CSCI 127: Introduction to Computer Science
Hunter College, City University of New York
Fall 2024

This course presents an overview of computer science (CS) with an emphasis on problem-solving and computational thinking through 'coding': computer programming for beginners. Other topics include: organization of hardware, software, and how information is structured on contemporary computing devices. This course is pre-requisite to several introductory core courses in the CS Major. The course is also required for the CS minor. MATH 12500 or higher is strongly recommended as a co-req for intended Majors.

Course Designers:

• Dr. Katherine St. John
• Dr. William Sakas
• Prof. Eric Schweitzer

Course Instructors:

• Prof. Melissa Lynch (Course Instructor and Coordinator)
• Ryan Vaz (Early College Initiative Instructor)
• Dr. Raj Korpan (Macaulay Honors College Instructor)

Click here to make a tutoring appointment!

Office Hours

Prof. Lynch's office hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 AM to 10 AM in room 1001K Hunter North.

Due to the large size of the class, emails may not be answered quickly; if you have an urgent matter please come to office hours or make a tutoring appointment.

Useful Links:

• Syllabus
• Programming Assignments
• Quiz Topics and Deadlines
• ASCII Table
• Macaulay Honors Section

Course Outline:

• Week #1:
  • Lecture #1 (9/3): reviewed syllabus; writing your first Python program; intro to print statements and for-loops.
  • Lab #1 (Review by 9/10): this lab will help you get Python running on your computer so you can work on and submit the programming assignments to Gradescope.
  • Textbook reading (OPTIONAL): Think CS Chapter 1 & Chapter 2


• Week #2:
  • Lecture #2 (9/10): using for-loops to repeat commands; getting strings from user input; using variables
  • Lab #2
  • Textbook reading (OPTIONAL): Think CS Chapter 4


• Week #3:
  • Lecture #3 (9/17): review Lab 2 materials including string methods, ASCII values, and variations of the range() function; introduce representing colors with turtles
  • Lab #3: this lab covers how to add colors to our turtle programs
  • Textbook reading (OPTIONAL): Think CS Chapter 9


• Week #4:
  • Lecture #4 (9/24): Review material so far; using colors with turtles, hexadecimal numbers, Unix commands
  • Lab #4: this lab introduces floating-point numbers, converting values, and using if-statements in Python.


• Week #5:
  • Lecture #5 (10/1): Introduce image processing as seen in Lab 3; go over syntax for making decisions (if-statements) and other Lab 4 content
  • Lab #5: this lab introduces logical circuits, more complex conditions for if-statements, and gives more examples of image processing
  • NO CLASSES SCHEDULED 10/2 to 10/4. Lab 1001G will be closed. Tutoring, quizzes, and code reviews will not be available.


• Week #6:
  • Lecture #6 (10/8): Snow count problem from Lab 5: introduced nested for-loops and combining conditions with logical operators. Caesar cipher homework assignment: introduce cryptography and logic-based problems, as well as modular arithmetic.
  • NO CLASSES SCHEDULED 10/11 and 10/14. Lab 1001G will be closed. Tutoring, quizzes, and code reviews will not be available.


• Tuesday, 10/15 follows a Monday schedule. No lecture on this day. Lab 1001G operating normally.


• Week #7:
  • Lecture #7 (10/22): Circuits and logical operators (see Lab 5); generating images with np.ones() and np.zeros(); review floop map example from Lab 4.
  • Examples from lecture: click here!
  • Lab #6: this lab introduces the pandas library for processing spreadsheet data. Please review by next lecture 10/29!


• Week #8:
  • Lecture #8 (10/29): Using the pandas library, spreadsheet data, writing our own functions
  • Examples from lecture: click here!
  • Lab 7 coming soon


• Week #9:
  • Lecture #9 (11/5): More on writing functions; recap image slicing
  • Lecture notes: click here!
  • Lab 8 coming soon


• Week #10:
  • Lecture #10 (11/12): Indefinite loops; using random numbers
  • Lecture notes:
  • Lab 10 coming soon


• Week #11:
  • Lecture #11 (11/19): Machine Language (MIPS); levels of abstraction
  • Lecture notes:
  • Lab 11 coming soon


• Week #12:
  • Lecture #12 (11/26): Intro C++
  • Lecture notes:
  • Lab 12 coming soon


• Week #13:
  • Lecture #13 (12/3): More C++
  • Lecture notes:
  • Lab 13 coming soon


• Week #14:
  • Lecture #14 (12/10): Mock exam (practice)


• Week #15:
  • FINAL EXAM: MONDAY DEC 16 from 9 AM to 11 AM