Syllabus: CPSC 1301K - Computer Science 1
Instructor Information
Dr. Hyrum D. Carroll
carroll_hyrum@columbusstate.edu
TSYS School of Computer Science
Columbus State University
SCCT 442
(706) 507-8182
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
TBA
CPSC1301@columbusstate.edu
Student Hours
I will keep the following Student Hours. I will be both in my office and available online. I can also be available at other times, just email me for an appointment. Note, students that have scheduled a time with me will have priority over walk-ins.
During my regular Student Hours (if I don't have a meeting) you can start a video chat with me by clicking HERE or with the following steps: In CougarVIEW, click on the "Content" menu, then "Virtual Student Hours".
Student Hours
Day |
Times |
Monday |
12:00 – 1:00 PM
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
Tuesday |
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
Wednesday |
12:00 – 1:00 PM
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
Thursday |
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
Friday |
12:00 – 1:00 PM
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
And by appointment |
Class Information
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Times: 10:00 - 11:50 AM
Room: SCCT 407
Section: 01
CRN: 28586
Credits: 4
Required Textbook
How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Interactive Edition
Cost: $0
We will cover material in Chapters 1 - 13.
Provides an interactive environment that allows you to type in code and run them.
Also has useful features like interactive quizzes and tracing of code execution.
Note: An older version is available as a single pdf at:
http://www.ict.ru.ac.za/Resources/cspw/thinkcspy3/thinkcspy3.pdf.
Resources
Python Software Foundation website
Contains latest Python language documentation, tutorials, and guides
Prerequisite
None
Course Description
This course includes an overview of computers and programming; problem solving and algorithm development; simple data types; arithmetic and logic operators; selection structures; repetition structures; text files; arrays (one-and-two-dimensional); procedural abstraction and software design; modular programming (including sub-programs or the equivalent).
This course is a required course for Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, and Math.
This course counts in Area D for other majors.
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the STEM area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students' broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures or mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Inquiry and Analysis
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
Learning Outcomes
Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts of computer programming, including problem solving and algorithm development, procedural abstraction and software design
- Use simple data types, control structures, array and string data structures
- Demonstrate an understanding of these basic skills in programming by writing several significant programs
- Use good software engineering principles and developing fundamental programming
- Be familiar with standard debugging techniques
- [Technology] Effectively employ software tools and computational methods to solve problems
Course Outcomes
- You will be able to demonstrate an understanding of computing and computer science.
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computing and computer science.
- Class discussion about what is computing and computer science.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, E, and G
- Program Objectives covered: 2
- Assessment Methods: Written Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of computer programming concepts.
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- Read and write moderately complex programs in a programming language.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 2 and 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of basic syntax of a specific programming language
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study of concepts of computer programming.
- Study the API for the programming language.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 2 and 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to read moderately complex programs written in a specific programming language and understand what these programs do
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- Read and write moderately complex programs in a programming language.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 2 and 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to design algorithms utilizing the principles of object-oriented programming to solve moderately complex problems
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- Read and write moderately complex programs in a programming language.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to write moderately complex programs in a specific programming language to implement these algorithms
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to follow specified style guidelines in writing programs, and understand how the guidelines enhance readability and promote correctness in programs
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, C, and J
- Program Objectives covered: 2 and 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to edit, compile, debug and run programs in a specific programming language
- Strategies and Actions used to produce the outcome:
- Study concepts of computer programming.
- ABET Criteria covered: A, B, and C
- Program Objectives covered: 2 and 3
- Assessment Methods: Written and Programming Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams.
Course Communication
- Course communication will be via CSU email addresses (@ColumbusState.edu) and CougarVIEW announcements
- Use your official CSU account (@ColumbusState.edu) for all e-mail communication (not CougarVIEW emails, I do not check my CougarVIEW email account).
- You are expected to monitor your course page in CougarVIEW and your CSU email account frequently (i.e., at least every other day).
- If you need clarification on an assignment, ask at least 1 school day before it is due, otherwise you may not get an answer in time to complete the assignment successfully. Read and think about email before sending. Email is a permanent record. You are expected to monitor your CSU email account frequently (i.e., at least every other day).
- Please allow 2 school days for a reply to your question (although we strive for a much quicker turn-around time).
- For all questions about grades, send email directly to me, carroll_hyrum@ColumbusState.edu.
Performance Evaluation
Category |
Percentage |
Quizzes |
15% |
Practice Programming Assignments |
10% |
Programming Projects |
17.5% |
We Solve It! Project (small group or individual) |
10% |
Independent Programming Assignments |
17.5% |
Exams (10% each) |
30% |
You must get an average of at least 70% on the proctored items to pass the class.
This includes: Independent Programming Assignments and exams.
Each of the grading categories is capped at 100%.
Grading
Course letter grades are determined by the final course average according to the following chart:
Grading Criteria
% Range |
Course Grade |
90 – 100 |
A |
80 – 89 |
B |
70 – 79 |
C |
60 – 69 |
D |
<60 |
F |
The last day to drop without a grade and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
The last day to withdraw with a "WP" grade is Monday, March 6, 2023.
Course Websites
The course schedule, assignment descriptions, syllabus, etc. are hosted at
http://csc.columbusstate.edu/carroll/1301/.
Grades for each assignment, assignment submissions, quizzes, etc. are hosted in
CougarVIEW.
Attendance
Attendance is required by the university and is the responsibility of the student.
I expect each student to be in attendance for each class in-person.
Attendance will be calculated by your arrival and duration in class.
For this course, attendance applies to both the first and second meeting times each day.
Additionally, it is the student's responsibility to independently cover any materials missed.
Makeup exams or quizzes are generally not given, so please make sure you are present for all exams and quizzes.
Attendance may also be used in determining grades.
It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance gets recorded correctly for every class meeting (see under Student Responsibilities below).
At my discretion, I may drop you from the course for absences of two weeks of classes or more.
Refer to the CSU Catalog (https://catalog.columbusstate.edu/academic-regulations/undergraduate-academic-regulations/) for more information on class attendance and withdrawal.
Attendance Bonus: Research shows a strong positive correlation between attending class and a good grade in that class.
To make that correlation even more positive, the following attendance bonus is offered.
If a student attends each class, then their overall course grade will be increased by 1%.
If a student only misses the equivalent of one class, then 0.67% will be added; if a student only misses the equivalent of two classes, then 0.33% will be added.
No bonus will be applied for students missing the equivalent of three or more classes.
Note: University events with required attendance will not penalize your attendance bonus.
Lecture
Computers are permitted in lecture for note taking and completing exercises.
Other activities such as web surfing and social networking are inappropriate.
Not only do they distract you but also others.
Students that do not attend both of the first two lectures may be dropped from the course.
An audible cell phone ring and noise during class will require the possessor to bring fruit, cookies, or equivalent for the entire class during the next lecture time.
Additionally, all views are to be heard and engaged respectively.
As scholars, we are expected to analyze subject matter critically and express reasonable positions that are based on logic and fact rather than on emotion.
Practice Assignments
You have the opportunity to complete several practice assignments this semester to help you learn and retain the techniques that you will learn. For the practice assignments hosted on codePost.io, you can submit them late for reduced points (half off each week that it's late).
Projects
There will be 4-6 projects.
Projects must be written in Python.
They are due at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on the assigned due date (unless indicated otherwise).
A total of at most 3 late days will be granted for the entire semester for projects (and only for projects).
(Sunday and Monday are counted as 1 day late.)
For example, if Project 2 is turned in two days late and Project 3 is turned in one day late, then all of the late days for the semester have been used.
If an assignment contains portions that are more than 75% similar to other material (not provided by the instructor), zero points will be awarded
Additionally, an Academic Misconduct incident may be reported as well.
Students missing two or more projects will receive an F or FA in this course.
It is recommended that you regularly keep a copy of your projects on a second device.
Exams
There will be three exams during the regular semester.
They are tentatively scheduled for:
Wednesday, February 8, 2023,
Friday, March 10, 2023 and
Monday, May 1, 2023.
Final Examination Time
We will use the final examination time (Thursday, May 4, 2023, 10:45 AM – 1:15 PM in the same room as the classroom) for We Solve It! Project presentations.
Advice for Succeeding in this Course
- Attend EVERY class.
- Be prepared for class by reading assigned material and completing exercises before class.
- Take notes in class.
- Review notes taken in class.
- Complete all reading assignments and take notes while reading (especially summaries and your questions)
- Watch all of the videos and take notes while watching (especially summaries and your questions)
- Ask questions that you have. Do NOT wait until test time or the last day of a project to ask all of your questions.
- Start working on assignments and projects as soon as possible, and seek help as soon as needed. Do NOT wait for the last minute to work on your projects.
- Find other students to study together (but do your own work).
- Do your own work; zeros can drastically hurt your grade.
- Make sure that you're getting the right amount of SWEET:
- Sleep
- Water
- Eating
- Exercise
- Time
What To Do When You Get Stuck
General steps for addressing a coding challenge:
- Write down (yes, write down) a description of the problem
- Isolate the problem and replicate it in the simplest form possible
- Search for answers (e.g., in the book, on-line, etc.)
- Ask the Computer Science tutors for help (online and in room SCCT 450) (see below for details)
- If you've already spent an hour trying to solve the problem, send me an email. In your email, state:
- What is working correctly
- What you have tried
- What you expected / what is wrong
Note, if you send an email and then later figured out a solution, please send a second email indicating that it's resolved.
Tutoring Help
Computer Science tutoring
Free computer science tutoring is available online and in SCCT 450.
To make an appointment, simply:
- Click on the EAB link from your main MyCSU webpage
- Click "Get Assistance"
- Choose "Tutoring" in the first drop box.
- Choose "Computer Science Tutoring" in the second drop box.
- Choose the course you need help with in the third drop box.
- On the next page, choose "Computer Science Tutoring SCCT 450” (Note, even if the tutor is only available online, you still need to choose the “SCCT 450” option)
- Choose the tutor you wish to make an appointment with and click "Next"
You can also get help with a tutor even if you do not have an appointment. To access the online tutor video chat room either visit
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a7kA90f1qNXfKkPrjaGnGJDquWWt9164cFwdGa4dMtSI1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=0baf2b03-84bf-4980-8d95-f1562b292a8d&tenantId=0f04a099-6dc7-44fd-a875-00922906fc9b or follow these steps:
- Go to the "Computer Science Online Tutoring" CougarVIEW page. If you do not have access to this page, please let me know. On this page you will find a calendar containing the times that each tutor is available.
- Look at the calendar on the left to see who’s on duty
- Click on "Content"
- Click on "Online Tutoring Chat"
- Click on "Collaborate Ultra"
- Choose the name of the tutor you wish to chat with.
- Click "Join session”
Academic Center for Tutoring (ACT)
The ACT at CSU offers the following services free for all enrolled CSU students:
- Appointment-based one-on-one or small group tutoring in a variety of core courses, writing help in all courses, and assistance with general study skills or online learning skills. Sessions can be online or face-to-face in the center located in Simon Schwob Memorial Library, second floor. Use EAB to make an appointment or contact the center for assistance.
- Drop-in math lab in the library basement (room 019) that is open for limited hours (see website for exact days/times).
- A limited amount of after-hours online tutoring through tutor.com. Access is through your courses in CougarVIEW.
Visit the ACT website for more information about the ACT and
tutor.com:
https://www.columbusstate.edu/academic-center-for-tutoring/. If you have any questions or need help you can email
act@columbusstate.edu or call 706-507-8646.
Time Commitment
The amount of time it will take you to complete the work for the course will depend on many factors, which will vary with each individual.
The ACM recommends the following: "As a general guideline, the amount of out-of-class work is approximately three times the in-class time.
Thus, a course that is listed as requiring 3 hours typically entails a total of 12 hours (3 in class and 9 outside)."
Student in my classes typically spend more time than this guideline.
This time commitment increases for partially or fully on-line courses.
