These pages contain administrative information about the operation of the class.
First things first: you should decide...
cs111 has no prerequisites and requires no previous programming experience. However, we do expect students to have basic computer skills. For example, you should be familiar with either the Macintosh or Windows, and you should know how to use applications like a web browser.
The only mathematical background we expect is high school algebra and geometry.
cs111 counts for one Mathematical Modeling (MM) distribution
credit. Even though cs111 has a 2-hour weekly laboratory, it does
not count as an MM laboratory unit.
This semester the Computer Science department is offering two introductory classes: cs110 and cs111. These classes teach different material and are intended for different audiences.
cs111 is for students who:
For information about the other introductory class(es), click here.
If you already have substantial programming experience, consider taking cs230: Data Structures. Contact Allen Downey for more information.
If you are not interested in computer science, but want to learn how to use the Internet and various software applications, you should consider cs100: Introduction to Internet Research and Resources. Contact Pattie Orr for more information.
There is usually a lot of demand for this class, but (due to the size of the lab), we can only accomodate 30 students in each of two lectures and 15 students in each of 4 labs.
Whether you are already registered, on the wait list, or unregistered (but hoping to take the class), you must attend on the first day of classes. Regardless of your registration status, you should proceed as if you are registered.
If you intend to take this class, you must fill out the course questionnaire by 11:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28. We need the information from your questionnaires to determine who is in the class and to create class accounts.
If you are registered, but you do not attend either of the first two two classes, you will be dropped from the class and your place will be given to someone on the wait list.
Although the two lecture sections will cover roughly the same material, there will be variations from lecture to lecture. You should plan to attend one lecture section consistently.
Regardless of which lecture you are in, you can register for any of the three lab sections. The registrar maintains the wait list for this class. If you are not already on the list, you should get on it. As spaces become available, we will admit people to the class from the wait list in the order they appear on the form we get from the registrar.
If you want to change lecture sections, you can, provided that there are enough seats in the room. Once you have decided which section you will attend, fill out and turn in an add/drop card as soon as possible.
Changing lab sections is more difficult, but not impossible. Because we cannot accomodate more than 15 students in the lab, it is very important for us to keep the labs balanced. At the beginning of the semester, the registrar balances the lab sections. In order for us to make any changes, we have to maintain that balance.
Therefore, if you want to change sections, it is up to you to find another student willing to switch with you, or two other students willing to rotate among three sections, or any number of students making any number of changes as long as the net effect of all moves leaves the sections balanced.
The FirstClass conference "CS111-S02 Enrollments" is available for you to post requests for other students to change sections with you.
Once you find an appropriate set of moves, fill out the add/drop cards and bring them all to one of the instructors at once. We will not sign add/drop cards that do not constitute an enrollment-neutral set of moves.