Introduction to computer programming and its applications using object-oriented methods and the Java programming language of the World Wide Web. Students do exercises, develop simulations, and graphics applications. Designed for majors in computer science, business information systems engineering, and mathematics. Two lecture periods and two one-hour laboratories per week. Meets General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement. (Offered each semester.)

Familiarity with high school algebra. No previous experience with computers is assumed.

John M. Zelle, Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science, 2^nd edition, Franklin, Beedle and Associates Inc., 2010 (ISBN: 9781590282410)

David R. Owen, Associate Professor of Computer Science

This course is designed for majors in Computer and Information Sciences, Digital Media, Engineering and Mathematics. Open to all students.

A student who successfully completes the course will be able to:

1. Design programs using Python for user input / output, manipulation of character strings and mathematical processing.
2. Design basic GUI (graphical user interface) programs for image creation and manipulation, sound, and mouse-based user interaction.
3. Read, write, modify, test and document programs using incremental development techniques.
4. Succeed in future programming courses (having learned general, not just Python-specific, language features and programming techniques).

1. What is a computer?  What is computer programming?  What is computer science?
2. Simple Python programs:  input, processing, output
3. Programs that work with numbers (i.e., computation)
4. Programs that work with pictures (turtle graphics, vector graphics, bitmap graphics)
5. Strings, lists, file I/O
6. Functions
7. Logical branching (and basic Boolean logic)
8. Loops
9. Software engineering (strategies for designing larger programs)
10. Images, sound, simple GUIs and games