CSc 372 (Comparative Programming Languages) Syllabus Summary
Spring 2026
NOTE: This is only a summary of the class syllabus; see the long version for full details!
General Catalog Information:
| Description: | Introduction to several major high-level programming languages and their characteristics. Programming projects are required in at least three languages. |
| Lecture: | Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., ILC 140 |
| Prerequisite(s): | CSc 210, Computer Science Advanced Standing |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Final Exam: | Friday, May 8, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The final is required, is comprehensive, and will be given on this date at this time. Make your end-of-semester travel plans accordingly. |
Class Personnel:
| Name | Office | Email (@arizona.edu) | Phone | Office Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor | Prof. Lester I. McCann | G-S 819 | mccann | 621-3498 | See schedule | |
| Grad TA | Muaz Ali | TBD | muaz | ----- | ... on Piazza | |
| UGTA | Daniel Reynaldo | TBD | dreynaldo | ----- | ... and Brightspace! |
Please keep in mind that it is possible to meet us outside of office hours; contact us to make an appointment.
Information Resources:
| D2L: | CSC 372 SP26 001 All class materials will be available from this D2L page, but most of it is hosted on the class web site (see next link). |
| Homepage: | https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/classes/cs372/spring26/ When you follow a link from D2L, unless it's a video, odds are that the link will take you here. |
| Textbook: | Programming Languages -- Principles and Practice (Louden/Lambert), 3rd ed., Cengage, 2012. is the required text. There is an authors' page for the text, but its most useful feature is the errata list. Do not buy an international edition or an earlier edition! The best deal I know of is the D2L ebook price. |
| Class Discussions: | We will be using
Piazza
for outside-of-class questions, discussions, and announcements.
Click here to access the CSc 372 message board . Not already enrolled in this class in Piazza? Click here to signup . |
| CS Helpdesk: | Need help with your lectura account, the computers in G-S 903, etc.? Visit the Computer Science Lab Helpdesk for FAQs and the ability to submit a help ticket. |
Grades and Grading:
| Homeworks (H1-3) | = | 21 | % | total (H1 @ 5%, H2 and H3 @ 8% each) |
| Programs (P1-3) | = | 15 | % | total (3 @ 5% each) |
| Project (JT; Ja-c) | = | 10 | % | |
| Midterm Exams | = | 36 | % | total (2 @ 18% each) |
| Comprehensive Final Exam | = | 18 | % | |
| Total | = | 100 | % |
By department policy, the final exam is required.
Topic Schedule:
Week Class # Scheduled Topic(s) Assigned Due
---- ------- ------------------ -------- --------------
1 1 Class Info -- --
2 [],2 [MLK Day], 1 H1 --
3 3,4 2, 3 -- --
4 5,6 3, 3 P1 H1 (Wed 2/04)
5 7,8 4, 4 -- --
6 9,10 5, 5 H2 P1 (Wed 2/18)
7 11,12 5, 5 P2 H2 (Wed 2/25)
8 13,14 Exam #1 (3/2), 5 -- --
[ ---------------------------- S P R I N G B R E A K ----------------------- ]
9 15,16 6, 6 -- --
10 17,18 6, 6 H3 P2 (Mon 3/23)
11 19,20 7, 7 JT H3 (Mon 3/30)
12 21,22 Exam #2 (4/6), 7 -- Ja (Wed 4/08)
13 23,24 7, 7 P3 --
14 25,26 8, 8 -- Jb (Mon 4/20)
15 27,28 8, 9 -- P3 (Mon 4/27)
16 29,30 9, 10 -- Jc (Mon 5/04)
Finals -- Final Exam (Fri 5/08, 1:00pm)
We will stick to the exam dates if at all possible. The rest of the dates are less firm, but we'll try to stick to them, too.
AGAIN: This is only a summary of the class syllabus; see the long version for full details!