CPSC 110: Introduction to Computer Science¶

Meeting Times: TBD
Instructor: George Foster
Email: george.foster@ieee.org
Office: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Required Textbook / Materials: TBD

Course Description¶

This course introduces computer science to students with little or no prior programming experience. Students will learn foundational problem-solving techniques, algorithmic thinking, and introductory programming using a high-level programming language.

Topics include the design and implementation of algorithms, basic data representation, control flow, functions, input/output, testing, and the use of computing tools. The course emphasizes hands-on practice and the development of clear, correct, and maintainable programs.

This course provides preparation for continued study in computer science.

Course Goals & Objectives¶

The goals of this course are to:

Introduce computational problem solving and algorithm development.
Develop basic programming skills using a high-level programming language.
Help students represent and manipulate information in programs.
Build confidence using programming tools and development environments.
Introduce broader concepts in computing and the role of software in society.

Student Learning Outcomes¶

After completing this course, students should be able to:

Analyze elementary computational problems.
Identify inputs, outputs, and processing steps for a problem.
Design algorithms using sequence, selection, iteration, and functions.
Implement basic algorithms in a programming language.
Use primitive data types such as integers, floating-point values, strings, and Booleans.
Use interactive input and output in programs.
Apply basic testing strategies to verify program behavior.
Read and use documentation for language features and libraries.
Use common accumulator patterns such as counting, summing, finding minimums, and finding maximums.
Describe the basic phases of software development, including specification, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance.
Identify basic components of a computer system, including CPU, memory, storage, input, and output.
Demonstrate awareness of legal, social, ethical, and cultural issues related to digital technology.

Class Participation¶

Students are expected to attend class regularly and participate actively.

If you miss class, you are responsible for any material, announcements, or assignments covered.
Class meetings may include discussion, live coding, exercises, and other interactive activities.
Laptops and other devices should be used for course-related work during class.
If you must miss an exam or major assessment, contact the instructor as early as possible.

Grading Policy¶

Your final grade will be determined using the following categories:

Category	Weight
Programming Projects	TBD
Labs and Activities	TBD
Exams	TBD
Final Exam	TBD
Participation / Other	TBD

The grading scale for the course is:

Range	Grade
94–100	A
90–93	A-
87–89	B+
84–86	B
80–83	B-
77–79	C+
72–76	C
70–71	C-
66–69	D+
60–65	D
Below 60	F

Late work policy: TBD.

Missed exam policy: TBD.

Final grades will be calculated according to the course grading policy. Individual extra credit opportunities will not be offered unless made available to the entire class.

Honor Policy¶

Students are expected to follow the UMW Honor Code and all applicable course-specific collaboration policies.

For this course:

Collaboration on labs and in-class activities may be permitted when explicitly allowed.
Programming projects must represent your own work unless the assignment instructions state otherwise.
You may discuss ideas, strategies, and general approaches with classmates, but you may not copy code from another student, from the web, or from any other unauthorized source.
Any use of AI tools, code assistants, or online resources must comply with the assignment instructions and course policy.
Exams and quizzes must be completed without unauthorized assistance.

When in doubt, ask before submitting work.

Disability Statement¶

The University of Mary Washington provides support services for students with disabilities. Students who receive accommodations should contact the instructor as early as possible to discuss how approved accommodations apply to this course.

Students who believe they may need accommodations should contact the appropriate university office for guidance and documentation requirements.

Title IX Statement¶

The University of Mary Washington is committed to supporting students and maintaining an educational environment free from discrimination, harassment, and interpersonal violence.

Students who experience sex- or gender-based discrimination, harassment, or violence are encouraged to seek support and report concerns through the appropriate university resources. Faculty may have reporting obligations under university policy.

Recording Statement¶

Classroom activities may not be recorded, distributed, published, or reused except as permitted by university policy and the instructor.

Recordings made for personal educational use may not be shared outside the course without permission.

Tentative Schedule¶

This schedule is subject to change. Updates will be announced in class, on Canvas, or on this course site.

Week	Topic	Reading / Preparation	Lab / Activity	Assignment Due
1	Course Introduction	TBD	Setup / First Program	TBD
2	Input, Output, and Expressions	TBD	Interactive Programs	TBD
3	Text, Strings, and Numbers	TBD	Basic Calculations	TBD
4	Making Decisions	TBD	Conditionals	TBD
5	While Loops	TBD	Repetition	TBD
6	For Loops	TBD	Accumulators	TBD
7	Review and Midterm	TBD	Review	TBD
8	Algorithms	TBD	Algorithm Tracing	TBD
9	Libraries	TBD	Using Libraries	TBD
10	Lists	TBD	List Processing	TBD
11	Functions	TBD	Function Design	TBD
12	Putting Programs Together	TBD	Multi-part Programs	TBD
13	Graphics or Applied Topic	TBD	Applied Lab	TBD
14	Final Project / Review	TBD	Project Work	TBD
15	Final Exam Review	TBD	Review	TBD

Attribution¶

This syllabus structure was adapted from Ian Finlayson's public CPSC 110 syllabus page, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.