Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: explain the foundational concepts of computer science, including its historical evolution, core principles, and the significance of algorithms in problem-solving; apply computational thinking principles, such as decomposition, pattern recognition, and abstraction, to break down complex problems and design adaptive, reusable solutions; differentiate between algorithms and programs, and describe fundamental algorithmic techniques including divide and conquer, greedy algorithms, and reduction algorithms; understand the characteristics of low-level, middle-level, and high-level programming languages, with a specific focus on building C programs, including writing, compiling, linking, and execution; explain computer systems organization, detailing how hardware components like processors, memory, and I/O devices interact, and describe computer levels of abstraction from high-level problem-solving to machine-level instructions; articulate how data is represented at the machine level, including signed/unsigned integers, floating points, and character encoding, and comprehend machine-level program representation through assembly language and machine code; describe the role of operating systems in managing hardware and software interactions, including core components such as process management, memory, device drivers, and OS structures; and analyze and explain key operating system functions, specifically memory management techniques (e.g., dynamic allocation, virtual memory), file system concepts (e.g., file storage, directory structures), and mechanisms for system reliability and security (e.g., authentication, authorization).

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: analyze common cyber threats, attack types, and the ethical considerations within the cybersecurity landscape, including ethical hacking versus malicious hacking; explain fundamental security concepts such as the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) and the basics of risk management; differentiate between the OSI and TCP/IP models and identify common network devices and protocols; compare symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and explain the principles of hashing algorithms and digital signatures; identify various types of malware and social engineering tactics, and describe methods for recognizing and mitigating these threats; describe cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and identify associated cloud security risks and best practices; recognize vulnerabilities and attack vectors related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and strategies for securing IoT devices; and summarize the steps involved in incident response and the basics of digital forensics.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: analyze the profound impact of modern technology on global issues, including its influence on politics, economics, health, education, and the environment; evaluate the components and functions of computer systems, including processing, storage, and data connection, as well as the roles of the CPU, RAM, and motherboard; differentiate between system software and application software, and explain how to access, install, manage, and upgrade various software types; explain the fundamentals of networking, including essential components, hardware, software, and transmission media, and describe how to install and configure a secure home network; and describe the life cycle of software projects, the stages of program and system development, and the fundamentals of databases and their critical role in business decision-making.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: explain how data is represented in a computer; identify computer hardware and software; discuss computer networks; design, implement and execute algorithms; explain social, ethical and legal issues arising from the use of computers; discuss future uses of computers; discuss computer usage in interdisciplinary fields; list and explain software applications such as electronic spreadsheets and databases; use a web browser to search the Internet; use computer terminology in written documents and oral communication; use computer etiquette in electronic communications; and use communication tools effectively.