Fundamentals I

This website is for a prior semester of CS2500. Please go to http://www.ccs.neu.edu/course/cs2500 for the current semester, and update your bookmarks accordingly.

Welcome to Fundamentals I at Northeastern University, College of Computer Science.

This course is an introduction to computing and programming. Its major goal is to introduce students to the principles of systematic problem solving through programming and the basic rules of computation.

We recommend familiarizing yourself with the website layout early in the semester.

By the end of the course, majors in computer science will have a sense for difference between a programmer and a well-trained software developer. Students from all majors will have a sense of the complexities involved in developing solid software (highly useful in case they ever collaborate with such professionals) and they ought to be able to use the principles of programming to solve many non-computational problems in a systematic manner.

The course does not assume any prior programming experience. It is therefore suitable for all freshman students—majors and non-majors alike—who wish to explore the intellectual ideas of the discipline. It does assume familiarity with (high school) arithmetic and algebra, and it demands curiosity, self-discipline, and willingness to work with others.