Frequently asked questions

Absolutely. This course assumes no prior exposure to computer science or programming. We’d love to have you!

Yes. There will be some overlap in programming concepts, though possibly in a different language depending on the course. EECS 110 additionally offers ways to explore future CS pathways through an undergraduate student panel, a Q&A with a CS faculty member, an interview assignment, and a tour of a local software company.

Congratulations, you’re well on your way to mastering the fundamentals! Unfortunately, you may not take EECS 110 if you already have credit for EECS 280 or EECS 281.

If the add/drop deadline hasn’t passed and seats are open, we encourage you to enroll through Wolverine Access. Please email Madelyn to let us know you’ve enrolled — especially if the semester is well underway — so we can help you get caught up quickly. You won’t be penalized for classes missed before you joined, and we’ll set reasonable deadlines for making up any work.

No, all you need is a laptop.

EECS 110 doesn’t fulfill any requirements for the CS major or minor. However, if you later declare the CS major, the course will factor into your CS major GPA.

To use generative AI tools responsibly and effectively, you need a strong mastery of the fundamental concepts and skills in a discipline. For that reason, generative AI tools are not permitted in this course. During the term we briefly discuss how these tools work and why we don’t permit them here. If you have questions or get stuck, we always encourage you to post on Piazza (you may post anonymously!) or stop by office hours.

EECS 110 is a collaborative course and students benefit from being together in the classroom, so attendance is graded and counts for a small portion of the overall grade. Two attendance points are dropped for every student to cover minor illness, job interviews, student-org commitments, or other unexpected events. If a significant illness or event will cause you to miss multiple or consecutive classes, please contact Madelyn directly.

There is no in-person class that week. Instead, Madelyn meets with each final-project group over Zoom at a time the group chooses. You do not need to be physically in Ann Arbor the week of Thanksgiving for EECS 110.

No. In place of a final exam, there is a final project with a coding portion and a presentation delivered during the final class period. After that, there’s no expectation that you remain in Ann Arbor, as long as your final-project group can reach you while you finalize your code submission.

Our goal is to give every student the resources needed to demonstrate competency and earn an A. For more information, including a historical grade breakdown, see the EECS 110 course page on Atlas.

We’re sorry you’re going through this, and we want to help. Please email Madelyn at gatchel@umich.edu or stop by office hours so we can best support you — you are not alone. The University’s Resource Navigators can also help you connect to support. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or in need of support, services are available through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and UWill. You may also find the well-being resources offered through the Office of Student Life helpful. For an urgent matter when CAPS is closed, call 734-764-8312 (press 0) to reach CAPS After Hours.

EECS 110 is a unique course: it has a single GSI position, and that GSI is the instructor of record and sole instructor for the course. The GSI is selected from applicants who list EECS 110 on the CSE GSI application form, typically released a few months before the semester begins. If you are eager to express your interest in being the instructor for EECS 110, we encourage you to fill out this interest form. Note that EECS 110 instructors typically have at least one prior semester of GSI experience.

Select EECS 110 on the IA or grader application form. We’ll see your application, so there’s no need to email Madelyn. Note that if enrollment doesn’t meet a threshold, an IA or grader may not be allocated for a given term; historically this has sometimes been the case in Winter, though every semester is different.