CSE 121
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Introduction to Computer Programming I

Autumn 2025

25au ver.

Note: this is for the Autumn 2025 iteration of CSE 121. Looking for a different quarter? Please visit https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse121/.

Welcome to CSE 121: Introduction to Computer Programming I 🎉

What is this class? What will I learn?

Computing continues to play an ever-increasing role in today’s society. Having an understanding of computing is an essential skill for those in the 21st century; from working in industries more reliant on technology, using computational methods to further scientific understanding, or being an informed citizen in a world with technology all around us.

This course is a first course in computer programming focused on the basics of procedural programming in Java. It assumes students have not taken a previous programming course and do not have substantial other programming experience.

Students with previous experience are encouraged to consider CSE 122 or see the Allen School’s page on introductory courses.

This Week (at a glance)¶

Tuesday (10/07)

  • Section 3: Revisiting Strings and Variables
  • P0 - Cornbear's Cafe due @ 11:59pm PT.

Wednesday (10/08)

  • Pre-Class Material 4 (Complete before class.)
  • Lesson 4: for Loops
    A lecture @ 11:30 in KNE 130; B lecture at 3:30 in BAG 131
  • C1 - ASCII Art released. Due Tuesday (10/14) @ 11:59pm PT.

Thursday (10/09)

  • Section 4: for Loops

Friday (10/10)

  • Pre-Class Material 5 (Complete before class.)
  • Lesson 5: Nested for Loops, Random, Math
    A lecture @ 11:30 in KNE 130; B lecture at 3:30 in BAG 131

Calendar¶

Pre-Class

Anything listed in the “pre-class” materials (PCMs) for a day should be read before attending class that day. The PCMs are a first introduction to the most important terms and concepts for that day of class. It is okay if the PCMs don’t make complete sense as we have the rest of the class day to clarify the concepts, but if you don’t do the PCMs, the class session won’t make any sense.

Topic Programming / Creative Projects Resubmissions
Week 1
Wed 09/24
LES 00 Course Policies, Hello World!

Note: Normally you would complete the Pre-class Work before class. There is nothing you need to complete before class today!

in-class: pdf pptx
resources: recordings
Recordings
  • Recording (A)
  • Recording (B)
Thu 09/25
SEC 00 Welcome
resources: materials
Fri 09/26
LES 01 Printing, Strings, Variables
pre-class: materials
in-class: materials pdf pptx
resources: recordings
Recordings
  • Recording (A)
  • Recording (B)
Released
C0
Hello Bugs
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Week 2
Tue 09/30
SEC 01 Printing, Strings, Variables
resources: materials
Wed 10/01
LES 02 Datatypes, Expressions
pre-class: materials
in-class: materials pdf pptx
resources: recordings
Recordings
  • Recording (A)
  • Recording (B)
Released
P0
Cornbear's Cafe
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 10/02
SEC 02 Datatypes, Expressions
resources: materials
Fri 10/03
LES 03 Revisiting Strings and Variables
pre-class: materials
in-class: materials pdf pptx
resources: recordings
Recordings
  • Recording (A)
  • Recording (B)
Week 3
Tue 10/07
SEC 03 Revisiting Strings and Variables
resources: materials
Wed 10/08
LES 04 for Loops
pre-class: materials
in-class: materials pdf pptx
Released
C1
ASCII Art
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 10/09
SEC 04 for Loops
Released
R0
Resub 0
C0, P0 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 10/10
LES 05 Nested for Loops, Random, Math
Week 4
Tue 10/14
SEC 05 Nested for Loops, Random, Math
Wed 10/15
LES 06 Methods, Parameters, Scope
Released
P1
Election Simulator
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 10/16
QUIZ 00 Quiz 0: Printing, Datatypes, Expressions, Variables, Strings, for Loops
Released
R1
Resub 1
C0, P0, C1 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 10/17
LES 07 Methods, Parameters 2
Week 5
Tue 10/21
SEC 07 Methods, Parameters, Scope
Wed 10/22
LES 08 Methods, Parameters, Returns
Released
C2
Password Generator
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 10/23
SEC 08 Methods, Parameters, Returns
Released
R2
Resub 2
C0, P0, C1, P1 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 10/24
LES 09 Conditionals
Week 6
Tue 10/28
SEC 09 Conditionals
Wed 10/29
LES 10 while Loops
Released
P2
Prioritizing Patients
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 10/30
SEC 10 while Loops
Released
R3
Resub 3
P0, C1, P1, C2 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 10/31
LES 11 User Input (Scanner)
Week 7
Tue 11/04
SEC 11 Scanner (User Input)
Wed 11/05
LES 12 Putting It All Together
Thu 11/06
QUIZ 01 Quiz 1: for Loops, Nested for Loops, Random, Math, Methods, Parameters, Returns, Conditionals, while Loops
Released
R4
Resub 4
C1, P1, C2 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 11/07
LES 13 Arrays
Week 8
Tue 11/11
HOLIDAY No Section - Veterans Day
Wed 11/12
LES 14 Reference Semantics
Released
C3
Dance Dance Arrayvolution
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 11/13
SEC 14 Arrays, Reference Semantics
Released
R5
Resub 5
P1, C2, P2 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 11/14
LES 15 2D Arrays
Week 9
Tue 11/18
SEC 15 2D Arrays
Wed 11/19
LES 16 Array Patterns
Released
P3
2DNArray Sequencing
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 11/20
QUIZ 02 Quiz 2: Conditionals, while Loops, User Input (Scanner), Arrays, Reference Semantics
Released
R6
Resub 6
C2, P2, C3 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 11/21
LES 17 Putting It Even More Together
Week 10
Tue 11/25
HOLIDAY No (Official) Section
Wed 11/26
HOLIDAY No Lecture
Thu 11/27
HOLIDAY Thanksgiving
Fri 11/28
HOLIDAY No Lecture - Native American Heritage Day (Observed)
Week 11
Tue 12/02
SEC 17 Array Patterns
Wed 12/03
LES 18 Final Exam Review
Thu 12/04
SEC 18 Final Review
Fri 12/05
LES 19 Wrap-Up, Victory Lap!
Week 12
Tue 12/09 Finals Week
Wed 12/10
EXAM Final Exam 12:30 - 2:20pm
Thu 12/11 Finals Week

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