<p>While it's not complete and almost certainly not the reference mentioned in the paper, Philip Guo <a href="https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/176450-python-is-now-the-most-popular-introductory-teaching-language-at-top-u-s-universities/comments?page=1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">compiled a list</a> of programming languages used in introductory courses at top 40 departments (as ranked by US&amp;WN). The key result is this table:</p>

<p><img src="https://cacm.acm.org/system/assets/0001/6722/Top39-700.4.png" alt=""></p>

<p>which shows that the only functional language, Scheme, is used in roughly 12% of departments.</p>

<p>There are two problems I see with using this as a statement about CS education at-large: first, this is a sample of the top 40 research institutes, which may not be representative in terms of teaching habits. </p>

<p>Second, Guo (by his own admission) is counting both CS0 and CS1 courses in here. For example, he counts CS303E at UT Austin as an intro Python course, although it's intended as a half-semester language intro for non-majors. This may skew the appearance of certain languages in his data.</p>

<p>Finally, a note: in the comments section of that article is a statement that says </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What we need is someone to resurrect the more comprehensive annual survey that I believe Jean E. Sammet used to do up to a few decades ago...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I wasn't able to find any record of this survey, but if "a few" means just one or two, then that might be the source you're looking for.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-18T12:20:02.887Z
Scheme is "sort of" functional. Sure, it has a functional core, but it is very much procedural too.
vonbrand
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-30T00:10:29.177Z
You might be interested in scala, a functional sibling to Java that compiles to the JVM.
ncmathsadist
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-16T20:36:15.847Z
2018-05-16T20:36:15.847Z
chipbuster
<p><a href="https://cseducators.stackexchange.com/questions/4759/why-isnt-functional-programming-taught-first">This question</a> got me thinking about cs1 and functional programming.</p>

<p>Do there exist anywhere statistics on what portion of schools teach cs1 using a functional paradigm?  I know that some schools do, but I cannot find any compiled resource about it anywhere.</p>

<p>The paper <a href="https://www.cse.buffalo.edu//~mhertz/meaning-sigcse-2010.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"What Do “CS1” and “CS2” Mean? Investigating Differences In the Early Courses"</a> by Matthew Hertz alludes to there being some sort of compiled resource, but I can't find it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T20:47:15.187Z
The SIGCSE list might be a better place for this one. I'm guessing someone there knows.
Buffy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T21:00:41.123Z
Actually, perhaps I could reach out to Matthew Hertz directly and invite him to write a response.
Ben I.
<functional-programming>
Statistics on functional programming in CS1
# Statistics on functional programming in CS1

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-14)

[This question](https://cseducators.stackexchange.com/questions/4759/why-isnt-functional-programming-taught-first) got me thinking about cs1 and functional programming.

Do there exist anywhere statistics on what portion of schools teach cs1 using a functional paradigm? I know that some schools do, but I cannot find any compiled resource about it anywhere.

The paper ["What Do “CS1” and “CS2” Mean? Investigating Differences In the Early Courses"](https://www.cse.buffalo.edu//~mhertz/meaning-sigcse-2010.pdf) by Matthew Hertz alludes to there being some sort of compiled resource, but I can't find it.

**Tags:** functional-programming

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The SIGCSE list might be a better place for this one. I'm guessing someone there knows.  
> **username_0**: Actually, perhaps I could reach out to Matthew Hertz directly and invite him to write a response.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-16. Score: 4

While it's not complete and almost certainly not the reference mentioned in the paper, Philip Guo [compiled a list](https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/176450-python-is-now-the-most-popular-introductory-teaching-language-at-top-u-s-universities/comments?page=1) of programming languages used in introductory courses at top 40 departments (as ranked by US&WN). The key result is this table:

![](https://cacm.acm.org/system/assets/0001/6722/Top39-700.4.png)

which shows that the only functional language, Scheme, is used in roughly 12% of departments.

There are two problems I see with using this as a statement about CS education at-large: first, this is a sample of the top 40 research institutes, which may not be representative in terms of teaching habits.

Second, Guo (by his own admission) is counting both CS0 and CS1 courses in here. For example, he counts CS303E at UT Austin as an intro Python course, although it's intended as a half-semester language intro for non-majors. This may skew the appearance of certain languages in his data.

Finally, a note: in the comments section of that article is a statement that says

> What we need is someone to resurrect the more comprehensive annual survey that I believe Jean E. Sammet used to do up to a few decades ago...

I wasn't able to find any record of this survey, but if "a few" means just one or two, then that might be the source you're looking for.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Scheme is "sort of" functional. Sure, it has a functional core, but it is very much procedural too.  
> **username_4**: You might be interested in scala, a functional sibling to Java that compiles to the JVM.  

---

