CP104: Introduction to Programming - Fall 2025

Course schedule, methodology, assessments, lab attendance and exam policies have been planned based on current public health guidelines. Should these guidelines change, adjustments will be communicated to students.

An introductory course designed to familiarize the student with modern software development techniques. Emphasis is on problem-solving and structured program design methodologies. Programming projects are implemented in a widely used high-level language.

3 lecture hours, 2.5 lab hours
Credit: 0.50

Course Overview and Approach

• Analyze problems and design computer algorithms for solving them.
• Learn a structured and modular approach to programming.
• Learn basic components of a high-level programming language.
• Gain experience in writing computer programs.

Course Tools and Learning Materials

Items

Item	Purchase	Cost	Notes
Textbook: The textbook: Starting Out with Python By: Tony Gaddis ISBN-13 978-0137619139	Required	$52.40 CAD	This is an electronic version available through MyLearningSpace . You must opt out of using the textbook if you do not want to pay for it. The last opt out date is September 19, 2025. Previous editions of the text may be used.
Interactive Learning Tool: ZyBook	Optional	$64.00 USD ~ $90.00 CAD	See: ZyBook

You are required to have a personal computer capable of running the Python programming language and the Eclipse / PyDev IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Windows, Mac, and Linux are all appropriate operating systems for this on desktop or laptop machines. Chromebooks are not appropriate.

Python is a programming language used extensively on the World Wide Web. Eclipse is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) program. Together with the PyDev plug-in it eases the task of writing and executing programs written in Python. Python, Eclipse, and PyDev are all freely available from the Internet, and we provide instructions for downloading and installing them in the Resources section of this page.

You are responsible for storing all your assignment and lab work on your own memory sticks, Laurier network storage, the cloud, or other media. We strongly suggest that you keep at least two copies of your work at all times.

Student Evaluation

You must pass the final exam in order to pass the course. A pass is defined as 50%.

If you pass the final exam, the following evaluation is applied:

Schedule

Note: this schedule is subject to change. All times are based upon Eastern Standard Time - i.e. Waterloo, ON time.

University and Course Policies

• Academic Calendars: Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar for information regarding all important dates, deadlines, and services available on campus.

• The Final Examination will be scheduled by the Examinations Office of the University. You will be provided with the date, time and location as soon as this information becomes available.

• Accessibility: Contact Accessible Learning if you require academic accommodations because of a disability. Review the Registration page for information about intake and documentation requirements. Deadlines: Students are responsible for meeting posted deadlines for registering with Accessible Learning and booking accommodated exams. Accessible Learning cannot guarantee accommodations for requests received after posted deadlines.

• Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. If requested to do so by course instructors, students are required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism.

• Academic Integrity: Laurier is committed to a culture of integrity within and beyond the classroom. This culture values trustworthiness (i.e., honesty, integrity, reliability), fairness, caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship. Together, we have a shared responsibility to uphold this culture in our academic and nonacademic behaviour. The University has a defined policy with respect to academic misconduct. As a Laurier student you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with this policy and the accompanying penalty guidelines, some of which may appear on your transcript if there is a finding of misconduct. The relevant policy can be found at Laurier's academic integrity website along with resources to educate and support you in upholding a culture of integrity. Ignorance is not a defense.

• Late Assignment Policy: Late or incorrectly submitted labs and assignments are not accepted. Only work submitted correctly and on time is graded. Labs and assignments are submitted through MyLearningSpace dropboxes and may be submitted multiple times. Only the last submission is graded. Submit early, submit often. There are no options for make-up work in place of missing labs and assignments.

• Final Examinations: Students are strongly urged not to make any commitments (e.g., vacation) during the examination period. Students are required to be available for examinations during the examination periods of all terms in which they register. Refer to the Handbook on Undergraduate Course Management for more information.

• Religious and Spiritual Accommodation: The University welcomes students, staff and faculty from a wide range of backgrounds, beliefs and traditions and has a duty to provide accommodation based on creed (religion and spirituality) under the Ontario Human Rights Code. This obligation requires the University to work with students to provide reasonable accommodation when a student's religious observances or spiritual beliefs creates a conflict with their academic schedule. In order for instructors to provide proper accommodations, students have obligations to request accommodations in a timely manner. All policies, procedures, timelines, and request forms are found on Laurier’s Religious and Spiritual Accommodations and Supports webpage.

