UMGC CMIS 102: Introduction to Problem Solving and Algorithm Design
CMIS 102 is UMGC's entry point to programming, teaching problem decomposition, algorithm design, and basic coding in Python. It's the prerequisite gateway for the computer science and software development paths, and weekly work centers on small programming exercises that build from sequential logic to functions and loops.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with University of Maryland Global Campus. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
The course moves from pseudocode comfort to working programs fast, and students with no coding background hit the wall when loops and functions arrive mid-session. In an 8-week format there's no slow week. Falling one assignment behind means learning two concepts at once.
What you'll cover
- • Problem decomposition and algorithm design
- • Pseudocode and flowcharts
- • Python basics: variables and data types
- • Selection and loops
- • Functions
- • Testing and debugging simple programs
The CMIS 102 study guide
How to study for UMGC CMIS 102, step by step.
- 1
Block fixed study windows around your schedule
CMIS 102 in 8 weeks doesn't forgive drift, especially around shifts or duty hours. Decide in week 1 which evenings belong to the course and defend them.
- 2
Pseudocode every problem before coding it
The course teaches design-then-code for a reason: students who jump straight to Python write programs they can't debug. Sketch the logic in plain steps first, every time.
- 3
Don't let the loops-and-functions weeks slip
Mid-session is where beginners hit the wall, and falling one assignment behind means learning two concepts at once. If a week feels shaky, get help that week, not after.
- 4
Trace code by hand
Walk through a loop on paper, tracking each variable's value line by line. Ten minutes of hand-tracing builds the mental model that makes every later exercise faster.
Today
Today's CMIS 102 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for CMIS 102. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is UMGC CMIS 102 hard?
It's beginner-friendly by design, but the 8-week pace makes it unforgiving if you fall behind. Students with zero coding experience should budget extra time for the loops-and-functions weeks in the middle of the session.
What language does CMIS 102 use?
Python, alongside pseudocode and flowcharting for designing solutions before coding them. The emphasis is on problem-solving process as much as syntax.
Do I need CMIS 102 before other programming courses?
Yes. It's the standard prerequisite for UMGC's later programming courses, and skipping the fundamentals here shows up painfully in the follow-on Java and intermediate programming work.
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