Instructor: Rashid Bin Muhammad
Class
Course Description
This course covers many important concepts underlying computer science. This includes algorithm design, operating system concepts, computer architecture, compilers and programming languages. The course begins by showing that computer sciences is the study of algorithms, the central theme of the textbook, and then concentrate on hardware, software, applications and finally ethics. The course includes a weekly lab that provides experience with the concepts covered in the lectures. Note that the course involves some introductory programming in C++.
Overall Strategy of our Course
In general, our course is divided into three parts. The heart of this course is the idea of algorithm therefore, in part 1 (approx. 1-5 weeks) we concentrate on algorithm design and algorithm efficiency. The second part (approx. 6-10 weeks) is the second level of abstraction in which we concentrate on computer hardware i.e. Boolean logic, gates, computer organization and virtual machines. In the third level of abstraction (approx. 11-15 weeks) we concentrate on computer networks, programming languages, compilers and language translation, and other topics time permitting.
Laboratory (30% of the final grade.)
The course has a Lab associated with it. The Lab is mandatory and your attendance is required. The Lab has a different instructor and details on how the Lab is conducted will be given in the Lab meetings. The Lab instructor gives the lab scores to the lecture instructor. You must pass both the lab and the lecture part of the course to pass the course.
Text
The required textbook for this course: G. Michael Schneider and Judith L. Gersting, Invitation to Computer Science, C++ Version (Fourth Edition), Thompson/Course Technology, ISBN: 978-1-4239-0141-9.
I strongly suggest that students purchase a copy of this textbook, and keep up-to-date in reading the material assigned at each lecture. Saving on textbook and concentrating solely on the power points/lectures would not be a wise idea.
Prerequisites: MATH 11011 (College Algebra), or MATH 12001 (Algebra and Trigonometry), or 2 years of high school algebra.
Credits: 4
Exams (50%)
Midterms and final exam will be given that examines the student’s knowledge of the course material. The final exam is comprehensive. No study guide(s) will be given before exams.
Pop Quizzes (20%)
The date of the quiz will NOT be announced (there will be surprise quizzes.) A quiz is held during the first 10 minutes of the class. Late students will not be given extra time to complete the quiz. No late quizzes will be accepted; no make-up quizzes.
Make-up and Late Policy
There is no make-up date for missed quizzes, or exams. Missed work will result in grade of 0 for the applicable quiz, or exam. Exceptional circumstances should be discussed with me in advance. Make-ups of exams for this class will only be given in the case of documented and valid circumstances.
Attendance Policy/Class Participation
Students are expected to attend each and every lecture. Attendance and active participation during a lecture will help you learn the material and succeed in class. Missed lecture/material will impact your understanding of material covered later in class. Any missed material due to absences is the responsibility of the student.
Grading
The final course grade will be determined by Computer Science standard percentage scale for CS 10051- Introduction to Computer Science Course.
A 93% - 100% A- 90% - 92.99% B+ 87% - 89.99% B 83% - 86.99% B- 80% - 82.99% C+ 77% - 79.99% C 73% - 76.99% C- 70% - 72.99% D+ 67% - 69.99% D 60% - 66.99% F 0% - 58.99%
There will be no curve at the end of the course. Although,
there will be a fair chance, by the means of extra-credit, that you can curve
your grades to a considerable measure.
Classroom Etiquette
Please remember that personal conversation during lecture time
is distracting to your fellow students. Leave the class if your wish to converse
(on the phone). Collaboration/discussion on a homework problem(s) is an
exception of the course! Discussions with me regarding individual matters may be
conducted after the class, but NOT before or DURING the class time please. Early
departure and late arrival- Please done discreetly. Please turn off all wireless
phones, beepers, pagers, radios, the sound on all laptops and PDAs, and any
other noise making devises. Laptops are acceptable for taking notes; however,
please sit at the last row so that your screen does not distract/block other
students.
Academic Integrity
Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. Students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments, which students turn in, are their own. Acts that violate this trust undermine the educational process. In this course, the penalty for any act of academic dishonesty is a final course grade of F.
You should read the Department’s policy on this issue: http://www.cs.kent.edu/programs/grad/studentinfo.html#dishonesty
Also, you should read the University's administrative policy and procedures regarding student cheating and plagiarism. The full URL is: http://www.kent.edu/policyreg/chap3/3-01-8.cfm
And the printable PDF version is: http://www.kent.edu/policyreg/chap3/upload/3342.3.01.8.pdf
Registration Requirement
The official registration deadline for this course is September 7, 2008. University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashFast) prior to the deadline indicated. Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline.
Students with Disabilities
University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit http://www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).
Good luck and welcome to my class!
