COSC131-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Introduction to Programming for Engineers

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

Computer programming in a high-level language with special emphasis on numerical computation. This course is required for engineering intermediate and is an alternative to COSC121 as a prerequisite for COSC122 and all 200 level COSC and SENG courses. COSC131 teaches the fundamentals of computer programming using the Python language and can be taken by students who have no previous programming background. Topics include expressions, assignment, selection and iteration, structured data (lists, dictionaries, tuples, arrays), functional decomposition, file processing, numerical computation with numpy, graph plotting with matplotlib and an introduction to object-oriented programming.

Learning Outcomes

1. Use Python data structures and flow control constructs and their applications [WA1]
2. Apply the Python language to design, implement and test programs that solve simple problems in science and engineering [WA1]
3. Reduce complexity through the (re)structuring of code [WA1]
4. Use the NumPy numerical library to perform a range of numerical calculations and to use the Matplotlib library to plot graphs [WA1]
5. Apply Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python at a basic level [WA1]

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Prerequisites

1) EMTH117 or MATH101, or
2) NCEA 14 Credits (18 strongly recommended) at level 3 Mathematics (including the standards 'Apply differentiation methods in solving problems (91578)' and 'Apply integration methods in solving problems (91579)'), or
3) Cambridge: D at A level or an A at AS level in Mathematics, or
4) IB: 4 at HL or 5 at SL in Mathematics, or
5) approval of the Head of Department based on alternative prior learning. (01 Jan 2024 - present) 1) MATH101, or
2) NCEA 14 Credits (18 strongly recommended) at level 3 Mathematics (including the standards 'Apply differentiation methods in solving problems (91578)' and 'Apply integration methods in solving problems (91579)'), or
3) Cambridge: D at A level or an A at AS level in Mathematics, or
4) IB: 4 at HL or 5 at SL in Mathematics, or
5) approval of the Head of Department based on alternative prior learning.

Restrictions

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 12:00 - 13:00 A1 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 20 Jul
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 14:00 - 16:00 Jack Erskine 010 Computer Lab (17/7-21/8, 11/9-16/10)
Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab (17/7-21/8, 11/9-16/10)
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Friday 12:00 - 14:00 Jack Erskine 010 Computer Lab (18/7-22/8, 12/9-17/10)
Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab (18/7-22/8, 12/9-17/10)
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
03 Thursday 08:00 - 10:00 Jack Erskine 010 Computer Lab (17/7-21/8, 11/9-16/10)
Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab (17/7-21/8, 11/9-16/10)
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
04 Tuesday 11:00 - 13:00 Jack Erskine 010 Computer Lab (15/7-19/8, 9/9-14/10)
Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab (15/7-19/8, 9/9-14/10)
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator

Andrew Bainbridge-Smith

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Learning Modules 11% Weekly
Programming Assignments 10% Two Assignments
Self-Assessment Quiz 4%
Test 20%
Final Exam 55%

Textbooks / Resources

There is no prescribed textbook for the course, as the lecture notes, videos and learning modules should be sufficient for most students. However, those wanting extra reading might wish to consider some of the recommended reading given on the course's Learn site.

The software used in the course is free and is available on all course laboratory computers. It can be installed on nearly all reasonably modern home computers except Chromebooks.

Additional Course Outline Information

Special Consideration Applications for the Final Exam

Please click HERE for the CSSE Department's policy for the academic remedy of applications for a special consideration for final exams.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $998.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .

All COSC131 Occurrences