COMP 480 is a 2-credit course taught over a 12-week period. Its purpose is to provide a "kinder and gentler" introduction to programming and the underlying concepts common to many programming languages. This class will be geared toward those with no or very little (!) programming experience.
We will be using Python in this course, as it is a very friendly, accessible cross-platform language with a large user and support base. Far from being a "toy" language, Python is extensively used by organizations such as NASA, Google and YouTube.
During this term we will learn to solve a number of problems with the help of the Python programming language, however most of the material will be directly applicable to other programming languages you may encounter in the future. Therefore, our focus will not be on Python specific language features or advanced programming material.
While this is "kinder and gentler" introduction to programming and programming concepts, the class will demand a continuous and serious investment from the students in order to master the material. Therefore it will be necessary (and you should expect) to write many programs during this term and be prepared to actively engage with the contents of the course. In computing classes more so perhaps than in other classes, each concept builds on top of previous concepts, so be careful to not fall behind. In order to maximize class time, you will have to keep up with the assigned readings and assignments and have them completed before class each week.
I hope this will be a rewarding experience for you.
Welcome again!
Aaron Ansari
PS: I f you already know how to program in one or more languages this is not the class for you, instead I suggest you contact your SSA to explore suitable alternatives or consider taking COMP 111 or ITEC 136, both are suitable for students with some prior programming experience.