T-Th 9:05
or
T-Th 11:15
in Olin 155

CS 1110: Introduction to Computing Using Python

Fall 2017

Alternatives to CS 1110

CS 1110 is a 4 credit course designed for freshmen and sophomores. While it offers an introduction to computer programming concepts, it goes a lot deeper than that. It also emphasizes techniques of problem analysis and the development and analysis of algorithms. Depending on your needs, you may find that other classes are a better fit.


CS 1133: The Short Course

CS 1110 is not an ideal class for graduate students who need to learn some programming for their research. It involves a significant amount of work both in and out of class; the typical graduate student does not have time for all this work. In our experience, most graduate students drop the course in the first month.

CS 1133 is a 2-credit course that covers the first half of CS 1110. It focuses on the basics in programming in Python, but does not include a lot of the computer science material in CS 1110. With that said, it is enough to get you up and running in Python, if you need to use it for another class. This is the course that we recommend for graduate students.


CS 1112: Introduction to Computing Using MATLAB

CS 1112 is the primary alternative to CS 1110. Both courses are designed to prepare students for CS 2110 and future computer science courses. CS 1110 has a slight emphasis on software application development. CS 1112, which uses MatLab, has a slight emphasis on scientific computation. While CS 1113 assumes no programming experience, it does require a firm background in mathematics and at least one semester of calculus. If you are engineering student whose interests lie outside the digital major cluster (CS, ECE, ORIE, ISST), you might consider that course instead.


Nontraditional Alternatives

If you are shopping around for a "first course" to take in programming or computer science, it is worth examining some of the offering by the Information Science department. INFO 1300 is a course on design and programming for the web. This course does not cover as many computer science concepts as either CS 1110 or CS 1112. However, it is one of the best courses for program design.


Course Material Authors: D. Gries, L. Lee, S. Marschner, & W. White (over the years)