# Computer Science (CSCI) courses El Camino College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 14 courses Source: http://catalog.elcamino.edu/index.php?catoid=13 "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027. ### CSCI 1 — Problem Solving and Program Design Using C++ - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Advisory:** MATH 170; CSCI 7 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable - Note: This course meets the CSU general education requirement for mathematics and quantitative reasoning. This course is an introduction to problem solving and program design using structured, top-down, algorithmic development techniques applied to the solution of numeric and non-numeric problems. Software engineering topics such as analysis, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and maintenance of software are discussed. Laboratory work will be done using the C++ computer language. The course also summarizes the evolution of programming languages illustrating how this history has led to the paradigms available today. ### CSCI 1H — Honors Problem Solving and Program Design Using C++ - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** MATH 170 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent skill - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This honors course is an introduction to problem solving and program design using structured, top-down, algorithmic development techniques applied to the solution of numeric and non-numeric problems. Software engineering topics such as analysis, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and maintenance of software are discussed. Laboratory work will be done using the C++ computer language. The course also incorporates a research-based assignment and summarizes the evolution of programming languages illustrating how this history has led to the paradigms available today. ### CSCI 2 — Introduction to Data Structures - **Units:** 5 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** CSCI 1 with a minimum grade of C - **Advisory:** MATH 190 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 5 sections listed as CSCI-2 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/fall-2026/csci.md); Spring 2027, 4 sections listed as CSCI-2 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/spring-2027/csci.md) - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable In this course, the C++ computer language is used to demonstrate methods of representing and manipulating data structures. The student will learn the object-oriented problem solving skills necessary to read, write, and correct complex computer programs, and to make important design decisions. Topics include lists, stacks, queues, trees, searching, sorting, modeling and algorithm analysis. ### CSCI 3 — Object-Oriented Programming in Java - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** CSCI 1 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course includes a detailed coverage of object-oriented programming concepts and design using the Java programming language, including Java data types, operators and expressions, control structures, iterations, functions, arrays, classes and inheritance, files, and graphical user interface (GUI) applications with event handling. ### CSCI 7 — The Beauty of Computer Science Principles - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** Credit in MATH 37 or MATH 40 with a minimum grade of C in prerequisite or qualification by testing (El Camino College Mathematics Placement Test) and assessment - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course introduces students to the central ideas of computer science, inviting students to develop the computational thinking vital for success in computer programming and across multiple disciplines. The course is unique in its focus on fostering students to be creative and encouraging students to apply innovative processes when developing computational artifacts such as a visualization, graphic or movie. Students will design and program inventive solutions to computational problems using an iterative process similar to what computer scientists, engineers, artists, and writers use to bring ideas to life. ### CSCI 8 — Foundations of Data Science - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Advisory:** Proficient in algebra or intermediate algebra skills - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections listed as CSCI-8 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/fall-2026/csci.md); Winter 2027, 1 section listed as CSCI-8 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/winter-2027/csci.md); Spring 2027, 1 section listed as CSCI-8 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/spring-2027/csci.md) - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course examines the foundations of data science from three perspectives: inferential thinking, computational thinking, and real-world relevance. The course combines programming skills and statistical inference to ask questions and explore problems encountered in real-world datasets, from multiple fields of study, career paths, and everyday life. It also delves into social and legal issues surrounding data analysis, including issues of privacy and data ownership. ### CSCI 9 — Practical Data Science - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** CSCI 8 and CSCI 14 or CSCI 1 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section listed as CSCI-9 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/spring-2027/csci.md) - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course examines computation, inferential thinking, and the issues of utilizing real-world data to solve challenging data science problems. This intermediate-level class bridges between Foundations of Data Science and the methods currently used in industry. Students will understand the data science life-cycle and learn many of the principles and techniques of data science, such as spanning algorithms, statistics, machine learning, visualization, and data systems. ### CSCI 12 — Programming for Internet Applications Using PHP, JavaScript, and HTML - **Units:** 5 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** Computer Science 1 or Computer Information Systems 16 or Computer Information Systems 134 with a minimum grade of C in prerequisite or equivalent - **Advisory:** Mastery of a programming language and using computer software. - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable In this introductory Internet programming course, students learn the fundamentals of Internet programming with JavaScript and Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), a widely used, open source, general-purpose server-side programming language. Students design and write applications that extend web servers. These applications use backend databases to process data submitted through web forms and provide access to dynamically generated web pages with the retrieved data from the database. ### CSCI 14 — Introduction to Programming with Python - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Advisory:** MATH 170; CSCI 7 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course is an introduction to computer programming and algorithm design using Python programming language. The course covers the fundamentals of Python programming: basic data types, objects, Switching and looping constructs, functions, recursion, lists, dictionaries and basic input and output, both interactive and with files. ### CSCI 16 — Assembly Language Programming for x86 (IBM PC) Processors - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** CSCI 1 or CSCI 3 or CIS 80 with a minimum grade of C in prerequisite or equivalent and MATH 180 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment - **Formerly:** Computer Science 15P - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course includes detailed coverage of assembly language programming for x86 processors. Topics include hexadecimal arithmetic, two's complement arithmetic, memory organization, addressing modes, procedure calls, the stack frame, macros, calling assembly language procedures from C or C++, recursion, BIOS and DOS interrupts, the floating point unit and instructions, and the debugger. ### CSCI 17 — Computer Programming in MATLAB - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** Mathematics-190 with a minimum grade of C - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as CSCI-17 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/fall-2026/csci.md); Spring 2027, 1 section listed as CSCI-17 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/spring-2027/csci.md) - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course is an introduction to computer programming and algorithm design using the MATLAB programming language. Students will be introduced to basic control structures, using arrays, matrices, and vectors, modeling, numerical analysis, and two- and three-dimensional graphing of scientific and engineering solutions. ### CSCI 30 — Advanced Programming in C++ - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Prerequisite:** Computer Science 2 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as CSCI-30 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/fall-2026/csci.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections listed as CSCI-30 (/c/el-camino-college/schedule/spring-2027/csci.md) - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable This course re-examines earlier C++ topics covered in Computer Science 2 in greater detail and with increased rigor. The course emphasizes the design of advanced Object-Oriented data structures. Topics include data abstraction, abstract classes, single and multiple inheritances, virtual and friend functions, operator overloading, generic data types, the Standard-Template-Library, pointers and dynamic memory management, algorithm efficiency, limits of computation, aggregation-composition modeling, and top-down design. The course concludes with a significant creative project. ### CSCI 40 — Introduction to UNIX and LINUX Operating Systems - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable - Note: Letter grade or pass/no pass option. This course covers UNIX and LINUX operating system concepts and include basic commands, file structures, editors, file management utilities, shell programming, process control, and remote messaging as well as network and system administration. ### CSCI 99 — Independent Study - **Units:** 1-3 - **Hours:** hours to be arranged - **Formerly:** Computer Science 99abc - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Enrollment Limitation: completion of two courses in Computer Science with a minimum grade of B in each course and acknowledgment by the instructor with whom the student will work - Credit Status: Credit, degree applicable - Transfer: CSU* - Note: *Transfer limitations apply. For eligibility requirements, go to www.elcamino.edu/admissions/credit.asp This course provides special advanced studies in a subject field of Computer Science not covered in the regular departmental offerings. Regular conferences with the instructor are coordinated with assigned Computer Science projects (54 hours per unit).