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 1Kelly Rivers (krivers)MWF 2:30-3:20pm ESTDH 2210
Lecture 2Franceska Xhakaj (francesx)MWF 3:35-4:25pm ESTDH A302
Recitation AHenry (hwiese) and Ryan (rmcgrady)R 9:05am-9:55am ESTGHC 5207
Recitation BEzra (eboldizs) and Neha (ntirumal)R 10:10am-11:00am ESTGHC 5207
Recitation C/OFlako (daniells) and Kruthi (kthangal)R 11:15am-12:05pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation DAvani (aguduri) and Muzaffar (mimohame)R 12:20pm-1:10pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation EEdel (eya) and Minjoo (minjooki)R 1:25pm-2:15pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation FJen (jennifex) and Shivi (shivij)R 2:30pm-3:20pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation GAnishka (anishkaj) and Krishna (kpatel2)R 3:35pm-4:25pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation HFiona (cchiu2)R 4:40pm-5:30pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation UKeerthana (keerthav)R 12:20pm-1:10pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation JElisa (ezm)R 1:25pm-2:15pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation KJenny (jdoan)R 2:30pm-3:20pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation LKaylin (kayliny) and Nathan (nmaher)R 4:40pm-5:30pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation MStephen (stephenz)R 9:05am-9:55am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation NOtto (ojs)R 10:10am-11:00am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation C/OFlako (daniells) and Kruthi (kthangal)R 11:15am-12:05pm ESTGHC 5207
Recitation PBelle (beblanch) and Charlie (crliu)R 12:20pm-1:10pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation QBen (bcarbone) and Eran (eozsarfa)R 1:25pm-2:15pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation SGabriel (gmedinaj) and Nazanin (nazimi)R 2:30pm-3:20pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation TAlbert (kuangs) and Emily (egetty)R 3:35pm-4:25pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation ICANCELLEDR 11:15am-12:05pm ESTGHC 5208

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 either remotely or in Gates 4109 for Prof. Kelly and GHC 4003 for Prof. Franceska; sign up on the OH Queue if you'd like to attend remotely. Meetings with the instructors are also available by appointment.

Drop-in Tutoring is run by the Student Academic Success Center and takes place across campus in the evenings. This is a good resource for more in-depth review of the course concepts.

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
In-person TA Hours11am-1pm, 4-5pm1-5pm1-5pm
Remote TA Hours5-8pm5-8pm5-8pm5-8pm5-7pm5-7pm
Instructor Hours10-11am (Prof. Kelly)1:30-3pm (Prof. Franceska)12:30-1:30pm (Prof. Kelly)1:30-3pm (Prof. Franceska)1-2pm (Prof. Kelly)
Drop-in Tutoring8:30-11pm (Posner 282)