• Gender Inclusivity: This course will be conducted in an affirming and mutually respectful atmosphere for people of all gender expressions and identities. I was provided with a class roster with your name as it appears on the official enrollment information. If you use a name different from the roster, please let me know at your earliest convenience. You can also share your gender pronouns with me if you like. Members of the class are expected to refer to one another by the name and pronouns identified by each student. If you are comfortable, you can also let your classmates know about your name and pronouns. The Centre for Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CSEDI) has developed a website outlining how to request a different name to appear on some university records and systems such as Zoom, MyLS and email. The website also provides information about Laurier’s Inclusive Washroom Initiative, support resources at Laurier, and more.

• Syllabus Statement - Intellectual Property: The educational materials developed for this course, including, but not limited to, lecture notes and slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments, and any materials posted to MyLearningSpace, are the intellectual property of the course instructors. These materials have been developed for student use only and they are not intended for wider dissemination and/or communication outside of a given course. Posting or providing unauthorized audio, video, or textual material of course content to third-party websites violates instructors’ intellectual property rights, and the Canadian Copyright Act. Recording lectures in any way is prohibited in this course unless specific permission has been granted by instructors. Failure to follow these instructions may be in contravention of the university’s Student Non-Academic Code of Conduct and/or Code of Academic Conduct, and will result in appropriate penalties. Participation in this course constitutes an agreement by all parties to abide by the relevant University Policies, and to respect the intellectual property of others during and after their association with Wilfrid Laurier University.

• Foot Patrol, the Wellness Centre, and the Student Food Bank:

  Multi-campus Resource:

  • Good2Talk is a postsecondary school helpline that provides free, professional and confidential counselling support for students in Ontario. Call 1-866-925-5454 or through 2-1-1. Available 24-7.

  Kitchener/Waterloo Resources:

  • Waterloo Student Food Bank: All students are eligible to use this service to ensure they’re eating healthy when overwhelmed, stressed or financially strained. Anonymously request a package online 24-7. All dietary restrictions accommodated.
  • Waterloo Foot Patrol: 519.886.FOOT (3668). A volunteer operated safe-walk program, available Fall and Winter daily from 6:30 pm to 3 am. Teams of two are assigned to escort students to and from campus by foot or by van.
  • Waterloo Student Wellness Centre: 519-884-0710, x3146. The Centre supports the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of students. Located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building, booked and same-day appointments are available Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm. Contact the Centre at x3146, wellness@wlu.ca or @LaurierWellness. After hours crisis support available 24/7. Call 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247).

  Brantford Resources:

  • Brantford Student Food Bank: All students are eligible to use this service to ensure they’re eating healthy when overwhelmed, stressed or financially strained. Anonymously request a package online 24-7. All dietary restrictions accommodated.
  • Brantford Foot Patrol: 519-751-PTRL (7875). A volunteer operated safe-walk program, available Fall and Winter, Monday through Thursday from 6:30 pm to 1 am; Friday through Sunday 6:30 pm to 11 pm. Teams of two are assigned to escort students to and from campus by foot or by van.
  • Brantford Wellness Centre: 519-756-8228, x5803. Students have access to support for all their physical, emotional, and mental health needs at the Wellness Centre. Location: Student Centre, 2nd floor. Hours: 8:30 am to 4:15 pm Monday through Friday. After hours crisis support available 24/7. Call 1-884-437-3247 (HERE247).

  I acknowledge that in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Brantford we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Resources

MyLearningSpace

Laurier Library

Study Skills and Course Support

writing centre, math centre, academic advising, study skills/supplemental instruction, accessible learning

CP104 Software Installation

Instructions for installing CP104 course software at home.

Using Eclipse / PyDev

An introduction to creating projects in Eclipse / PyDev.

PyDev Problems

Some typical problems when using PyDev.

A Free Textbook

How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python: a free textbook available for downloading.

Python Library Reference

This library reference manual documents Python's standard library, as well as many optional library modules.

Style Guide for Python Code

A style guide for Python from the creator of Python.

http://wiki.python.org/moin/

The Python wiki.

The educational materials developed for this course, including, but not limited to, lecture notes and slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments, and any materials posted to MyLearningSpace, are the intellectual property of the course instructor. These materials have been developed for student use only and they are not intended for wider dissemination and/or communication outside of a given course. Posting or providing unauthorized audio, video, or textual material of lecture content to third-party websites violates an instructor's intellectual property rights, and the Canadian Copyright Act. Recording lectures in any way is prohibited in this course unless specific permission has been granted by the instructor. Failure to follow these instructions may be in contravention of the university's Code of Student Conduct and/or Code of Academic Conduct, and will result in appropriate penalties. Participation in this course constitutes an agreement by all parties to abide by the relevant University Policies, and to respect the intellectual property of others during and after their association with Wilfrid Laurier University.

© 2025 David Brown. All Rights Reserved.