Brief Introduction to Computer Programming for Non-Majors (Online)

Identifier
COMS 1040

Last Updated: Fall 2024

Offered during Fall and Spring Semesters each year.

Credits: 2 credits

Course Information

  1. Brief description of the content of the course: COMS 1040 is a Python programming course. The topics cover in this course include: An introduction to problem-solving; the Python shell, the print statement, arithmetic, and types; variables and assignment statements; using functions; reading input, and string concatenation; conditional statements; nested; conditionals and the elif statement; writing our own functions; value-returning functions; boolean operators; testing and incremental development; debugging; binary arithmetic and data encoding; strings, brackets, and lists; string operations; for-loops and number ranges; examples using for-loops; while-loops; reading text file; writing text file; file paths and command shells and other essential topics.
  2. Prerequisites or co-requisites: None
  3. Textbook Information: http://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english3e/

Course Goals

  1. Students will confidently identify and articulate the appropriate contexts for applying key programming concepts, such as variables, operators, built-in libraries, conditional statements, functions, strings, lists, loop, and other essential statements.
  2. Students will accurately write and execute Python code, demonstrating a strong grasp of syntax and programming structure.
  3. Students will analyze real-world problems, determine the relevant programming concepts needed, and develop functional Python programs to effectively address those challenges.

Topics

  • An introduction to problem-solving
  • the Python shell
  • the print statement
  • arithmetic, and types
  • variables and assignment statements
  • using functions
  • reading input, and string concatenation
  • conditional statements
  • nested
  • conditionals and the elif statement
  • writing our own functions
  • value-returning functions
  • boolean operators
  • testing and incremental development
  • debugging
  • binary arithmetic and data encoding
  • strings, brackets, and lists
  • string operations
  • for-loops and number ranges
  • while-loops
  • reading text file
  • writing text file
  • file paths
  • command shells