CSE 121
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Introduction to Computer Programming I

Winter 2026

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)¶

Monday (01/05)

  • No class

Tuesday (01/06)

  • No section

Wednesday (01/07)

  • Lesson 0: Course Policies, Hello World!
    A lecture @ 11:30 in CSE2 G20; B lecture at 2:30 in GUG 220
    • No Pre-Class Work for today!

Thursday (01/08)

  • Section 0: Welcome

Friday (01/09)

  • Pre-Class Material 1 (Complete before class.)
  • Lesson 1: Printing, Strings, Variables
    A lecture @ 11:30 in CSE2 G20; B lecture at 2:30 in GUG 220

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 0
Tue 01/06 No section
Wed 01/07
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 materials
resources: recordings
Recordings
  • Lecture A
  • Lecture B
Thu 01/08
SEC 00 Welcome
resources: materials
Fri 01/09
LES 01 Printing, Strings, Variables
pre-class: materials
Released
C0
Hello Bugs
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Week 1
Tue 01/13
SEC 01 Printing, Strings, Variables
Wed 01/14
LES 02 Datatypes, Expressions
Released
P0
Cornbear's Cafe
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 01/15
SEC 02 Datatypes, Expressions
Fri 01/16
LES 03 Revisiting Strings and Variables
Week 2
Tue 01/20
SEC 03 Revisiting Strings and Variables
Wed 01/21
LES 04 for Loops
Released
C1
ASCII Art
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 01/22
SEC 04 for Loops
Released
R0
Resub 0
C0, P0 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 01/23
LES 05 Nested for Loops, Random, Math
Week 3
Tue 01/27
SEC 05 Nested for Loops, Random, Math
Wed 01/28
LES 06 Cumulative Sum, Scope, Class Constants
Released
P1
Election Simulator
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 01/29
QUIZ 00 Quiz 0: Printing, Datatypes, Expressions, Variables, Strings, for Loops
Released
R1
Resub 1
C0, P0, C1 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 01/30
LES 07 Methods, Parameters
Week 4
Tue 02/03
SEC 07 Methods, Parameters, Returns
Wed 02/04
LES 08 More Methods & Parameters, Returns
Released
C2
Password Protector
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 02/05
SEC 08 Methods, Parameters, Returns 2
Released
R2
Resub 2
C0, P0, C1, P1 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 02/06
LES 09 Conditionals
Week 5
Tue 02/10
SEC 09 Conditionals
Wed 02/11
LES 10 while Loops
Thu 02/12
SEC 10 while Loops
Released
R3
Resub 3
P0, C1, P1, C2 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 02/13
LES 11 User Input (Scanner)
Released
P2
Prioritizing Patients
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Week 6
Tue 02/17
SEC 11 Scanner (User Input)
Wed 02/18
LES 12 Putting It All Together

Note: No Pre-Class Material for Today!

Thu 02/19
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 02/20
LES 13 Arrays
Week 7
Tue 02/24
SEC 13 Arrays
Wed 02/25
LES 14 Reference Semantics
Released
C3
Dance Dance Arrayvolution
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 02/26
SEC 14 Arrays, Reference Semantics
Released
R5
Resub 5
P1, C2, P2 Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 02/27
LES 15 2D Arrays
Week 8
Tue 03/03
SEC 15 2D Arrays
Wed 03/04
LES 16 Array Patterns
Released
P3
2DNArray Sequencing
I.S. by 11:59pm PT
Thu 03/05
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 03/06
LES 17 Putting It Even More Together

Note: No Pre-Class Material for Today!

Week 9
Tue 03/10
SEC 17 Final Review
Wed 03/11
LES 18 Final Exam Review

Note: No Pre-Class Material for Today!

Thu 03/12
SEC 18 Final Review
Released
R7
Resub 7
C0-P3 (ALL!) Due 11:59pm PT
Fri 03/13
LES 19 Wrap-Up, Victory Lap!
Week 10
Tue 03/17 No class (Finals Week)
Wed 03/18
EXAM Final Exam 12:30 - 2:20pm
Thu 03/19 No class (Finals Week)
Fri 03/20 No class (Finals Week)

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