EPN-V2

MEK1300 Introduction to Python Programming Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Introduksjon til Python-programmering
Study programme
Bachelor’s Programme in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in Python, a versatile and widely used programming language known for its simplicity and readability. In this course, students will embark on an exciting journey of learning the basics of Python programming. By the end of this course, students will have a strong grasp of Python's core concepts and will be well-prepared to explore more advanced topics and applications in Python.

Required preliminary courses

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence needed to engage in basic Python programming. The students will be well-prepared for more advanced Python courses and capable of applying their skills to solve real-world problems.

Knowledge:

The students can

  • demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts of Python programming, including variables, data types, and basic syntax.
  • apply Python to manipulate numbers and strings, including performing arithmetic operations and working with text data.
  • comprehend and employ conditional statements for decision-making in code execution.
  • describe and utilize loops (for and while) to create iterative solutions to problems.
  • understand the concept of functions, create custom functions, and demonstrate the ability to call and pass arguments to functions.
  • differentiate between lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries and use them effectively for data storage and manipulation.

Skills:

The students can

  • develop and apply algorithmic thinking skills to solve simple programming problems using Python.
  • write Python code that follows best practices, including proper indentation, naming conventions, and code documentation.
  • implement error handling techniques (try- and except blocks) to manage exceptions and troubleshoot issues in code.
  • employ Python for file input and output, including reading from and writing to files.

General Competence:

The students can

  • apply Python to address real-world problems, demonstrating the ability to break down complex tasks into manageable subtasks.
  • Collaborate with peers on programming assignments, engaging in code reviews and providing constructive feedback.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and exercises.

Course requirements

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved in order to qualify for the examination:

Submission of two programming projects.

Assessment

Individual written exam under supervision, 3 hours

The exam result can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, an oral examination may be used instead. In case an oral exam is used, the examination result cannot be appealed.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

None.

Grading scale

Grade scale A-F.

Examiners

One internal examiner. External examiners are used regularly.

Course contact person

Hadi Zahmatkesh

Overlapping courses

The course has an overlap of 5 credits with the course MEK1200 Introduction to IT for engineers.