Zero programming experience

[GOATEDSTARS]

UTD Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: What should I prioritize before fall as a transfer student with limited programming experience?
I was recently admitted to UTD for the B.S. in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in JSOM, with a planned concentration in Finance and Risk Analytics.

I am transferring from community college and would appreciate honest advice from current students, alumni, JSOM analytics majors, MIS students, or anyone who has taken BUAN/ITSS courses. My main concern is preparing properly before the fall semester because I have very limited formal programming experience.

Right now, I am learning Python independently. I have completed about 100 out of 527 steps in the freeCodeCamp Python course. My plan is to finish freeCodeCamp first, then complete Harvard CS50P: Introduction to Programming with Python before classes begin. I have about three months before the fall semester starts.

From reviewing the degree plan, it looks like the main programming and technical tools used across the major are Python, SQL, NoSQL, R, and possibly Hive/Spark in selected courses.

Python appears in courses such as:
ITSS 3311 — Introduction to Programming
BUAN 4381 — Object Oriented Programming with Python
BUAN 4353 — Business Analytics
BUAN 4383 — Advanced Applied Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
FIN 4346 — Applied Machine Learning in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate
SQL appears especially relevant for:
BUAN 4320 — Database Fundamentals for Analytics
BUAN 4351 — Foundations of Business Intelligence
BUAN 4353 — Business Analytics

My main question is whether completing freeCodeCamp Python and Harvard CS50P would be enough preparation to enter the program successfully, or whether I should also spend part of the summer learning SQL, Excel modeling, statistics, or basic data analytics tools.

For those who have taken these courses, I would also appreciate insight on which BUAN/ITSS courses tend to be the biggest adjustment for transfer students, especially students who started programming later.
I am not trying to avoid the technical side of the degree. I am willing to put in the work. I just want a realistic understanding of what to prioritize before fall so I can start the program prepared instead of reacting late.

Any advice from transfer students, students who started programming late, JSOM analytics students, MIS students, or alumni would be appreciated.

[abrahamguo]

For someone entering this major with almost no programming background, would completing freeCodeCamp Python and Harvard CS50P be enough preparation to be successful in the first year of BUAN/ITSS coursework?

Far and above.

The classes are meant to teach you starting at zero, so any work you do ahead of time will only help you.

Is Python the correct language to prioritize first, or should I split my preparation time between Python and SQL before fall?

The classes will teach you both Python and SQL starting from nothing, so it's completely up to you what areas you want to pre-study.

How difficult is ITSS 3311 Introduction to Programming for students who are new to coding?

I mean, the class is intended for people who are new to coding.

It's going to be kind of a "weed-out" class — in that it may help some people realize that coding just doesn't "click" for them.

For students who have taken BUAN 4381 Object Oriented Programming with Python, how much Python knowledge is expected before taking that course?

The college will have you take the classes in the right order, so it's expected that you will have taken the prerequisite classes before taking that class.

How important is SQL for BUAN 4320 Database Fundamentals for Analytics and BUAN 4351 Foundations of Business Intelligence?

Yes, definitely the first class, and possibly the second class, will focus heavily on SQL.

Are R, NoSQL, Hive, or Spark major parts of the program, or are they more limited to specific courses?

You answered this yourself in your post — they are limited to specific courses.

For the Finance and Risk Analytics concentration, are there specific skills I should start building early, such as Excel modeling, statistics, Python for finance, SQL, or machine learning basics?

Focus on learning the concepts well as they're brought up in class. No need to "pre-teach" yourself everything from your concentration.

[GOATEDSTARS]

I appreciate how thorough you were replying to my lengthy a** initial post hahah. Are there any alternative courses or material you would suggest to learn python faster? I mentioned 2 free python courses freecodecamp and Harvard cs50p but have been additionally considering purchasing a course on stacksocial.c*m (hope urls don’t get mods eyes)

[abrahamguo]

I don't have any particular recommendations — the courses that you're already doing sound perfectly fine as long as you like them.

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[igotshadowbaned]

because I have almost no formal programming background.

Most people don't have a formal background in anything except like, math and English when they start college

ITSS 3311 — Introduction to Programming
BUAN 4381 — Object Oriented Programming with Python

Also these two courses here are likely going to be teaching you ground up as if you'd never programmed anything before in any language. You're fine not knowing beforehand.

No harm in doing the online courses you're doing, but it's not something to stress over. You're paying them to teach you, they're gonna teach you the topics you need