UT Austin CS 312: Introduction to Programming
CS 312 is UT Austin's introductory programming course in Java, designed for students with little or no prior coding experience — variables, control flow, methods, arrays, and object basics. It's the entry point to the CS major's programming sequence ahead of CS 314.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with The University of Texas at Austin. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my CS 312 study planWhat makes it hard
The course itself is beginner-friendly; the context isn't — many classmates arrive with programming experience, which makes the curve and the pace feel faster than the syllabus suggests. The reliable failure mode is passive consumption: programming assignments expose anyone who understood lecture but never built fluency at the keyboard.
What you'll cover
- • Java syntax, variables, and types
- • Conditionals and loops
- • Methods and parameters
- • Arrays and 2D arrays
- • Objects and classes (introduction)
- • Code tracing and debugging
The CS 312 study guide
How to study for UT Austin CS 312, step by step.
- 1
Code daily from the first week
Many CS 312 classmates arrive with experience, so the course moves faster than the syllabus suggests. Keyboard hours close that gap; nothing else does.
- 2
Rebuild lecture examples from scratch
Retype, run, modify, predict. Passive consumption is the reliable failure mode — fluency only comes from producing code, not following it.
- 3
Start assignments early and finish early
Debugging time is unpredictable, and assignment deadlines are where beginners lose the most ground. Early starts buy office-hours time when you're stuck.
- 4
Train paper fluency before exams
Predict output by hand, find bugs on paper, write short methods without an IDE. The exams test code-reading without a compiler's help.
- 5
Build the habit in Fennie
Upload your CS 312 materials and Fennie's Daily Plan makes coding a daily routine with assignment milestones built in, plus paper-tracing quizzes generated from the actual content. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with CS 312
Fennie's Daily Plans make CS 312 a daily coding habit with assignment milestones built in, because keyboard hours — not lecture hours — are what build programming skill. Use chat to decode compiler errors and trace loops step by step, and practice paper-tracing problems before exams.
FAQ
Is CS 312 good for complete beginners?
Yes — it assumes no prior programming and exists precisely for that audience. The pressure comes from experienced classmates and a real pace, so beginners should expect to invest consistent daily practice rather than coast.
Can I skip CS 312 and start with CS 314?
Students with strong prior experience (such as AP CS A credit) often place directly into CS 314. If you're borderline, be honest about fluency — 314 assumes you write Java comfortably, and entering it shaky compounds quickly.
How do I do well on CS 312 exams?
Train code-reading deliberately: predict output by hand, find bugs on paper, write short methods without an IDE. Exams test fluency without a compiler's help, and that skill only develops if you practice it directly.
Pass CS 312 with a plan, not a cram
Upload your CS 312 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
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