COP 1009 - Beauty and Joy of Computing

Credits: 2

Course Description: THIS COURSE SERVES AS AN ENGAGING INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH NO PRIOR PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE. IT EMPHASIZES BOTH THE CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF COMPUTING WHILE EXPLORING ITS SOCIETAL IMPACTS. STUDENTS WILL GAIN A FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT DRIVE COMPUTER SCIENCE, INCLUDING ABSTRACTION, ALGORITHMS, AND MODULARITY, AS WELL AS DEVELOP SKILLS IN BLOCK-BASED (SNAP!) AND TEXT-BASED (PYTHON) PROGRAMMING. KEY TOPICS INCLUDE ALGORITHMIC THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, DATA STRUCTURES, AND THE ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF COMPUTING, SUCH AS PRIVACY, EQUITY, AND BIAS. THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS, STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE HOW COMPUTING SHAPES MODERN SOCIETY AND THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES.