Computer Science 105: Introduction to Computer Concepts

Fall 2011

Schedule:

Welcome to CS 105! This survey course will challenge you to think deeply about what computer scientists do and how they do it. You will gain a broad appreciation of the historical foundations of computer science, system design, software, and hardware, as well as the effects of computing on society. Please come back to this page regularly during the semester to check for updates on assignment deadlines, office hours etc. Most importantly, all PowerPoint slides etc. we use in class will be uploaded and available from the syllabus table at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to send us an e-mail hchengwang@gmail.com.

Instructor

Course Description

Textbook

Evaluation (assignments are posted here)

Syllabus (slides are posted here)

Accommodations

Student Conduct

Course Description: This course presents an overview of the role of computers in society -- their application and misapplication, their capabilities and limitations. Applications may include artificial intelligence, medical, aerospace and business uses of computers. Computer hardware and associated technologies will be discussed. Computer programming will be taught from a non-mathematical, problem-solving point of view, the objective being an understanding of the programming process, rather than the development of complex or extended computer programs. This survey course is not part of the computer science major sequence. Students planning to major in computer science should start with CS 110. Also please note that no student will receive graduation credits for CS 105, if it is taken after successful completion of CS 110 or a higher level computer course. Students who enroll in CS 110 after taking CS 105 may receive fewer than the normal number of credits for CS 110.

Objectives:
Think like a computer scientist when solving problems
Understand how different components of a computer work
Understand programming from a non mathematical point of view
Limitations of computing

Prerequisites: Math placement exam

Evaluation: There will be four homework assignments. Final exam will take place sometime during the final exam period. Your final grade will be computed as follows:

Homework: 30%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30% (Dec. 19, 11:30am to 2pm, M-3-415)
Class Participation (including in class assignments) : 10%

Important Note:

Late Homework:
Late work will NOT be accepted. Homework is due at the beginning of class of the assigned due date. If your homework is late for any personal emergency, please speak to me directly.

Missed Exams:
If you must miss an exam, let us know well in advance. Then if you have a good reason with documentation we can possibly make other arrangements. If you somehow fail to let us know in a timely fashion that you have an excuse and want to take the exam late, contact us before the next class after the exam, and we may be able to give you a make-up exam. If you fail to let us know in a timely fashion and do not contact us before the next class after the exam, then we cannot accommodate you with a make-up exam.

Academic Dishonesty:
The penalty for cheating may be anywhere from a 0 on an assignment to a grade of "F" in this course. The appropriate dean will be informed in writing of any cheating incidents.
Cheating consists of, but is not limited to:
- Using or copying an outside person's work on an exam or assignment in any fashion.
- Work includes outlines, pseudocode, code, and documentation.
- Allowing your own work to be copied or used by an outside person.
- Submitting as your own work something that has been written by an outside person.
- Using any unauthorized reference on an exam or assignment
- Not acknowledging in writing on an assignment any help you received.

Note that cheating goes both ways: both giving and receiving.

Class Attendance:
Class attendance is important since you will participate in group activities which are graded. Class attendance and participation constitutes 10% of your grade. We are very happy to give extensive help outside class to people who attend class. Learning is a spiral process, and the rate varies by person and individual topic. Everyone can get it, particularly with help. Do not be shy about asking for help

Important Dates:

September 5 (Monday) Labor Day Holiday
September 6 (Tuesday) Classes Begin
September 13 (Tuesday) Add/Drop Ends
October 10 (Monday) Columbus Day (Holiday)
October 17 (Monday) Mid-Semester
November 7 (Monday) Spring '12 Registration Begins
November 10 (Thursday) Course Withdraw Deadline Pass/Fail Deadline
November 11 (Friday) Veterans Day (Holiday)
November 24 to 27 (Thursday to Sunday) Thanksgiving Recess
November 28 (Monday) Classes Resume
December 14 (Wednesday) Classes End
December 15 (Thursday) Study Period
December 16 to 22 (Friday toThursday) Final Exam Period
December 23 (Friday) Snow Day

Syllabus

Accommodations: Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 offers guidelines for curriculum modifications and adaptations for students with documented disabilities. If applicable, students may obtain adaptation recommendations from the Ross Center for Disability Services, M-1-401, (617-287-7430). The student must present these recommendations and discuss them with each professor within a reasonable period, preferably by the end of Drop/Add period.

Student Conduct: Students are required to adhere to the University Policy on Academic Standards and Cheating, to the University Statement on Plagiarism and the Documentation of Written Work, and to the Code of Student Conduct as delineated in the catalog of Undergraduate Programs, pp. 44-45, and 48-52. The Code is available online at: http://www.umb.edu/student_services/student_rights/code_conduct.html