COMP 141: Programming Fundamentals

Fall 2026 · Rhodes College

← Teaching · Hong Xu

An introduction to the fundamental concepts and practices of procedural programming. Topics include data types, control structures, functions, arrays, files, and the mechanics of running, testing, and debugging. Emphasis is placed on program design and problem-solving techniques. See the official course description.

Basic Information

Resources

Course calendar

Tentative schedule; dates and topics may change. Slides, code, and handouts will be linked from the topic as they are posted. Project writeups appear on the projects page.

Date Topic Assignments
Wed, Aug 19 Intro, algos, abstraction
Fri, Aug 21 Python, math, vars, print
Mon, Aug 24 More vars, data types, input
Wed, Aug 26 More input, comments
Project Project 1 assigned, due Mon, Aug 31
Fri, Aug 28 If, if-else
Mon, Aug 31 and/or, if-elif-else
Project Project 2 assigned, due Wed, Sep 9
Due Project 1
Wed, Sep 2 Functions w/ no args
Fri, Sep 4 Functions with args
Mon, Sep 7 Labor Day (no class)
Wed, Sep 9 Graphics 1
Due Project 2
Fri, Sep 11 Lab Graphics 2
Project Project 3 assigned, due Fri, Sep 18
Mon, Sep 14 Functions that return vals
Wed, Sep 16 Lab Return vals, if-else
Fri, Sep 18 While loops
Due Project 3
Mon, Sep 21 Gen alg for any while loop
Project Project 4 assigned, due Mon, Sep 28
Wed, Sep 23 Loops that count
Fri, Sep 25 For loops
Mon, Sep 28 Running totals (James Bond)/break/continue
Due Project 4
Wed, Sep 30 Exam Exam 1
Fri, Oct 2 Input validation, sentinels
Project Project 5 assigned, due Mon, Oct 12
Mon, Oct 5 Nested loops
Wed, Oct 7 Sliding window
Fri, Oct 9 Fall break (no class)
Mon, Oct 12 Lab Loop lab
Due Project 5
Wed, Oct 14 Files 1-reading
Fri, Oct 16 Files 2-split, max alg
Mon, Oct 19 Lab Files 3
Project Project 6 assigned, due Mon, Oct 26
Wed, Oct 21 Strings 1-intro
Fri, Oct 23 Strings 2-looping
Mon, Oct 26 Strings 3-count/filter
Due Project 6
Wed, Oct 28 Strings 4-more count/filter
Project Project 7 assigned, due Mon, Nov 9
Fri, Oct 30 Lists 1
Mon, Nov 2 Practice/review
Wed, Nov 4 Exam Exam 2
Fri, Nov 6 Lists 2
Mon, Nov 9 Lists 3 - talk like a pirate
Due Project 7
Wed, Nov 11 Lists 4
Project Project 8 assigned, due Wed, Nov 18
Fri, Nov 13 Lists 5 - angry birds
Mon, Nov 16 2D lists 1
Wed, Nov 18 2D lists 2
Due Project 8
Fri, Nov 20 2D lists 3 (TTT)
Mon, Nov 23 Thanksgiving break (no class)
Wed, Nov 25 Thanksgiving break (no class)
Fri, Nov 27 Thanksgiving break (no class)
Mon, Nov 30 2D lists 4 (TTT & graphics)
Wed, Dec 2 Binary numbers
Fri, Dec 4 Wrapup/practice