Graduate
COP 5008: COMPUTING ESSENTIALS
This course is an introduction to computer programming using a modern high-level language and the application of computational methods to problem solving. It’s also an overview of computer systems and their application and role in society.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Create working Python programs to solve problems.
- Process data files as input to a Python program.
- Be able to create data structures that can be inserted, deleted, and sorted.
- Have the ability to interact with IT staff and clearly specify what a computer program is supposed to do and how it should go about doing it.
There are NO prerequisites for this course.
List of topics covered:
Computing’s role in society. Historical computing concepts: Turing machine and von Neumann architecture. Basic computer architecture. Use Python to cover basic programming concepts (e.g., variables, functions, loops) and data structures (e.g., string, lists, enumerations).
Faculty Profile:
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Computer Science and Engineering
ENG 215 | jmanderson@usf.edu
Dr. James Anderson received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. He then went on an earned an MBA from The University of Texas, Dallas. He has published over 125 books including CRC Press' "Software Defined Networking". Jim has worked for 16 different companies during his 33-year career including startups as well as Boeing, Siemens, Alcatel, Verizon, AAA, and Amgen. He has had opportunities to teach at Florida Atlantic University, The University of South Florida, and Florida Polytechnic University. Despite his busy work schedule, Jim has been able to publish 5 papers and has been an invited speaker 8 times. Jim has been an active member of the IEEE for over 30 years and has held numerous leadership positions at both the local and regional level. Jim has been a member of Toastmasters for 22 years. He manages 5 highly successful blogs and is the owner of LinkedIn's most successful product management user group. His favorite movie is "The Fugitive", he owns a 70 lb Boxer and he is a fairly good cook.