Things You'll Need:
- Computer High-speed Internet connection (preferred)
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Step 1
Decide on a goal. Are you interested in a full career as a programmer? Do you want to simply know the finer points of setting up a website? Answering these questions will help you decide which online programming classes you want to take.
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Step 2
Set up a study area in your home. Learning how to program a computer requires concentration and effort, so give yourself the best possible environment in which to work.
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Step 3
Choose free, online programming classes. Several are taught through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) via its OpenCourseWare program. MIT is one of the top technology and engineering schools in the world, and it offers a free basic computer programming class for beginners. Another free education site, free-ed.net, offers programming fundamentals courses, including C++, Java and Visual Basic.
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Step 4
Check with engineering and technology departments of accredited universities and colleges. Many have online degree programs or have distance-learning programs that may include courses in computer programming. For example, University of California-Irvine and UMassOnline (University of Massachusetts-Boston) both offer online programming degrees.
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Step 5
Review the programming courses offered by Kaplan University Online and University of Phoenix, two schools that have extensive online programs, offering associate's and bachelor's degrees in computer programming.
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Step 6
If you're seeking employment related to your online training in computer programming, be sure the skills you're learning are relevant to today's technological environment. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employers are seeking programmers with training in object-oriented Java and C++ languages, adding that without a degree, employers will expect significant programming experience.
