Introduction to Computing Science and Programming

3 credit hours · Undergraduate

This course is designed to introduce the student to some of the key concepts in computing science and simultaneously provide introductory hands-on experience using a modern programming language. General topics include a brief history of computing; the place of hardware, software, and policies in any computing environment; a high-level view of the components of a computing system; and the tools one can expect to find in any programming environment. Programming language topics include input/output; simple data types; operators and expressions; looping and decision-making control constructs; subprograms and parameter passing; overall program structure and programming style considerations. Problem-solving and program-design strategies include divide-and-conquer and top-down design with step-wise refinement. Students design algorithms with data input and output to solve particular problems, and later implement those solutions as computer programs in the current programming language of choice. Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. per week.