Students will be expected to spend this time outside class reading the book, online materials and other materials; writing solutions to exercises and programming projects.
It will be helpful to set aside regular study time when you can work uninterrupted.
Privacy Policies
Below are the links to the privacy policies for the tools that we will be using in this course:
Administrative Policies and Academic Resources
ADA and 504 Statement
Columbus State University provides reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. You may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and/or physical accessibility. We recommend that you contact the Center for Accommodation and Access located in Schuster Student Success Center, Room 102, 706-507-8755 as soon as possible if you think you are eligible for accommodations. The Center for Accommodation and Access can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan, identifying additional resources, and providing support. Accommodations may be able to assist you to meet the requirements. Technical support may also be available to meet your specific need. Please contact Sarah Secoy if you have questions. She can be reached at 706-507-8755 or at caa@columbusstate.edu.
Title IX Discrimination
Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual penetration, stalking, domestic and dating violence, and harassment or discrimination because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. If a student would like to file a complaint for Title IX discrimination or has any questions, please contact the CSU Title IX Coordinator (Sarah Secoy, 4225 University Avenue, Schuster 110, Columbus, GA 31907, secoy_sarah@columbusstate.edu, 706.507.8757), Deputy Title IX Coordinator (Craig Burgess, Richards 205, 706-507-8234, burgess_craig@columbusstate.edu), and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Atlanta Office, U.S. Department of Education, 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 19T10, Atlanta, GA 30303-8927, 404.974.9406, OCR.Atlanta@ed.gov).
COVID-19
Please review the updates to the Columbus State University COVID-19 Procedures and Response Team FAQs on the COVID 19 Response and Updates page.
CougarVIEW (D2L Brightspace) Accessibility Information
CougarVIEW is our institution's version of D2L Brightspace, an online course platform.
The accessibility page from the D2L website states, "We believe that every mind matters and access to high-quality learning should be universal...We constantly strive to ensure that our learning platforms work seamlessly with various assistive technologies to provide a great learning experience to people with diverse needs. We integrate the latest global accessibility standards into our product process and openly report conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AAA standards and compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 1973."
For more information go to D2L Accessibility.
Note, all other tools used in this course do not have accessibility statements (nor Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) statements) posted.
HOUSE BILL 280
Whether a fully online, blended classroom, or on-ground classroom student, you should become familiar with "campus carry" legislation.
For information regarding HB 280 (Campus Carry), please refer to House Bill 280.
It is the permit holder's responsibility to know and comply with the law.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Information regarding student rights and responsibilities can be found in the CSU Student Handbook.
As a student in this course, you are responsible to:
- Be respectful to both your peers and instructors in all interactions.
- Regularly check your official CSU email, and communicate with your instructors in a professional manner.
- Manage your time and maintain the discipline required to meet the course requirements.
- Be prepared to ask questions to maximize your understanding of the material.
- Complete all readings and watch all assigned videos,
- Complete all assignments,
- Complete all quizzes and exams,
- Ask questions when something is not clear.
- Actively participate in classroom discussions.
"
I didn't know" is NOT an acceptable excuse for failing to meet the course requirements.
Academic Honesty
Please refer to the CSU Student Handbook for additional information on academic honesty.
All students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. As a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic work.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty include but are not limited to: plagiarism, giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on exams, quizzes, class assignments or projects, unauthorized collaboration, multiple submissions (in whole or part) of work that has been previously submitted for credit. Plagiarism is an attempt to represent the work or ideas of someone or something else as your own. This includes purchasing or obtaining solutions to assignments or projects from any person or thing and turning them in as your own. It also includes the use of paraphrases or quotes from a published source without properly citing the source. All written assignments may be submitted for textual similarity review for the detection of plagiarism.
No cheating in any form will be tolerated.
Please be aware that students found plagiarizing in this course will receive a 0 for the assignment/exam and may receive a 0 for the course.
Moreover, a report will be also added to your file and to CSU's Create Care online system.
