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AP Computer Science A: Java Programming Classes and Objects

AP Computer Science A from Purdue University

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Course Description

In this computer science course, you will learn the basics of programming in the Java language, and cover topics relevant to the AP Computer Science A course and exam.
This course will cover:
classes
objects and object-oriented design
fields and visibility
constructors, mutators and accessor methods
encapsulation
interfaces
the List interface
method overriding
This course is for anyone interested in taking a first-level computer-programming course, particularly those who attend a school that does not provide a similar class.
No previous programming knowledge is needed, but it is recommended that learners be comfortable with the topics addressed in AP Computer Science A: Java Programming and AP Computer Science A: Java Programming Data Structures and Loops.
We are looking forward to helping you explore this exciting new world!
Unit Name or Timeframe: Methods and Classes (3 weeks)
Object-oriented design and encapsulation
Top-down development and functional decomposition
State and behavior
Fields and visibility
Methods and parameters
Calling methods and passing parameters by-value and by-reference
Constructors and instantiation
The static keyword
Scope
Method overloading
Encapsulation
Accessors and mutators
Immutable objects
Unit Name or Timeframe: Interfaces (1 week)
Interfaces and abstraction
Interface implementation
Reference types
List interface and iterators
Comparable interface
Unit Name or Timeframe: Inheritance (2 weeks)
Inheritance and the Object class
Public and private data and methods
The super, this and null references
Encapsulation and information hiding
Inheritance using extends, recognizing single-inheritance
Equality vs identity
has-a vs is-a relationships involving inheritance and aggregation
Method overriding
The instanceof operator

Beginner Level

Time: 6 Weeks - 8-12 hours per week

Instructor Details

Phil Sands

Phil is the K-12 Outreach Coordinator for Computer Science at Purdue University. Previously, Phil spent 6 years as a software engineer and 7 years teaching computer programming and statistics at high schools in Washington D.C. and Michigan. He is currently working on his PhD at Michigan State University, and completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan in 2001.