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Virtually all courses for Computer Science majors assume a proficiency in the Java programming language at the level obtained in CMPSCI 121 Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers, and CMPSCI 187 Programming with Data Structures. Some students will have obtained some of this proficiency in high school or elsewhere. For example, a score of 3 or higher on the Computer Science Advanced Placement exam gives a student credit for 121. (This is the “A” exam—the former “AB” exam gave credit for both 121 and 187 with a score of 4 or 5.) Students who believe they can successfully skip required courses should consult with departmental advisers and the instructors of the courses they want to take. The department’s priority is to place students in the most advanced courses in which they will succeed. If students without Advanced Placement credit take 187, for example, without taking 121 first, and get a C or better on their first attempt, the department will grant them credit by examination for 121.

The department also offers a variety of introductory courses other than CMPSCI 121. CMPSCI 105 Computer Literacy is a broad introduction to the use and programming of computers, stressing the use of applications programs such as word processors, spreadsheets, and databases, as well as programming for problem solving. CMPSCI 120 provides an introduction to practical problem solving on the Internet, and requires some prior experience with computers. CMPSCI 145 gives a general introduction to the ways computers represent, store, and retrieve information. Finally, CMPSCI 191P is an introduction to programming using the Python language, which may be more accessible than Java to students planning only one programming course. All of these courses meet requirements for the minor in Information Technology, and are potentially suitable for students in any major.