CSC160 - Python Programming I

3 Credit hours - 2 Lecture, 2 Lab

Prerequisite(s): Grade of “C” or better in CIS120 or MTH130 (College Algebra)

Course Rationale:

Python is a powerful scripting language that can be used to automate system administration, create powerful web pages, develop mobile applications and more. This course continues on the software development concepts taught in an intro course and builds on foundational programming techniques and principles using the Python Programming language.

Catalog Description:

Python is a powerful scripting language that can be used to automate system administration, create powerful web pages, develop mobile applications, and more. This course introduces entry-level programmers to foundation programming techniques and principles using the Python Programming language.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Utilize an integrated development environment to create, edit, and run Python scripts and Jupyter notebooks.

2. Design and implement variables and expressions in Python, selecting appropriate data types to optimize performance and readability for various tasks. Including understanding how to manipulate collections like lists, dictionaries, and sets

3. Apply control flow structures (selection and repetition) to develop Python programs that handle decision-making and iterative processes effectively.

4. Develop and use functions to modularize code, improving reusability and readability.

5. Implement Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles by creating classes, objects, and methods, and applying inheritance and recursion.

6. Handle exceptions in Python by writing code that anticipates and manages runtime errors, ensuring programs are error tolerant.

7. Create and utilize Python modules and external libraries to extend the functionality of programs.

8. Perform data scraping and API integration by writing Python scripts that extract data from the web and interact with external APIs, managing and visualizing this data using libraries like pandas and plotting tools.

All course assignments and exams are closely aligned to, and assess the student's mastery of, these core objectives.

Core Outcomes

Objective domains align to the certification exam: https://certiport.filecamp.com/s/7DESR7LBgRKTGxh5/fi

Exams and Certification Equivalent:

• Certification included in the course - Certiport IT Specialist, Python

Test Out Requirements

Students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in this course will need to complete a Departmental proficiency exam. Departmental proficiency examinations are created by appropriate college faculty to allow students to demonstrate their mastery of course content in designated subjects. These examinations will be equivalent to the cumulative final assessment used in the course. Faculty will determine the minimum score required to earn credit by exam for these courses.

The college’s test out policy is outlined in policy 2.12 - Credit by Exam (Test Out)