ClassInfo

CSC 243 Introduction to Computer Science for Programmers

Radha Jagadeesan

Office: CDM 653
Fall 2025-2026
Class number: 12818
Section number: 401
MW 3:10PM - 4:40PM
CDM 00224 Loop Campus

Summary

An accelerated course covering the essentials of programming, with a focus on problem-solving, structured programming, and algorithm design. The concepts covered include collection types, conditional and iterative structures, functions, file input/output, exceptions, namespaces, recursion, and Internet client programming.



Texts

Introduction to Computing using Python: An Application Development Focus, Second Edition, Ljubomir Perkovic, John Wiley & Sons available at 
https://go.oreilly.com/depaul-university/library/view/introduction-to-computing/9781118213568/
Use your Campus Connect login credentials.



Grading

Weekly HWs:       40%
Multiple Quizzes:  60%

There will typically be a homework assignment that involves programming every week. You will submit your solution within D2L. No Late submissions will be accepted. 

All work is mandated to be individual, unless explicitly specified otherwise.  University policy on AI use applies, unless explicitly specified otherwise.  Instructor retains the prerogative to conduct oral interviews to spot check answers and understanding. The instructor also retains the privilege to select students for examining their answers in an oral examination.  

All exams will be cumulative. There will be no make-up exams (except in extreme emergency) nor extra credit assignments.
No late assignments will be accepted.



Prerequisites

  • MAT 130 or equivalent (i.e. basic algebra or precalculus in high-school or college).
  • ONE (or more) course devoted exclusively to a programming language, or equivalent experience.

     A class that covers several weeks of scripting (e.g. IT-130) will NOT suffice for this course. You must have taken the equivalent of a 10-week course in programming in a different language, or have a similar level of experience. 

The course assumes familiarity with loops, conditionals, functions that accept arguments, functions that return a value, and  some kind of collection type such as arrays or lists.

 If you can not do most of these things, you should likely take the CSC-241, CSC-242 sequence instead.



School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296