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Computer Science: Fundamentals of Computing

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Liberal Arts Education

Are you curious about how your favorite apps and websites work? Want to dive deep into the programming language of our technological systems?

Computing is an essential part of our daily lives. From smartphones to laptops, computers are everywhere. This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of computing systems, developing your problem-solving skills using computational thinking. The course will take you through the grand challenges in computing, methods of analyzing and formulating solutions to multidisciplinary problems, creating basic algorithms for solving problems, as well as designing, implementing, and testing programs using different programming languages. Using basic design principles, you will also understand different data structures, such as stacks and queues, and learn to apply various algorithms for operating on them. In addition, the course covers the basics of understanding the imperative programming paradigm, which focuses on how to solve a problem, and the object-oriented programming paradigm, which focuses on what objects are needed to solve a problem. By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in computer science and programming. You will be able to write basic programs using primary and secondary languages and understand how algorithms work. 

Whether you want to pursue a career in technology or simply want to understand how computers work, this is an excellent starting point.

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Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate basic proficiency in the usage of the C++ programming language.
  • Analyze basic problems and formulate algorithms to computationally solve them.
  • Learn how to break large problems into smaller pieces.
  • Apply control, pointers, arrays, and structures correctly.
  • Apply dynamic memory allocation correctly.
  • Apply basic I/O operations to read and write from standard input and data files.


Duration and Location

  • July 28 - August 15, 2024.
  • Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 3 pm.
  • AUC New Cairo campus.
  • Fridays and Saturdays off.


Fees

  • $1,000 (price includes field trips) - This amount is equivalent to half the price of a regular undergraduate course.
  • 10% discount offered for siblings, AUC faculty, staff, and alumni.
  • Egyptian students can pay the equivalent amount in Egyptian pounds.
Egyptian students can pay the tuition using 


Current AUC Equivalent

This course is a prerequisite in the computer science or computer engineering programs for students interested in the fields of technology, computer science, or computer engineering.

Note: Program requirements may change by the time the student applies to AUC. If this course is no longer a requirement for the major, it will be counted as an elective course.


Course Transfer

  • Upon taking this course, you will receive a certificate of completion from AUC.
  • The course is equivalent to 3 credit hours. Only students who pass the course will be able to transfer these 3 credits when they enroll at AUC. In case of transferring the course to other universities, their transfer assessments will apply. 

Note: Students who have completed this course in College Bound: AUC, and are accepted to AUC and wish to enroll in the higher level courses of computer science will be required to take an exemption exam offered by the computer science department. The exam will be taken during the drop and add week, prior to course registration.


Requirements

  • An English writing sample (at least 750 words): essay or reflection.
  • A copy of your report card for the past two years of school.
  • A recommendation letter from a high-school teacher within the past academic year, if available.


Transportation 

The AUC bus service is available for extra fees. Details on the schedule will be shared before the program’s start date.


Accommodation

Accommodation is offered at the University Residences in case needed. 


About the Instructor

Howaida Ismail, PhD

Howaida Ismail, PhD is an assistant professor of computer engineering at Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University. She is also an affiliate adjunct faculty at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering  at The American University in Cairo. Ismail earned her PhD degree in computer engineering from University of Sciences and Technology of Lille, France. Ismail is an academic and professional educator. She taught a variety of courses, with an emphasis on coding, software engineering and quality assurance. She worked as a professional programmer in the private sector and participated in the development of national projects with local and international organizations. Ismail is an ICT development consultant, advocating for the importance of the utilization of ICT in development projects, especially education. She was a project director of several national initiatives related to education, health and environment. She was a member in several advisory committees, under the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies. She represented the Government of Egypt in the OECD committee for Information, Communication and Computer Policies, WPIE, in Paris meetings. She participated in the development of ICT policies for better information economy. She also participated in the compilation of an integrated national policy for ICT in Egypt.


AUC Refund Policy

A 100% refund of the program fees will be offered in the following cases. If reported at least three weeks before the program's start date.

  • Course cancellation
  • Medical withdrawal
  • Visa denial