MPCS 50101 Concepts of Programming (Autumn 2022)

*Please note: This is the syllabus from the 2021/22 academic year and subject to change.*

Course Description

In this course students will get an introduction to the field of computer science by learning to program in Python. Students will write code each week, learning the essentials of how to solve real-world problems in an object-oriented programming language. We will learn about fundamental data structures and algorithms, professional coding practices,  algorithm design, automated testing, and the fundamentals of object-oriented programming.

In MPCS 50101, we provide an immersive introduction to programming for students who may not have prior experience. We will use the Python programming language to explore general-purpose computer programming and algorithmic reasoning, in an object-oriented context.

Course Content

During this course, students will learn:

•  how to construct algorithms, and express them as computer programs;
•  how to refine and improve programs by an iterative process;
•  the core principles of object-oriented programming;
•  fundamental data structures: arrays, sets, maps, and trees;
•  the basics of computational efficiency and "big O" notation.

Coursework

This course requires competency in Unix and Linux. Please plan to attend the MPCS Unix Bootcamp (https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/page/mpcs-unix-bootcamp) or take the online MPCS Unix Bootcamp Course on Canvas.

MPCS Students Only

This class is scheduled at a time that does not conflict with any other classes this quarter.