The following graphic illustrates what are authorized resources and what are not:
Emotional and Mental Health
Your emotional and mental health is very important and can affect your ability to meet your academic responsibility. Part and full time students have free access to mental health counseling through the CSU Counseling Center. If you begin to experience any sort of emotional concerns such as anxiety, depression, or significant life events that are negatively impacting you, please seek help at the counseling center as quickly as possible. Please know that you will find a friendly "virtual" face for your appointments. Hours of operation are 8:00AM to 8:00PM Monday and Tuesday and 8:00AM to 5:00PM Wednesday through Friday. You can call to set up an appointment: 706-507-8740. If you are in crisis during non-business hours, please call the Georgia Crisis Line: 1-800-715-4225.
Technical Resources
Minimum Technical Proficiency
Students should be able to complete the following tasks:
- Composing an e-mail
- Attaching a file
- Navigate web sites, including downloading and reading files from web sites.
- Uploading a file
- Downloading a file
- Saving a file to computer or USB device
- Using a Webcam;
- See the CougarVIEW Student Guide
Hardware and Software Requirements
Check your system's compatibility with CougarVIEW:
CougarVIEW System Check (GeorgiaVIEW's system checker is compatible with CougarVIEW.)
- Access to a computer (at home, on campus or at work) and broadband Internet access.
- Chrome, Firefox 3.0 or higher, Safari (latest version- Macs only) or Microsoft Edge. IMPORTANT: Internet Explorer is NOT compatible with CougarVIEW.
- To open PDF files (you might need Acrobat Reader)
- Permission/ability to install plug-ins or class software (e.g. Adobe Reader or Flash).
- Access to a webcam and audio (for remote proctoring, online student hours, tutoring, etc.)
- Check your system here: CougarVIEW System Check
- Python programming language interpreter (free with IDLE development environment)
- Flowcharting program, for example, RAPTOR (a free flowchart-based programming environment) or lucidchart.com
- An office suite such as Microsoft Office, Open Office of Google Doc (Note: Microsoft Office 365 is available free to all CSU students and available at the following link: Microsoft Office 365)
You can always learn more about CougarVIEW (D2L Brightspace) by clicking on the Resources navigation menu in CougarVIEW and selecting "CougarVIEW (D2L) Student Guide" on the top navigation bar.
If you need technical support or need assistance configuring your computer, please go to the link located in the "Technical Resources" widget located on your "My Home" and your "Course Home" pages. Most technical problems can be resolved by reviewing the knowledge base help pages. You can also contact the CougarVIEW Help Desk 24/7 at 1-855-772-0423.
Instructor Responsibilities
- I will prepare and deliver lessons covering the required topics
- I will lead the class discussion and answer students' questions
- I will be available to discuss questions about the course with you
- Below are my target response times:
Target Response Times
Deliverable |
Target |
Email responses |
≤ 2 school days |
Quizzes posted |
≥ 4 days (so that it's open at least 3 days) |
Assignments posted |
≥ 5 days before it's due |
Projects posted |
≥ 7 days before it's due |
Quizzes graded |
≤ 2 classes later |
Assignments graded |
≤ 4 school days |
Discussion boards reviewed |
≤ 5 school days |
Projects graded |
≤ 7 days |
Exams graded |
≤ 2 classes later |
ABET Criteria
Students in CS/IT will have a(n)
- ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline;
- ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution;
- ability to design, implement and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs;
- ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal;
- understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities;
- ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
- ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations and society;
- recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, continuing professional development;
- ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.
- ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices;
- ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity.
CS Program Objectives:Our graduates will have achieved:
- A broad general education assuring an adequate foundation in science and mathematics relevant to computing.
- A solid understanding of concepts fundamental to the discipline of computer science.
- Good analytic, design, and implementation skills required to formulate and solve computing problems.
- The ability to function and communicate effectively as ethically and social responsible computer science professionals.
Turner College of Business Mission and Vision Statements
Vision 2025: We will be recognized as a leader in innovative business and technology education.
Mission: We create better futures for our diverse student body by producing a career-ready workforce. Our programs are in business and technology – and where the two meet.
See an expanded version of our mission at https://turner.columbusstate.edu/mission-and-vision.php.