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CS 101 · 3 credits
Course Outline
Introduction to Programming
Your very first programming course, assuming zero technical background. It explains what a program actually is, then teaches you to write real instructions a computer will follow — printing, variables, decisions, and loops — in Python, the friendly language most beginners start with. Along the way you build a working mental model of how computers, memory, and the internet fit together, and what software engineers actually do all day.
What you will learn
- ✓Explain what a program is in terms of instructions, inputs, and outputs
- ✓Write and run Python programs that print, calculate, store values in variables, and read input
- ✓Read a Python error message, locate the failing line, and fix simple bugs
- ✓Use if/else decisions and for/while loops to control what a program does
- ✓Describe how binary, memory, and the CPU work at a mental-model level
- ✓Explain how clients, servers, and websites fit together when you use the internet
- ✓Describe the main software engineering roles and know how to keep learning after this course
Course outline
Unit 1What a Program Is
- 1-1Computers follow instructions2 checks · 8 min
- 1-2Run your first line of Python3 checks · 10 min
- 1-3Programs take input3 checks · 9 min
- 1-4Read the error, fix the bug3 checks · 10 min
Unit 2Talking to the Computer
- 2-1Strings: working with text6 checks · 12 min
- 2-2Numbers and math4 checks · 12 min
- 2-3Text vs numbers: converting input3 checks · 10 min
Unit 3Remembering Things: Variables
- 3-1What a variable is3 checks · 10 min
- 3-2Changing variables5 checks · 12 min
- 3-3Naming things well3 checks · 8 min
- 3-4f-strings: dropping values into text3 checks · 10 min
Unit 4Making Decisions
- 4-1True or False: booleans and comparisons4 checks · 9 min
- 4-2if and else4 checks · 13 min
- 4-3elif, and, or3 checks · 10 min
Unit 5Repeating Work: Loops
- 5-1The for loop3 checks · 11 min
- 5-2The while loop3 checks · 10 min
- 5-3Accumulating: totals and counts3 checks · 11 min
- 5-4Looping over text3 checks · 11 min
Unit 6How Computers Actually Work
- 6-1Binary: everything is bits4 checks · 11 min
- 6-2Memory: where variables live4 checks · 12 min
- 6-3The CPU: fetch, decode, execute2 checks · 10 min
Unit 7How the Internet Fits In
- 7-1Clients and servers3 checks · 9 min
- 7-2Websites, apps, and where code runs3 checks · 10 min
- 7-3URLs, domains, and DNS3 checks · 10 min
Unit 8Becoming a Software Engineer
- 8-1What engineers do all day3 checks · 9 min
- 8-2Breaking problems down4 checks · 13 min
- 8-3How to keep learning2 checks · 8 min
Practice while you learn
Use Hack University's public online code editor when you want to run code online before committing to the full curriculum. The browser compilers are free for quick syntax checks, exercises, and interview practice in an isolated sandbox environment.