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University of Michigan · on Coursera

Web Application Technologies and Django

4.7(12,000) on Coursera·210K enrolled
Intermediate 18 hours English University Certificate
SkillsDjangoPythonWeb developmentREST APIsSQLHTTP

Is this course right for you?

Our take
A structured next step into Python web development with Django, for people who already know some Python. It is free to audit.

Good for: python learners who want to build web applications with Django.

Skip if: you are new to Python, or you want a JavaScript-based framework.

Dr Chuck Severance builds on his Python for Everybody curriculum into dynamic web apps — Django's ORM for the database, authentication, REST APIs and deployment — so Py4E graduates will find it a natural continuation into full-stack Python.

What it does not do is teach Python from scratch — it assumes the basics — and it is Django-specific, so if you want a JavaScript framework, or you are new to Python, start elsewhere instead. The certificate needs a subscription; the free audit covers the learning, and Michigan keeps it updated.

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About this course

This University of Michigan course covers web application development with Django: building dynamic web applications with Python, using Django's ORM for database interaction, implementing authentication, building REST APIs, and deploying web applications.

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Instructor

CS
Charles Severance (Dr. Chuck)
Coursera instructor
210K+ learners15 courses4.8 instructor rating

Taught by Charles Severance (Dr. Chuck), University of Michigan clinical professor and creator of the Python for Everybody curriculum that has introduced millions to programming.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. This teaches you to build websites with Django, a Python web framework, so it assumes you already program in Python — variables, functions, data structures. The University of Michigan explicitly recommends completing their Python for Everybody specialization (or equivalent) first. Arriving without Python means learning the language and a web framework simultaneously, which is a hard way to start and the main reason people struggle here.

Building real web applications with Django across four courses: HTML and CSS, then Django itself with database access through its object-relational mapper, sessions and authentication, and finally using JavaScript, jQuery, and JSON for dynamic features. You build actual working, graded websites throughout, so you finish having shipped functioning Django apps rather than only studying the concepts.

Django is a mature, batteries-included Python framework — it hands you an admin panel, database layer, and authentication out of the box, which makes it excellent for learning full-stack fundamentals and building content-driven sites quickly. JavaScript frameworks dominate interactive front ends, but if you already know Python, Django is a natural, productive way into back-end and full-stack web development without learning a second language first.

For a Python programmer wanting a clear, university-taught route into web development, yes. Dr Charles Severance is a well-regarded teacher and the build-along, graded projects make the learning concrete. As with any course, it gives you solid fundamentals rather than job-readiness alone — you would add your own projects and perhaps a JavaScript front-end framework afterward to round out a full-stack profile.

Yes, you can audit the courses on Coursera and watch the lectures at no cost. The graded assignments — including the websites you build and submit — and the certificate need a subscription, with financial aid available. Since building and submitting the projects is where the real learning happens here, the paid track is worth considering if you want that structured practice.
Paid
Subscription-based, free to audit
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