It's a first course in programming, with occasional glances at other relevant topics, whatever the title.
MIT tried to do an intro course which was actually an introduction to principles, but the effect was so harsh that undergrads without previous background in programming were often advised to take a more conventional "intro to programming" couse first. The textbook, "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs", is still available -- but the course is no longer taught at MIT, after they decided it was no longer serving the needs of the students.
Thank you for giving me a flashback to 20 years ago, realizing that I couldn't perform in 6.170 because I didn't know Java but there were no Course 6 classes that taught Java.
MIT tried to do an intro course which was actually an introduction to principles, but the effect was so harsh that undergrads without previous background in programming were often advised to take a more conventional "intro to programming" couse first. The textbook, "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs", is still available -- but the course is no longer taught at MIT, after they decided it was no longer serving the needs of the students.