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 2:00-2:50pm ESTGHC 4401
Lecture 2Franceska Xhakaj (francesx)MWF 4:00-4:50pm ESTDH A302
Recitation AShannon (soleary)R 9:00am- 9:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation BFran (fgs) and Vivian (vsui)R 10:00am-10:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation CKate (ccourabi)R 11:00am-11:50am ESTGHC 5208
Recitation DMiles (mniemeye) and Sean (spjohnso)R 12:00pm-12:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation EMihika (mbajpai) and Vy (vtran)R 1:00pm- 1:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation FAmelia (ameliaas) and Daphne (daphneh)R 2:00pm- 2:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation GChieri (cnnadozi)R 3:00pm- 3:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation HAiden (yche2) and Chloe N. (chloen)R 4:00pm- 4:50pm ESTGHC 5208
Recitation IRachael (rpratt)R 10:00am-10:50am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation JChloe P. (chloepra)R 11:00am-11:50am ESTGHC 5210
Recitation KDietrich (ajdietri) and Emily (emilybai)R 1:00pm- 1:50pm ESTGHC 5210
Recitation LChase (ccrandal)R 2:00pm- 2:50pm 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 and join this Zoom meeting, where a TA will help you.

Instructor Hours take place in Gates 4109 for Prof. Kelly and GHC 4003 for Prof. Franceska. Meetings with the instructor are also available by appointment.

Drop-in Tutoring is run by the Student Academic Success Center. It takes place Thursdays 7:30-9:30p on the 2nd floor of the Highmark Center in the Block-Kelley Room.

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
In-person TA Hours1-5pm1-5pm
Remote TA Hours5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm5-7pm
Instructor Hours10-11am (Kelly)1-2pm (Franceska, remote)12:30-1:30pm (Kelly)1-2pm (Franceska, remote)10:30-11:30am (Kelly)