Foundation Programming

Module Identifier
CS02320
Module Title
Foundation Programming
Academic Year
2026/2027
Semester
Semester 2
Co-ordinator
Dr Andy Starr
Reading List
View on Aspire
Pre-Requisite

Completion of Semester 1 modules of the CS Foundation Year.
Other Staff
Dr Andy Starr
Dr Emmanuel Isibor

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment details

Proportion
Semester Assessment Practical Assignment: 50%
Semester Exam Written Exam: 2 Hours 50%
Supplementary Assessment Practical Assignment: 50%
Supplementary Exam Written Exam: 2 Hours 50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  1. Understand the internal operation of a modern computer.
  2. Write simple programs in a high-level language.

Brief description

The module will provide an introduction to programming to ensure students are well prepared to enter our normal Year 1. The module aims to provide an overview of computer science, including knowledge of the main components of a computer, programming environments and programming constructs. The practical work associated with the module will involve learning the basics of a high level programming language such as Scratch, Java or Python.

Aims

1. To familiarise students with the internal operation of a modern computer.
2. To introduce students to the basics of programming in a high level language.

Content

Unit = approx. 2 weeks.

Unit -1 Introduction: Computers and how they work.

Unit-2 Programming Paradigm: Programming languages, elements, concepts and types.

Unit-3 Programming language overview and the basic language elements; Language structure, conventions, variables, constants, data types, operators, expressions, statements, blocks.

Unit-4 Conditionals and loops: if-else, switch, break, continue, for, while, do-while, arrays.

Unit-5 Program design and computational thinking. How to decompose a problem and design a solution from reusable components.

Module skills

Skills type

Skills details
Application of Number Yes, programming problems will often involve calculations and formulae.
Communication Yes, in written report.
Improving own Learning and Performance Yes, via repetition and feedback from available tools.
Information Technology Yes, technology is core to the module.
Personal Development and Career planning No
Problem solving Yes, problem solving is a core part of programming.
Research skills Use of online sources of information to work around programming problems.
Subject Specific Skills Yes, programming
Team work No, in the module the students will work independently.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 3