Scott Emrich
Office: 608 Min Kao
Phone: (865) 974-3891; E-mail: semrich at utk.edu
Office hours: TBD, and by appointment
Overview
An introduction to computational thinking and structured programming. Topics include problem solving and algorithm development with emphasis on conditional if/else statements, loop based iteration, and function calls. Students will also be given an overview of commonly used data structures such as arrays. Skills learned include designing a program to solving a problem, developing the algorithms needed, writing code to implement them, testing the code and correcting errors, as well as documenting how the code works.
Text and syllabus
Code HS AP Computer Science A textbook (free and online)
The syllabus can be found here
Draft schedule
| Date | Topic | Homework | Notes | |
| 8/19/2025 | Welcome, What is CS + algorithms | "Getting to know you" virtual index cards | Worksheet in class | |
| 8/21/2025 | Variables, types | See video from TA reinforcing IDE walkthrough | ||
| 8/26/2025 | Data types (cont), Operators | Hw #1 due (Canvas upload) |
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| 8/28/2025 | Arithmetic and casting | |||
| 9/02/2025 | Scanner & I/O | Hw #2 due (Canvas upload) |
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| 9/04/2025 | Code Jam (graded in-class challenge) |
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| 9/09/2025 | Review & quiz | |||
| 9/11/2025 | Using switch statements | |||
| 9/16/2025 | Conditional statements | Hw #3 due (Canvas upload) |
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| 9/18/2025 | Control flow (if/then/else) | 9/23/2025 | Loops: while, do while, for | |
| 9/25/2025 | Midterm review | |||
| 9/30/2025 | Midterm | |||
| 10/02/2025 | Intro to classes and objects: protection, instantiation | |||
| Fall Break! (no classes) | ||||
| 10/09/2025 | Classes: methods and fields | |||
| 10/14/2025 | Method overloading | 10/16/2025 | Arrays | |
| 10/21/2025 | Code Jam: simple OOP programing ((graded in-class challenge) |
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| 10/23/2025 | In-class: using Arrays for simple things | |||
| 10/28/2025 | ArrayLists in Java | |||
| 10/30/2025 | In class: Arrays vs. Arraylists | |||
| 11/04/2025 | No class: Election day | |||
| 11/06/2025 | Introduction to algorithm design | |||
| 11/11/2025 | Guest panel: What I wish I knew in 101 and how to prepare for 202 (GTAs, special guests) | |||
| 11/13/2025 | Algorithm design (cont): a first look at sorting | |||
| 11/18/2025 | Peer tips & wins; future survey | |||
| 11/20/2025 | TBD / catch up | |||
| 11/25/2025 | Code jam and student-driven final study guide review | |||
| 12/02/2025 | Study session (optional) | |||
All are required to abide by the University honor code. Discussions are encouraged, but all answers/programs must be written/developed individually.
Final projects will be performed as a group with peer assessments.