Introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming. This course teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, encapsulation, data structures, databases, memory management, software development, virtualization, and websites. Languages include C, PHP, and JavaScript plus SQL, CSS, and XHTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. Designed for concentrators and non-concentrators alike, with or without prior programming experience.
These lectures were filmed in Sanders Theatre in Memorial Hall by Chris Thayer. Notes were taken by Andrew Sellergren '08. Music from lectures is available via iTunes on the CS50 Soundtrack 2010.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
Sections (otherwise known as "recitations" or "precepts" at other universities) supplement lectures. Led by Matthew Chartier '12, these sections were filmed in Harvard Hall.
Because Computer Science 50 is offered through Harvard Extension School as "Computer Science E-52", you may sometimes hear Matt refer to the latter. The courses are one and the same.
In order to accommodate students with different backgrounds, some problem sets are released in two editions: a standard edition intended for most students and a "Hacker Edition" intended for some students. Both editions essentially cover the same material. But the Hacker Edition typically presents that material from a more technical angle and poses more sophisticated questions. Most standard editions, though, are accompanied by code "walkthroughs" during which students receive direction on where to begin and how to approach the problem set. Led by Marta Bralic '12, these walkthroughs were filmed in Harvard Hall.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
These problem sets assume that you have access to cloud.cs50.net (a cluster of servers on which Harvard students have accounts), but not to worry! You can instead use the CS50 Appliance, a downloadable virtual machine (for Linux, Mac OS, and Windows).
Below are quizzes; other answers may be possible. Reviews were led by Josh Bolduc '11, Rose Cao '11, Matt Chartier '12, Scott Crouch '13, and Tian Feng '11.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
Computer Science 50 (otherwise known as CS50) is Harvard College's introductory course for majors and non-majors alike, a one-semester amalgam of courses generally known as CS1 and CS2 taught mostly in C.
Even if you are not a student at Harvard, you are welcome to "take" this course via cs50.tv by following along via the Internet. (The course's own website is at www.cs50.net.) Available at left are videos of lectures, sections (aka "recitations" or "precepts"), and seminars along with PDFs of all handouts. Also available at left are the course's problem sets and quizzes. If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, do join the course's Google Group. The problem sets do assume that you have access to cloud.cs50.net (a cluster of servers on which Harvard students have accounts), but not to worry! You can instead use the CS50 Appliance, a downloadable virtual machine (for Linux, Mac OS, and Windows).
If you're a teacher, you are welcome to adopt or adapt these materials for your own course, per the license.
If you'd like to take this course for real (on Harvard's campus or via the Internet) in order to receive feedback on work, grades, and a transcript, the course will next be offered through Harvard Extension School (as "Computer Science E-52") in Fall 2013. You can register online starting in August 2013.
Special thanks to Chris Thayer and Media & Technology Services for the course's videos and to Cansu Aydede '11 and Yuhki Yamashita '11, Fall 2010's heads.
Have a question about the course (even if you're not a student at Harvard)? Want to field questions from others? Join cs50-discuss, the course's Google Group!
