CS 120
Computer Science I

Overview

This course is intended for students with a serious interest in programming and computer science. It also meets the IC distribution requirement for symbolic and quantitative analysis, and will involve a significant component of abstract thinking, problem solving, and mathematics. If you have concerns or questions about this course, please talk to me at your earliest convenience.

The following description of this course appears in the College Catalog:

An introduction to the discipline with emphasis on algorithm design and program development. The problem solving activity of developing algorithms is heavily stressed. Other topics include computer organization, computer usage and applications, programming languages, software engineering, data structures, and operating systems. Required for the major or minor in CS. Recommeded for students intending to develop or maintain software in their own area of concentration.(I.C.)

• Design algorithms to solve specified problems.
• Implement algorithms in a high-level language.
• Document source code so that it can be read, understood, and modified.
• Test software to ensure that it meets specifications.
• Interact with a Unix computer.

General Information

http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/spring99/120code.html

Textbook. We will be using Problem Solving with Java, by Koffman and Wolz. You should complete the assigned reading before class; it will be much easier to join the discussion if you have looked at the material. The bookstore should also have Unix for Dummies by John Levine and Margaret Young; it is not required, but I encourage you to get it, particularly if you plan to take more computer science courses. Once you've read the first few chapters, you should be able to read the sections that are interesting or useful to you when you need them.

Class Meetings. The class meets in Comenius 218 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:20-11:10 (period 3a), with a scheduled laboratory period on Wednesdays from 2:10-3:30.
The Computer Science Laboratory is on the west side of the Hall of Science (next to the parking lot). Most lab periods (especially early in the course) will have specific activities for you to work through; other lab periods will be for you to get assistance with homework assignments. It is particularly important for you to attend laboratory periods.

Office Hours. Please send me email or stop by my office anytime you have questions; I'm here most weekdays, and often in the evening or on weekends. Part of your participation grade will be based on how well you communicate with me outside of class; for full credit, please stop by once before the first exam, once after the first and before the last exam, and once more before the final. This will give me a chance to get to know you, and I hope it will make you want to use office hours more in the future. My scheduled office hours are Monday 2-3 PM, Tuesday 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Thursday 1-2 PM. My office is in Comenius Hall 404 and the phone extension there is x1418.

Teaching Assistant. Ming Gu, guM@cs.moravian.edu will be holding additional lab hours to answer questions and offer suggestions on the homework. Times will be announced and posted on line soon.

Grading. Your final grade in this course will be based on participation, homework assignments and quizzes, the three midterm exams, and the cumulative final exam. These items will be weighted as follows:

10% participation
35% assignments (10% penalty on each assignment per lecture day late)
30% midterm exams (10% each)
25% final exam

Schedule and Tentative Syllabus

PSJ = Problem Solving with Java
UD = Unix for Dummies

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