Consortium for International Studies | Evaluated Learning Experience
Python CIS 202
Varies (self-study, self-paced).
April 2025 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: explain the fundamental principles of programming and computational thinking; write and debug Python programs using variables, loops, conditionals, and functions; develop structured, modular programs with reusable functions and object-oriented techniques; implement data structures such as lists, tuples, and dictionaries to store and process data; work with files to read, write, and manipulate external data sources; apply algorithmic thinking to develop recursive functions and sorting/searching methods; analyze and improve program efficiency by understanding best practices in coding and debugging; and complete a final project, demonstrating mastery of Python programming concepts.
Major topics include the principles of programming and computational thinking; Python syntax and control structures including variables, loops, conditionals, and functions; modular programming and object-oriented design; data structures such as lists, tuples, and dictionaries; file input/output; algorithm design using recursion, sorting, and searching; and best practices in debugging and code efficiency. Instruction is based on Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science (4th ed.) by John Zelle, with supplementary readings from leading Python texts. Students complete graded lesson assignments, a comprehensive final project applying course concepts, and a cumulative final exam assessing both theoretical understanding and coding proficiency.
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Informatics (4/25).