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Computing with Python for Scientists and Engineers
APMTH 10

Course Information

Description

This course is a systematic introduction to computing (with python and jupyter notebooks) for science and engineering applications. Applications are drawn from a broad range of disciplines, including physical, financial, and biological-epidemiological problems. The course consists of two parts: 1. Basics: essential elements of computing, including types of variables, lists, arrays, iteration and control flow (for, while loops, if statement), definition of functions, recursion, file handling and simple plots, plotting and visualization tools in higher dimensions. 2. Applications: development of computational skills for problem solving, including numerical and machine learning methods, and their use in deterministic and stochastic approaches; examples include numerical differentiation and integration, fitting of curves and error analysis, solution of simple differential equations, random numbers and stochastic sampling, and advanced methods like neural networks and simulated annealing for optimization in complex systems. Course work consists of attending lectures and labs, weekly homework assignments, a mid-term project and a final project; while work is developed collaboratively, coding assignments are submitted individually.

Course Notes

This course satisfies the QRD requirement. Lectures meet concurrently with Physics 20, although sections, homework and project assignments are different between the two courses.

School Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Credits 4
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Course Component Lecture
Grading Basis FAS Letter Graded
Exam/Final Deadline Dec. 17, 2025
General Education N/A
Quantitative Reasoning with Data Yes
Divisional Distribution None
Course Level Primarily for Undergraduate Students