4 credits
Algorithmic thinking before Java
The course moves from decomposition and precise procedures into Java, testing, analysis, data structures, and recursion.
3 connected entities
Rutgers catalogResearched guideSIRS history80 section records
01:198:111
Intro Computer Sci
COMPUTER SCIENCE
- credits
- 4
- Core
- ITR, QQ, QR
- Typical seasons
- Fall, Spring, Summer
- Fall 2026 sections
- 63
- Open snapshot
- 9 open in snapshot
Course guide
AI-generated overview
Worth knowing
AI-generatedThe first formal CS sequence gate
CS111 sits between calculus readiness and immediate follow-ons such as Data Structures and Discrete Structures.
4 connected entities
Expect a pseudocode-to-code adjustment
Student discussion repeatedly flags problem decomposition and pseudocode as an early adjustment before the Java work feels more concrete.
1 connected entity
Spring 2027
CS111 transitions out after Fall 2026
Rutgers says the introductory sequence changes beginning Spring 2027, with CS121 becoming the relevant replacement path for later cohorts.
2 connected entities
Course fingerprint 10 AI-generated signals
Difficulty
3/5Why
Rutgers calls CS111 an intensive intro and the student signal is that it is manageable but still a real adjustment for beginners.
Workload
3/5Why
The official course site combines recurring programming and written assignments with recitations and three in-person exams.
Pacing
4/5Why
The course is described officially as intensive and runs on a steady cycle of recitation quizzes, assignments, and common exams.
Projects
2/5Why
Official materials emphasize smaller programming assignments and written work more than large multi-week build-style projects.
Exams
4/5Why
Three in-person exams carry a major share of the grade and Rutgers requires a minimum total exam score to pass.
Math
2/5Why
Calculus readiness is a prerequisite, but the published course topics center on Java, debugging, sorting, searching, and recursion rather than sustained formal math.
Memorization
2/5Why
Student advice and the official assignment structure both point more toward learning to trace and write code than memorizing lots of isolated facts.
Abstraction
2/5Why
Most official topics stay close to concrete introductory programming tasks even when recursion and data structures appear.
Prerequisites
3/5Why
The course is beginner-facing, but keeping up still depends on basic math readiness and on not falling behind on early programming fundamentals.
Reading
2/5Why
The official workflow is driven more by coding practice, recitation problems, and exams than by heavy text-based reading assignments.
What students tend to say
Public Rutgers discussions describe CS111 as manageable for students who practice consistently, but they also point to a real adjustment when pseudocode, recursion, or debugging are new. The comments vary widely by prior experience and are not a substitute for the current official syllabus.
The first adjustment is problem solving
Students sometimes report that early pseudocode or algorithm assignments feel harder than the later Java syntax; that is an anecdotal pattern, not a guarantee for every section.
Prior coding changes the starting point
Public comments range from calling the course a review to describing it as a first serious programming class, so preparation and pacing will differ by background.
Use the course site and start assignments early
Student advice repeatedly points to the official CS111 materials, practice with small programs, and early assignment starts as better preparation than cramming before common exams.
Topic breakdown
A practical chapter-by-chapter view from foundations to applications.
5 modules
Module 1
Problem decomposition and pseudocode
CS111 begins by turning vague problems into precise steps. Students practice decomposition, pseudocode, testing, and tracing before larger Java programs appear.
decompositionpseudocodealgorithmstesting
Basic concept overview
Programs as precise procedures
The central move is translating a vague task into steps that a computer can execute exactly.
State changes over time
Variables, arrays, and object fields matter because each line can change what the program knows.
Debugging is evidence work
A failing program is not random; traces, print statements, and small tests reveal the first wrong assumption.
Recursion introduces self-similar structure
A recursive solution needs a base case, a smaller subproblem, and a way to combine the answer.
Things to watch for
Writing the whole solution before testing
Build one method or loop at a time and test with tiny inputs.
Confusing index and value
Track whether a variable points to a position in an array or the data stored there.
Using recursion without a shrinking case
Write the base case and the smaller recursive call before filling in details.
Fall 2026 sections
9 open · Livingston, Busch, College Avenue
| Section | Status | Instructor | Meeting | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0111389 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at ARC 108TIL 232ARC 108 | Livingston |
| 0211390 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at SEC 217TIL 232SEC 217 | Livingston |
| 0311391 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at LSH B205TIL 232LSH B205 | Livingston |
| 0411392 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at SEC 216TIL 232SEC 216 | Livingston |
| 0511393 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 2:15 PM-3:10 PM at SEC 220TIL 232SEC 220 | Livingston |
| 0611394 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 2:15 PM-3:10 PM at SEC 211TIL 232SEC 211 | Livingston |
| 0711395 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at ARC 108TIL 232ARC 108 | Livingston |
| 0811396 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 8:45 AM-9:40 AM at LSH A140TIL 232LSH A140 | Livingston |
| 0911397 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 10:35 AM-11:30 AM at SEC 211TIL 232SEC 211 | Livingston |
| 1011398 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 10:35 AM-11:30 AM at ARC 207TIL 232ARC 207 | Livingston |
| 1111399 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 10:35 AM-11:30 AM at HLL 248TIL 232HLL 248 | Livingston |
| 1211400 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Friday 10:35 AM-11:30 AM at ARC 110TIL 232ARC 110 | Livingston |
| 1311401 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at ARC 333TIL 232ARC 333 | Livingston |
| 1411402 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at ARC 108TIL 232ARC 108 | Livingston |
| 1511403 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HLL 248TIL 232HLL 248 | Livingston |
| 1611404 | Closed | Centeno | Tuesday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Thursday 2:00 PM-3:20 PM at TIL 232; Wednesday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at SEC 217TIL 232SEC 217 | Livingston |
cachedSource: Checked-in Rutgers Schedule of Classes snapshotsUpdated when term datasets are refreshedMay be stale
SIRS teaching signals
Historical student surveys
Teaching
3.88
Course quality
3.85
Response rate
45.4%
Coverage
65 offerings · 2016–2025
| Instructor | Offerings | Teaching | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trees, Frances | 10 | 3.78 | 3.67 |
| Zhai, Juan | 7 | 3.17 | 3.44 |
| Centeno | 5 | 4.24 | 4.02 |
| Gunawardena | 5 | 4.16 | 3.96 |
| Tjang A | 4 | 4.70 | 4.60 |
| Centeno A | 4 | 4.25 | 4.13 |
Course stats
Catalog and planning context
Credits
4
Current campuses
Livingston, Busch, College Avenue
Current availability
9 open of 63
Catalog terms
Fall, Spring, Summer
Core codes
ITR, QQ, QR
Loaded terms
3
Prerequisites
Any Course EQUAL or GREATER Than: (01:640:112)
Degree requirement lists
No direct degree-list membership appears in the checked-in requirement index.
