PROGRAMMING I
Learn the process of incrementally developing small (200-500 lines) programs along with the fundamental Computer Science topics. These topics include: problem abstraction and decomposition, the edit-compile-run cycle, using variables of primitive and more complex data types, conditional and loop-based flow control, basic testing and debugging techniques, how to define and call functions (methods), and IO processing techniques. Also teaches and reinforces good programming practices including the use of a consistent style, and meaningful documentation. Intended for students who have no prior programming experience.
Topics
- problem abstraction and decomposition
- the edit-compile-run cycle
- using variables of primitive and more complex data types
- conditional and loop-based flow control
- basic testing and debugging techniques
- how to define and call functions (methods)
- and IO processing techniques
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A or declared in the Capstone Certificate in Computer Sciences for Professionals Course Designation: Core GenEd - Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning B Breadth - Natural Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Design and implement a standalone program that can interact with the user via prompts and or menus, access and edit data stored in an array or list structure, and use and further process the data found in those structures. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Trace code to determine output or results. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Implement a given program design and choose correct control structures for implementing algorithms expressed in pseudocode. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Interpret a variety of diagram types used to express programming concepts and results: truth tables, memory model diagrams, control flow charts (activity diagrams), class diagrams, object diagrams, and use-case diagrams. Audience: Undergraduate 5. List, describe, use the basic I/O operations for reading and writing text files to and from the computer’s hard drive. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Manipulate quantitative information to create models, and/or devise solutions to problems using multi-step arguments, based on and supported by quantitative information. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Evaluate models and arguments using quantitative information. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Express and interpret in context models, solutions and/or arguments using verbal, numerical, graphical algorithmic, computational or symbolic techniques. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Design and implement a standalone program that can interact with the user via prompts and or menus, access and edit data stored in an array or list structure, and use and further process the data found in those structures. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Trace code to determine output or results. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Implement a given program design and choose correct control structures for implementing algorithms expressed in pseudocode. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Interpret a variety of diagram types used to express programming concepts and results: truth tables, memory model diagrams, control flow charts (activity diagrams), class diagrams, object diagrams, and use-case diagrams. Audience: Undergraduate 5. List, describe, use the basic I/O operations for reading and writing text files to and from the computer’s hard drive. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Manipulate quantitative information to create models, and/or devise solutions to problems using multi-step arguments, based on and supported by quantitative information. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Evaluate models and arguments using quantitative information. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Express and interpret in context models, solutions and/or arguments using verbal, numerical, graphical algorithmic, computational or symbolic techniques. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027