15-110: Principles of Computing


An introductory computer science course for students with little to no computing experience. Students will learn the core elements of programming in Python and will also receive a broad overview of big ideas in the field of computer science. The course begins with fundamentals of programming (data, variables, functions, conditionals, loops, and recursion) and the basics of computer organization (data representation and memory), then introduces major data structures (lists, dictionaries, trees, and graphs), the core concepts of efficiency (through runtime analysis and a case study of search algorithms), and how computing is scaled for practical use (concurrency and the internet). The course concludes with an overview of how computer science can be used as a tool to support other domains (data analysis, simulation, and machine learning) and how computer science influences and is influenced by the world (history, ethics, and modern events).

Meeting Times

SessionInstructor(s)TimeLocation
Lecture 1Mike Taylor (mdtaylor)MWF 2:00-2:50pm ESTHOA 160
Lecture 2Ranysha Ware (rware)MWF 3:00-3:50pm ESTHOA 160
Recitation AAiden (yche2) and Emily (emilybai)R 9:00am-9:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation BAvani (aguduri) and Alice (alicelia)R 10:00am-10:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation CAriel (ychiu3) and Shannon (soleary)R 11:00am-11:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation DSean (spjohnso) and Zoe (zhausner)R 12:00pm-12:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation ERitika (ritikam) and Inselbag (inselbal)R 1:00pm-1:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation FArohee (abhoja) and Sameeksha (sameeksd)R 2:00pm-2:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation GEmily (egetty) and Daymon (dkerns)R 3:00pm-3:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation HVy (vtran) and Aaron (aaronle2)R 4:00pm-4:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation IChase (ccrandal) and Chloe (chloepra)R 9:00am-9:50am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation JDian (dianz) and Maddie (mrburrou)R 10:00am-10:50am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation KAnishka (anishkaj) and Rachael (rpratt)R 11:00am-11:50am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation LKatrina (kbanardi) and Alex (ajdietri)R 12:00pm-12:50pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation MMichelle (mfchen) and Kate (ccourabi)R 1:00pm-1:50pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation NVivian (vsui) and Chieri (cnnadozi)R 2:00pm-2:50pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation OChloe (chloeh) and Madison (madisone)R 3:00pm-3:50pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation PEkin (eozince) and Kaiti (kaitlink)R 4:00pm-4:50pm ESTGHC 5210

Office Hours

In-person TA Hours take place in the Gates 5th Floor Teaching Commons and clusters. When you have a question, sign up on the OH Queue and a TA will come find you to help.

Remote TA Hours take place remotely on Zoom. When you have a question, sign up on the OH Queue with a link to a Zoom meeting you host, and a TA will join your Zoom call to help.

Instructor Hours take place in Gates 4126 for Prof. Taylor and Gates 4109 for Prof. Ware. Meetings with the instructor are also available by appointment.

Drop-in Tutoring is run by the Student Academic Success Center and takes place in the Fifth & Clyde Neighborhood Space. This is a good resource for students who would like additional help. SASC also offers one-on-one tutoring here

(Note: The times below are tentative/TBD)
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
In-person TA Hours1-5pm1-5pm
Remote TA Hours5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm
Instructor Hours4pm-5pm Prof. Ware2pm-3pm Prof. Ware12pm-1pm Prof. Taylor
4pm-5pm Prof. Ware
12pm-1pm Prof. Taylor4pm-5pm Prof. Taylor
Drop-in TutoringTBD