Introduction to Computer Science & Programming

Introduction to Computer Science & Programming
Course Syllabus
15 December 2022

Instructor: Prof. R. Shadiev, PhD

Office: IT-Center (3rd floor west)
Office hours by appointment

Course Length: 14 weeks

Schedule: Two hour-long lectures and one two-hour lab session each week
Credit: 3 units


Course Objectives
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python is intended for students with little or no programming experience. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems and to help students, regardless of their major, feel justifiably confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals. The class will use the Python 3.5 programming language.


Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

• 
  Provide an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems.
  
• 
  Help students, including those who do not plan to major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, feel confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals.
  
• 
  Position students so that they can compete for research projects and excel in subjects with programming components.
  
• 
  can recognize new problems that are amenable to the techniques learned in this course, and design new algorithms for similar problems
  
• 
  can use generic programming to program the algorithms
  

Required Text: The textbook is Guttag, John. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python: With Application to Understanding Data Second Edition. MIT Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780262529624.

Absence Policies
“If you miss more than 15% of the classes you have to be able to document extenuating circumstances for all absences. . . In [this] course in which students have two meetings per week, you can miss two sessions due to extenuating circumstances. Missing more than 15% without extenuating circumstances for all absences means [the student failing, i.e., a grade F, for] the course. If you need to miss a class, inform your course instructor before class starts.”¹


Assessment Policy

Students must submit the following work to be graded, with final grades to be determined as follows:

Grade Breakdown
Homeworks (35%)
Midterm (30%)
Final Exam (35%)

Grade Policy

A: 90-100%
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
F: 0-59%


Course Content

1. 
   Introduction to Python
   
2. 
   Some simple numerical programs
   
3. 
   Functions and abstraction by specification
   
4. 
   Structured types, mutability, and higher-order functions
   
5. 
   Testing and debugging
   
6. 
   Exceptions and assertions
   
7. 
   Classes and object-oriented programming
   
8. 
   A simplistic introduction to algorithmic complexity
   
9. 
   Some simple algorithms and data structures
   
10. 
    Plotting and more about classes
    
11. 
    Stochastic programs, probability, and statistics
    
12. 
    Random walks and more about data visualization
    
13. 
    Understanding experimental data
    
14. 
    Knapsack and graph optimization problems
    
15. 
    Dynamic programming
    

Academic Honesty and Cheating Policy

Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.

“Scholastic Dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to cheating during a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

“Cheating” during a test includes:

• Copying from another student’s test paper
• Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test
• Collaborating with another student during a test without authority
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting or soliciting in whole or part the contents of an un-administered test
• Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered
Penalties for academic dishonesty may include a grade of “0” or “F” on the particular assignment, failure in the course, administrative withdrawal from the course and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the college. A recommendation for suspension or expulsion will be referred to the Associate Dean of Student Services for disciplinary disposition.
Disability Resources

Any student who may need an accommodation due to a special need must make an appointment to see both the course instructor and SIUT’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs as soon as possible. Before accommodations are provided, a letter authorizing the accommodations will be needed from the student’s previous institution or SIUT’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

1