior Software Engineer
- Dustin Hellstern, Software Engineer
- Alex Pritchard, Senior Software Engineer
Enroll in the Java Programming Nanodegree Today
If you’re a student or software developer who is familiar with some programming concepts but needs to get experience in Java, this is the right program for you. The Java Programming Nanodegree is perfect if you’re looking to land your first programming job, or expand your knowledge in the Java language.
Need to learn more about the development before taking the plunge into Java programming? Check out these free Java courses to get started — Java Programming Basics and Object Oriented Programming in Java.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Java developer in the United States is $79,000 a year, but that’s just entry-level. Looking at the career path for a Java developer, there’s a direct line to higher-level positions, including Lead Java Developer, Principal Java Developer and even Director of Software Development. Those in Java development roles with higher levels of experience make closer to $115,000 a year on average.
Udacity is the fastest, most effective way to gain job-ready expertise. Get employable skills through hands-on, project-centric learning and meet the growing demand for Java developers. Register for the Java Programming Nanodegree program today!
