Java Beginner Course — Lesson Outline

A clean progression for total beginners. Use as weekly plans, a checklist, or syllabus.

Unit 1 Getting Started

  1. What is Java? (compiled, portable, used everywhere)
  2. Install Java + IDE (Eclipse or IntelliJ or JDoodle online)
  3. First programs: Hello World, face, etc
  4. Structure of a Java program (class, main method, curly braces)
  5. Student Driver and Student

Unit 2 Variables, Data, and Operators

  1. Variables and Data Types (int, double, boolean, char, String)
  2. Using input with Scanner
  3. Basic Operators: + - * / %
  4. Order of Operations (PEMDAS vs Java precedence)
  5. Increment/Decrement: ++ --

Unit 3 Strings

  1. String basics, concatenation
  2. Common methods: .length(), .substring(), .indexOf()

Unit 4 Decisions

  1. Boolean logic and Boolean expressions
  2. if, else if, else
  3. Nested if
  4. Logical operators: &&, ||, !

Unit 5 Loops

  1. while loops
  2. for loops
  3. Nested loops
  4. Infinite loops & loop debugging
  5. Pattern and ASCII printing with loops

Unit 6 Arrays & ArrayLists

  1. Array basics: declare, initialize, index
  2. Looping with for and for-each
  3. ArrayList basics
  4. ArrayList methods: add, remove, set, get, size

Unit 7 Methods

  1. What are methods? Why use them?
  2. Method signatures (name + parameters)
  3. Returning values from methods
  4. Passing data into methods (parameters)
  5. Method overloading

Unit 8 Object-Oriented Programming

  1. Classes vs Objects
  2. Instance variables (fields)
  3. Constructors
  4. this keyword
  5. UML class diagrams (simple)
  6. Encapsulation (private vars, getters/setters)

Unit 9 Inheritance & Polymorphism (Intro Only)

  1. extends keyword
  2. Method overriding
  3. Using super()

Unit 10 Practice / Projects

  1. Mini game: Number Guessing
  2. Utility: Grade Calculator
  3. Final project (student choice: banking simulator, adventure game, text menu)