Course syllabus for Programming and algorithmic thinking

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameProgrammering och algoritmiskt tänkande
  • CodeTME136
  • Credits4 Credits
  • OwnerTKMAS
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyMechanical Engineering, Mathematics
  • DepartmentMECHANICS AND MARITIME SCIENCES
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 55143
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0114 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
0214 Examination 2.5 c
Grading: TH
2.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 31 Okt 2024 am J_DATA
  • 08 Jan 2025 am J_DATA
  • 26 Aug 2025 am J_DATA

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

No formal prerequisites.

Aim

Computers are today one of the engineer's most important tools for computation, visualization, writing and documentation. By letting the computer carry out the simple but time-consuming tasks, the engineer can focus on the more complex and difficult tasks in order to be more productive. Additionally, an important part of learning programming is the training in systematic problem-solving, which is perhaps the most important skill of an engineer.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Use the computer as a tool to solve and numerically analyze engineering problems in subsequent courses and in industry.
Develop own programs from problem descriptions.
Interpret and extend existing programs.
Learn more by actively using programming and algorithmic thinking in other situations.

Content

The course introduces programming as a combination of up to five components: input, output, arithmetics, conditional execution and repetition. Parts: definitions and terms, various types of variables, if-while-for, functions, plotting, print to screen, algorithms, write to/read from file, efficiency and style, numerics, error messages and debugging, and visualization. Special attention is paid during the second half of the course on algorithmic thinking.

The course focuses on basic skills that enable many different types of work, and is therefore related mainly to number 4 (Quality education) and 5 (Gender equality) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Organisation

Lectures and computer classes. In order to be learn programming, hands-on training in front of the computer is a necessity. Here, the mandatory hand-ins play a key role where the students are given the task to develop a few programs on their own.

Literature

"Python från början" by Jan Skansholm, Upplaga 1:4, Studentlitteratur 2019

Examination including compulsory elements

At the end of the course there is an exam which is done individually in front of the computer, where the students is assessed. The exam is graded and consituties the grade for the whole course. In order to get a passing grade, the mandatory assignments must be completed. The course element assignment gives only a passing grade.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.