Course Syllabus 
Computer Science I 
Fall, 2000

Course Information

Instructor: Chris Prince (http://www.d.umn.edu/~cprince)
Email: cprince@d.umn.edu
Office: 313 Heller Hall
Phone: 726-6514
Office Hours: 13:30-14:30 MF, 13:00-14:00 Tue, 16:00-17:00 W, and by appointment (Prince)
13:30-14:30 W, 14:00-15:00 Tue, and by appointment (Maclin)
Text: Forouzan and Gilberg, Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C (Second Edition), PWS Publishing 

Prerequisite

3 1/2 years high school math or instructor consent. No previous programming experience is required.

Recitation Instructors

Your recitation instructor's office number, phone number and office hours will be announced at your first recitation session.

Course Coverage

This course is an introduction to computer science through the programming language C. We will cover the first twelve chapters and the fourteenth chapter of the text by Forouzan and Gilberg (approximately one a week). Although many of you already have some experience with programming, previous experience is not a requirement. This is not just a course in computer programming, you will also learn to solve problems in a top-down fashion, how to modularize your code, and how to document your programs properly.

Liberal Education Objectives

To provide an in-depth introduction to what Computer Science is and how computer scientists think, through the design and implementation of structured computer programs. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to specify and analyze computational processes for the solution of many typical information problems.

Examinations and Grades

Item Points Date and Time
Midterm Exam 1  100 points  October 9 (Monday), in class
Midterm Exam 2  100 points  November 20 (Monday), in class
Final Exam (both lectures)  200 points  December 16 (Saturday), 10:00-11:55
In-Lab Assignments (14)  60 points  weekly 
Programming Assignments (8)  260 points  TBA 
Homework Assignments (10)  80 points  TBA 
Total  800 points  Grade based on total points 

In assigning grades I will use the cutoffs shown below. Note that these cutoffs may go lower if I feel that exams or programming assignments were particularly difficult but they will not go higher (if everyone gets over 90% of the total points then everyone gets at least an A-). Further note that no matter how low the cutoffs move, the cutoff for a D will likely never go as low as 50%.

Cutoffs:

Course Organization

We will meet in large lecture on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays when new material will be presented. We will follow the text generally, but non-text material may also be included in the lectures. The midterms and final exam will also be given in large lecture (the midterms will occur during class hours). Dates are given in the above schedule.

On Thursdays (noon lecture) or Tuesdays (3pm lecture) you will meet with your recitation group in HH 306. In these sessions, you will discuss the material presented in lecture, go over exams, hand out and discuss programming assignments, and work problems from the text. Your lab supervisor and recitation instructor will be a Computer Science Department graduate student. Dates of all important lab and recitation events are also given on the term schedule.

On Tuesdays (noon lecture) or Thursdays (3pm lecture) you will meet in lab (MWAH 177). During the lab sessions you will have an opportunity to apply what you learn from the lectures and reading by designing, writing, and testing programs under the supervision of your recitation instructor. Each lab day will have a short lab assignment you must complete as part of your lab. You will also have time to work on your programming assignments. For all but the simplest programming assignments, the one hour of supervised lab will not be enough to complete them. You will also need to work on them outside of your scheduled lab hour.

Policies

Missed Classes

You are responsible for what goes on in class, including lecture material, handouts, and turning in assignments. If you are unable to attend class it is your responsibility to obtain copies of class notes and any materials distributed in class. You may turn in copies of assignments early or have other members of the class turn in an assignment for you.

Missed Exams

No exam will be given early. Exams can be made up only in the case of emergencies such as severe illness or death in the immediate family. You must contact me 24 hours in advance in order to arrange a makeup.

Programming Assignments and Homework

Lab Reports: Programming is only a small part of the total discipline of computer science. When you turn in a lab report documenting a programming assignment, it is not just a copy of the program that you wrote, it is a report of the entire process by which you conceived, designed, wrote, and tested a solution to the original problem. This report is expected to be well thought out, neat and complete. You will receive guidelines for producing this report when you report to your first lab.

Cheating: Programming assignments and homework must be your own work. You may discuss general ideas with other students, but should not discuss actual code with others. If you are having problems with an assignment, please come and see me or send me email.

Late Assignments: Homework assignments are due at the start of class on the due date. Since you will generally review some of the problems from the homework during class, homework assignments can not be handed in late. All programming assignments will be collected by 4:00 on the due date. You may hand in the assignment during class or you may them in to the Computer Science TA on duty in HH 314. Please make sure to include your TA's name, the class (CS 1511) and section (e.g., Recitation 3) on the assignment so that it is placed in the right box.

For the semester you will be allowed a total of three late days for programming assignments. This means that you may hand in one programming assignment three days late or one assignment two days late and one one day late or three assignments one day late. An assignment is late if it is handed in past 4:00 on the due date. One late day will then be charged if the assignment is handed in by 4:00 on the next school day, two late days will be charged if the assignment is handed in by 4:00 on the second school day after the assignment is due, etc. Note that once you use up your three late days you must turn in all assignments on the due date.

Equal Opportunity

As instructor I shall make every attempt to treat all students equally, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation. I encourage you to talk to me about your concerns of equal opportunity in the classroom. To inquire further about the University's policy on equal opportunity, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (6827), 255 DAdB.

Students With Disabilities

If you have any disability (either permanent or temporary) that might affect your ability to perform in this class, please inform me at the start of the semester. I may adapt methods, materials, or testing so that you can participate equitably. To learn about the services that UMD provides to students with disabilities, contact the Access Center (8727), 104 Cina Hall, or the Office of Equal Opportunity (6827), 255 DAdB.