Programming Python

Introduction to Python

Learn the essentials of Python programming from your first script to practical problem-solving

Quick Course Facts

Self-paced, Online, Lessons

Videos and/or Narrated Presentations

6.0

Approximate Hours of Course Media

About the Introduction to Python Course

Introduction to Python is a beginner-friendly course that introduces you to Programming through clear, practical lessons and hands-on examples. You’ll learn the essentials of Python programming from your first script to practical problem-solving, building confidence as you progress from simple syntax to real-world projects.

Build Python Programming Skills From The Ground Up

Start with a simple setup and learn how to write your first Python program with confidence
Understand core Programming concepts like variables, data types, operators, and strings
Practice control flow, loops, and collections to solve everyday coding problems
Develop reusable code with functions, modules, files, and debugging techniques

A complete Introduction to Python course for beginners who want practical Programming skills.

This course is designed to guide you through the foundations of Python in a logical, easy-to-follow way. You will begin by installing Python, choosing a code editor, and writing your first program, then move into the essential building blocks of Programming such as variables, numbers, text processing, and type conversion. Each lesson is focused on helping you understand not just what Python does, but why each concept matters when building useful programs.

As you continue, you’ll work with conditionals, boolean logic, loops, lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets so you can make decisions and manage data effectively. The course also covers functions, scope, parameters, return values, modules, importing code, and working with files, giving you the tools to write cleaner and more organized Python code. You’ll also learn how to debug common errors and think through problems like a programmer.

By the end of this Introduction to Python course, you will be able to create small Python projects on your own, read and write basic programs, and approach new Programming challenges with a stronger problem-solving mindset. You won’t just know Python syntax—you’ll have the confidence to build, test, and improve your own code.

Course Lessons

Full lesson breakdown

Lessons are organized by topic area and each includes descriptive copy for search visibility and student clarity.

Course Foundations

1 lesson

Lesson 1: Getting Started with Python

18 min Preview

This lesson gives you the practical foundation you need to begin working in Python. You will learn what Python is, how it is commonly used, how to set up a basic development environment, and how to ru…

Setup and Environment

1 lesson

Lesson 2: Installing Python and Choosing a Code Editor

18 min

In this lesson, you will install Python and choose a code editor that fits your workflow. You will learn the difference between the Python interpreter and an editor, how to verify that Python is insta…

Hello, Python

1 lesson

Lesson 3: Writing Your First Python Program

16 min

In this lesson, you will write and run your first Python program and learn what each part of the code is doing. You will see how Python prints output to the screen, how to enter code in a file or inte…

Core Syntax

1 lesson

Lesson 4: Variables and Basic Data Types

20 min

This lesson introduces the building blocks of Python programs: variables and the basic data types they store. You will learn how to create variables, choose clear names, and recognize the most common …

Expressions and Calculation

1 lesson

Lesson 5: Working with Numbers and Operators

18 min

In this lesson, you will learn how Python handles numbers and mathematical operators so you can build expressions that calculate results correctly. We will cover integers, decimals, arithmetic operato…

Working with Text

1 lesson

Lesson 6: Strings and Text Processing

22 min

Strings are Python's text data type, and they are one of the most common things you will work with in real programs. In this lesson, you'll learn how to create strings, read and print them, and unders…

Interactive Programs

1 lesson

Lesson 7: Input, Output, and Type Conversion

20 min

This lesson introduces the core tools for making Python programs interactive: input() for collecting user data, print() for displaying results, and type conversion for turning text input into numbers …

Control Flow

1 lesson

Lesson 8: Making Decisions with Conditionals

22 min

In this lesson, you will learn how Python makes decisions with conditionals . You will see how if , elif , and else let a program choose different actions based on different conditions. You will also …

Decision Rules

1 lesson

Lesson 9: Using Boolean Logic and Comparisons

18 min

This lesson introduces the comparison operators and Boolean logic used to make decisions in Python. You will learn how Python evaluates expressions like > , == , and != , how those results become T…

Iteration

1 lesson

Lesson 10: Repeating Tasks with Loops

22 min

Loops let Python repeat actions without writing the same code again and again. In this lesson, you will learn how to use for loops and while loops to handle repeated tasks, work through sequences, and…

Ordered Collections

1 lesson

Lesson 11: Lists and Tuples

20 min

Lists and tuples are two of Python’s most useful ordered collections . In this lesson, you’ll learn when to use a list versus a tuple, how to create them, how to access items by index, and how to work…

Keyed and Unique Collections

1 lesson

Lesson 12: Dictionaries and Sets

20 min

Python dictionaries store data as key-value pairs , making them ideal for fast lookups, labels, and structured information. Sets store unique items only, which makes them useful for removing duplicate…

Writing Better Programs

1 lesson

Lesson 13: Functions and Reusable Code

24 min

Functions let you package a task into a reusable block of code. Instead of repeating the same steps over and over, you can write the logic once and call it whenever you need it. In this lesson, you wi…

Function Behavior

1 lesson

Lesson 14: Scope, Parameters, and Return Values

20 min

Functions are more useful when you understand where their data comes from and what they give back . In this lesson, you’ll learn how scope affects whether a variable can be used inside or outside a fu…

Organizing Programs

1 lesson

Lesson 15: Modules and Importing Code

18 min

Python modules let you keep code organized by splitting a program into smaller files with clear responsibilities. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to import built-in modules, how to import your own co…

Reading and Writing Data

1 lesson

Lesson 16: Working with Files

22 min

Files let Python programs save data beyond a single run, which makes them essential for logs, reports, settings, and user input. In this lesson, you will learn how to open files safely, read text data…

Finding and Fixing Problems

1 lesson

Lesson 17: Debugging and Common Errors

20 min

This lesson introduces a practical approach to debugging in Python: reading error messages, identifying the source of a problem, and testing small fixes one at a time. You will learn the most common b…

Putting It All Together

1 lesson

Lesson 18: Building a Small Python Project

24 min

In this lesson, you will bring together the core Python skills you have learned to build a small, complete project. You will plan a simple program, break the problem into steps, choose the right data …

About Your Instructor

Professor Bo Bennett

Professor Bo Bennett guides this AI-built Virversity course with a clear, practical teaching style.