SYLLABUS

Catherine Stringfellow,

• Office: SCA203
• Office Phone: (505) 454-3202
• Office Hours: WF 11:00-12, TR 9:30-10:30 and by appointment
• E-mail Address:stringfellow@venus.nmhu.edu
• Homepage: http://cs.nmhu.edu/personal/catherine/

Wayne Summers,

• Office: SC212A
• Office Phone: (505) 454-3230
• Office Hours: MTWRF 10-10:50 and by appointment
• E-mail Address: summers_wayne@ColumbusState.edu
• Homepage: http://csc.ColumbusState.edu/summers

Catalog Description of Course:
This course looks at computing as a human enterprise covering problem solving techniques. Major emphasis is placed on structured and object oriented programming techniques : data abstraction selection, looping, and functions as well as elements of simple data structures : lists, array, and records. An overview of computer hardware, software and applications, data management and data communications will be provided. (4 credits).

Course Prerequisite:
Grade of at least a "C" in Math 090 plus either a grade of at least a "C" in CS140 or an ACT score of 22, or permission of the instructor based upon the student's programming experience.

Required Textbook(s):
a. Computers: Inside & Out by Kurt Luackner & Mildred Lintner, Pipin Publishing, 1994.
b. The Object Concept by Rick Decker & Stuart Hirshfield, PWS Publishing Co, 1995.
c. Supplementary material and lecture notes.
d. At least four(4) 3 1/2" high-density diskettes

General Objectives:
1) to provide the students with an overview of computing and computer science
2) to introduce the student to the use of the computer
3) to provide a framework for students to build on in using computers in the classroom and in the workplace
4) to create an understanding of how computers are used in today's technological world
5) to provide insights into how computers are affecting our daily lives
6) to learn the "software engineering" approach to designing and implementing computer programs
7) to learn the concepts of data abstraction and modularization through the use of functions and parameters
8) to learn the syntax and structure of the C++ computer programming language.
Specific Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
1) understand what computing is and what computers can and cannot do;
2) understand the important issues affecting the use of computers in society;
3) understand the terminology and concepts of computers and their uses;
4) to be able to comfortably use a computer as a tool for solving problems;
5) leave the class feeling comfortable using the computer;
6) analyze the requirements of a problem;
7) design algorithms to solve moderately complex problems;
8) implement algorithms by coding them into the C++ programs, then compile and execute them.

Major Topics:
1) Computing as a human enterprise: brief history of computing; theory, abstraction and design;nine subject areas of computing; computing and daily life
2) Algorithm discovery and design
3) Efficiency of algorithms
4) Binary numbers, Boolean logic, and gates
5) Computer system organization
6) Systems software and virtual machines
7) Introduction to high-level language programming
8) Compilers and language translation
9) Models of computation
10) Software applications and computer networks
11) Social and legal issues
12) Introduction to object oriented programming concepts.

Attendance:
Class attendance is the responsibility of the student, and it is the student's responsibility to independently cover any material s/he may miss. Class attendance and participation may also be used in determining grades. You should attend all lab sessions.!! Attendance will be taken. You will be expected to visit at least one instructor during each half of the semester.

Exams and Assignments:
There will be three tests and one comprehensive final exam. Exams cover material from the text as well as laboratory activities. The lectures may not cover all the material in the textbooks. There will be several major programming projects as well as a few small lab assignments. The projects will be expected to be complete and robust, including good user interfaces and the ability to handle improper input. Industry level internal and external documentation will also be expected.

Honor Policy: Cheating will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will be given a zero on the assignment or exam. Repeat offenders will be given an F for the course and may suffer expulsion from the university. All work must be your own. You may discuss the material in the course and help one another, however, I expect any work you hand in for a grade to be your own. Plagiarism will result in, at best, an "F" for the assignment. A simple way to avoid inadvertent plagiarism is to talk about the assignments, but don't read each other's work or write solutions together. Keep scratch paper and old versions of assignments until after the assignment has been graded and returned to you. If you have any questions about this, please see me immediately.

Makeup Exams:
Late assignments will not be accepted. E-journals are due by 5 p.m. Friday each week. Makeup exams will be given only if the instructor is notified IN ADVANCE of the exam with a legitimate reason for missing the exam.