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Pathway Career
AI and Generative AI

Python

Learn Python programming and use it to write programs, automate tasks and work with data.

Fees
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Draft outline: Pathway Career is still confirming this course. Duration, schedule, delivery mode, fees and certificate details are shared when you enquire.

About this course

Python is a general-purpose programming language used for automation, data work, web back ends and testing. This course teaches it from the first line of code to a small project that you can run, test and show to others.

The course is practical: you write code in every session, learn to read error messages, and pick up the habits of professional work, such as version control, tests and tidy code. It is the base for the Data Analytics, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning and Generative AI courses.

What you will be able to do

  • Write Python programs that use variables, conditions, loops, functions and data structures.
  • Read and write files, work with CSV and JSON, and handle errors cleanly.
  • Organise code into functions, modules and classes.
  • Use libraries to call web APIs, work with Excel and CSV data, and process dates and text.
  • Store and retrieve data in a database with SQL.
  • Write simple tests with pytest and keep a project in Git.
  • Build a small web API or automation tool from scratch.

Syllabus

10 modules. Select a module to see its topics.

Module 1: Getting started
  • Installing Python
  • Running scripts and the interactive shell
  • VS Code
  • Variables
  • Numbers and strings
  • Input and output
  • Comments
Module 2: Making decisions and repeating work
  • Conditions
  • Loops
  • range
  • break and continue
  • Common patterns
  • Problem-solving practice
  • Debugging basics
Module 3: Data structures
  • Lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries
  • Comprehensions
  • Slicing
  • Sorting
  • Choosing the right structure
Module 4: Functions and modules
  • Defining functions
  • Arguments and return values
  • Scope
  • Lambda functions
  • Importing
  • A tour of the standard library (math, random, datetime, collections)
  • Writing your own module
Module 5: Files and errors
  • Reading and writing text files
  • CSV and JSON
  • Paths with pathlib
  • Exceptions (try, except, finally)
  • Logging
  • Context managers
Module 6: Object-oriented Python
  • Classes and objects
  • Attributes and methods
  • Inheritance
  • Special methods
  • Dataclasses
  • Simple design principles
Module 7: Working with libraries
  • pip and virtual environments
  • requests for web APIs
  • pandas basics
  • Excel automation with openpyxl
  • Regular expressions
  • Dates and times
Module 8: Databases with Python
  • SQL basics with SQLite
  • Connecting from Python
  • Create, read, update and delete
  • Parameterised queries
  • An introduction to SQLAlchemy
Module 9: Testing and good practice
  • pytest
  • Debugging
  • Code style (PEP 8)
  • Type hints
  • Git and GitHub
  • Packaging a small project
Module 10: Capstone
  • Choosing a project: a small REST API (Flask or FastAPI) or an automation tool
  • Planning and building it in stages
  • Reading data, processing it and reporting the results
  • Tests and error handling
  • Documentation and demo

Tools and technologies

  • Python 3
  • VS Code or PyCharm
  • pip and venv
  • Git and GitHub
  • requests
  • pandas
  • openpyxl
  • SQLite and PostgreSQL
  • SQLAlchemy
  • pytest
  • Flask or FastAPI
  • Jupyter

Projects you will build

  • Command-line utilities, such as a unit converter and an expense tracker.

  • File organiser that sorts a messy folder and writes a summary report.

  • Excel and CSV report generator that cleans data and produces a formatted workbook.

  • Data collector that calls a public API and stores the results in a database.

  • Database-backed contact or inventory manager.

  • Capstone: a small REST API with tests and documentation.

Before you start

  • This outline starts from the basics: the first module covers installing Python and writing a first program.
  • Helpful but not required: basic computer skills and school-level maths.
  • Entry requirements and the laptop specification are confirmed by Pathway Career when you enquire.

Career paths

Examples of roles that use these skills. They are not a promise of a job.

  • Junior Python developer
  • Automation engineer
  • Junior back-end developer
  • QA automation engineer
  • Data analyst (with SQL and Excel)
  • Support engineer who writes scripts

Questions about this course

I have never programmed. Can I join?

This outline starts with installing Python and writing a first program, so no programming experience is assumed. Entry requirements are confirmed by Pathway Career when you enquire.

Is this course about AI?

No. It teaches general-purpose Python. To continue into AI, the Generative AI and AI & Machine Learning courses build on it.

Does it include Django?

The outline teaches Flask or FastAPI for web work, not Django. Pathway Career confirms the framework when you enquire.

How much maths do I need?

School-level maths is enough for this course.

Which version of Python is used?

A current Python 3 release. Pathway Career confirms the exact version when you enquire.

What can I do after this course?

Move on to Data Analytics, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning or AWS & DevOps, all of which make use of Python or scripting.

Next step

Ready to start programming? Send an enquiry to ask for the full Python syllabus, batch dates and fees.

Send an enquiry

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