Please note: this course site is under active development. New things & different things will be appearing regularly.

The registrar’s description for CSC 105:

“A study of core topics and great ideas in the field of computer science, focusing on underlying algorithmic principles and social implications. Topics may include multimedia and hypermedia, networks, architecture, programming languages, software design, artificial intelligence, databases, cryptography, and the theory of computing. Incudes formal laboratory work. Prerequisite: None.”

The description for the Spring 2023 section:

CSC 105 combines hands-on introduction to the basic concepts and  technologies of computing with critical discussion of the histories, cultural messages, and ethical implications surrounding digital technologies. No prior experience or knowledge required. Students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of Python and Twine. Students will also have the opportunity to pursue a collaborative or independent final project to suit individual interests. We will use our conceptual understandings and practical experiences to form a better grasp of the potentials and limits of digital technologies, to expand our own awareness of the human choices that have informed the development of the technologies that we rely on and consider what choices we have about future development. We will focus our exploration through the lens of narrative: how do computers turn voltages and circuits into words and stories? what are some of the stories that have been formed about history of computing? how has computing and digital technology shaped the way that we tell stories?