This paper describes the course that was developed at the authors' University to introduce all first-year engineering students to the fundamentals of computer programming within the context of solving engineering problems. This two credit-hour, semester-long course incorporates the programming language MATLAB and is a required course for students who major in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. The course, which is usually taken during the second semester of their first year of study, was designed to utilize active learning techniques by having the students complete a series of laboratory exercises and projects that introduce computer programming and engineering applications. This paper describes the origins of the course, the laboratory exercises and projects, how the course was administered, and an assessment of how successful the course was based on student grades, student feedback, and a student survey. The results indicate that the course increased students' knowledge of programming in the context of solving engineering problems.