CAS CS 111: Introduction to Computer Science I
Fall 2025
Syllabus
Description: The first course for computer science majors and anyone seeking a rigorous introduction. Develops computational problem-solving skills by programming in the Python language, and exposes students to a variety of other topics from computer science and its applications. This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking. No prerequisites.
Important: CS 111 is a time-consuming and demanding course that is primarily intended for students who plan to take more advanced computer science courses. You should not take the course if you have other major time commitments, and you should not take it primarily for the purpose of fulfilling Hub areas. Other options include CS 103, CS 108 and DS 100.
Midterm Exams
You must be able to take the midterm exams, which will be held on two Wednesday evenings (October 22 and November 19) from 6:30-7:45 p.m. in locations to be announced. We are not scheduled to meet on any other Wednesday evenings.
Course Website: http://www.cs.bu.edu/courses/cs111
In addition, announcements and some course materials will be posted Blackboard.
Requirements and Grading
1. Weekly problem sets and final project (25% of the final grade)
2. Exams: two midterm exams (30%) and a final exam (35%)
3. Participation (10%; see below)
To pass the course, you must have a passing average on the problem sets and a passing average across the three exams.
Collaboration Policy
You are strongly encouraged to collaborate with one another in studying the lecture materials and preparing for the exams. Problem sets will include:
• individual-only problems that you must complete on your own
• pair-optional problems that you may complete alone or with a partner.
For both types of problems, you may discuss ideas and approaches with others, but such discussions should be kept at a high level and should not involve actual details of the code or of other types of answers. You must complete the actual solutions on your own (or, in the case of a pair-optional problem, alone or with a partner).
Rules for working with a partner on pair-optional problems:
• You may not work with more than one partner on a given assignment. (However, you are welcome to switch partners between assignments.)
• You may not split up the work and complete it separately.
• You must work together (at the same computer or via a Zoom meeting) for all problems completed as a pair, and your work must be a collaborative effort.
• You and your partner must both submit the same solution to each problem that you did as a pair, and you must put your partner's name at the top of the file.