Course Overview
Students with no prior computer programming experience are introduced to using Python to write simple programs. This hands-on introductory computer programming course is the foundation for all BCIT Computing Flexible Learning programming courses. COMP 1516 is not a Python development course, it is the first step in a series of three (3) applied programming fundamentals courses. Students must provide their own current model Windows capable PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Topics include: Data structures, data modelling, programming constructs, lists, strings, sets and maps. Labs and exercises focus on writing code for projects, assignments, and activities. Participants will design, implement, test, and debug simple programs that incorporate: variables, expressions, assignments, I/O, conditional and iterative control constructs, functions, and parameter passing. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 15 hours per week; 3 hours of class time, a 1-hour online component and 10+ hours of homework each week. COMP 1516 is required for the Applied Software Development (ASD) and the Applied Computer Information (ACIS) Associate Certificates, as well as the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC). Upon completion, successful students will have a basic understanding of computer programming and be prepared to move on to COMP 2501 –Programming Fundamentals Part 2.
Domestic fees
$568.16 - $611.10 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Install and set-up Python.
- Analyze and explain the behavior of simple programs.
- Create simple algorithms for solving simple problems.
- Choose the appropriate data structure for modeling a given problem.
- Choose appropriate conditional and iteration constructs for a given programming task.
- Apply the techniques of decomposition to break a program into smaller pieces.
- Write programs that use primitive data types, variables, expressions, and command line I/O.
- Write programs that use conditional and iterative control structures, functions, and parameter passing.
- Write programs that use each of the following data structures: lists, strings, sets, and dictionaries.
- Write programs using the standard libraries available with a chosen programming language.
- Write programs that use file I/O to provide persistence across multiple executions.
- Design and implement a class.
- Utilize Regular expressions to build search patterns.
- Apply a variety of strategies to the testing and debugging of simple programs.
- Conduct a personal code review on a program component.
- Practice how to work with a partner as part of a team.
- Move on to COMP 2501 - Programming Fundamentals Part 2.
Effective as of Fall 2023
Related Programs
Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python) (COMP 1516) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Applied Computer Information Systems (ACIS)
Associate Certificate Part-time
- Applied Software Development (ASD)
Associate Certificate Part-time
- Computer Systems
Certificate Part-time
Course Offerings
Spring/Summer 2026
Below are six offerings of COMP 1516 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 67129
Dates
May 01 - Jun 10 Loading
- CRN 67129
- $611.10 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
6 weeks
Instructor
Jason Wilder
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course offering. Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Important information
- Please email cstflex@bcit.ca for Departmental approval. Include your Student number (A0#) and COMP__ and preferred CRN __ and Program Declaration____. Course is 48 hours - 36 hours on campus and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets twice per week for 3 hours on campus and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Please Note: The compressed 6-week delivery requires 6 hours per week in class (2 lessons per week) covering the same material in half the time. The 6-week intensive delivery may have 12-18+ hours homework per week, depending on the student, and is best suited for those not attempting multiple courses in the same term. This is a BYOD (bring your own device) course. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval Departmental approval is required for this course offering. You will not be able to register without it.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 67657
Dates
May 05 - Jul 21 Loading
- CRN 67657
- $568.16 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Rana Al-Sammarraie
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- Course is 48 hours - 36 hours synchronous online classes and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets once per week for 3 hours online and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 13-16+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class, 1-hour asynchronous class time and 9-12+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 67128
Dates
May 07 - Jul 23 Loading
- CRN 67128
- $596.44 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Rana Al-Sammarraie
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Course is 48 hours - 36 hours on campus and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets once per week for 3 hours on campus and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 13-16+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class, 1-hour asynchronous class time and 9-12+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 67131
Dates
Apr 07 - Jun 30 Loading
- CRN 67131
- $611.10 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Course is 48 hours - 36 hours on campus and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets once per week for 3 hours on campus and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 13-16+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class, 1-hour asynchronous class time and 9-12+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows. No class May 19.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 67132
Dates
Apr 09 - Jul 02 Loading
- CRN 67132
- $568.16 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
Mathew Linder
Course outline
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- Course is 48 hours - 36 hours synchronous online classes and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets once per week for 3 hours online and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 13-16+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class, 1-hour asynchronous class time and 9-12+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows. No class May 28..
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
CRN 66698
Dates
May 02 - Jul 25 Loading
- CRN 66698
- $611.10 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
12 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Course is 48 hours - 36 hours on campus and 12 hours asynchronous activities/labs. The class meets once per week for 3 hours on campus and requires an additional 1 hour per week asynchronously. Students cannot attempt COMP 1516, COMP 2501, and COMP 2601 simultaneously. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. You should prepare to spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 hour of class time. This course may require an average total time commitment of 13-16+ hours per week. 3 hours of synchronous class, 1-hour asynchronous class time and 9-12+ hours per week for homework. Late registration is not permitted. BCIT Computing is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Students must provide their own current model Windows-compatible PC. i5 or higher equivalent processor, with 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. Highspeed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Mac users must have the ability to manage and support their iOS computer. They may need to create a virtual Windows environment using Parallels or VMWare Fusion. COMP instructors may not be able to assist Mac users with software compatibility issues. BCIT does not provide access to Parallels or support for students to use a Mac to run Windows. No class May 16 (Victoria Day).
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
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