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Application Information
Partner Institution

Break Through Tech Chicago helps UIC students who plan to major or minor in data science, computer science, CS + design, or computer science and linguistics to get their start in CS 111. Each year, we accept applications for our tuition-free summer section of this course. We are looking for students who:
This might be your first-ever experience with a tech-oriented class, and you’ll find that almost all of your classmates are in the same situation. CS 111 includes lots of group work, because we believe that new tech skills are best learned together!
CS 111 is an introductory computer science course at UIC that is designed for complete beginners. No prior experience is required. By the time you complete the course — with the help of supportive instructors and classmates — you will have learned how to code! And you’ll be able to use that skill to do fascinating things, from generating artwork to powering devices to communicating your ideas.
You’ll also have the foundation you need to take higher-level courses in data science and computer science.
CS 111 introduces you to Python, one of the languages that people use to tell computers what to do.
This course is hands-on and designed to be fun, so once you have some basics of Python, you will use this computer language to be creative: producing graphics, simple computer games, visually appealing charts, and even animations. In each assignment, you will practice key skills while making something unique that you can show to your friends and family.
Here’s an example:
This is an actual basic computer game created by a CS 111 student! On the left, you can see the code she learned to write in CS 111. The real-time display of her Simpsons game, enabled by that code, is on the right.
What’s it like to take CS 111? What are some of the advantages? Will you be supported if you are completely new to data science or computer science? Get perspective on these questions and more from Nandini, Ciara, Sibleen, Diya, and Drishika.
First, please join us for an online information session!
Here are the dates for 2023-2024:
Please fill out our CS 111 interest form to choose a session.
Once you have completed the interest form, the Break Through Tech Chicago team will contact you about completing an application to participate in the free course (which must be done no later than April 28, 2024). After you apply, a Break Through Team member will contact you to talk about your interest in the program. We place students into our tuition-free summer section of CS 111 on a rolling basis.
Questions? Email Melissa Hernandez with the words “summer CS 111” in the subject line.
By the end of the semester, students will have had exposure to many examples of problem-solving and have had lots of practice applying programming tools to a variety of challenges.