CSC 131-005 Introduction to Computer Science

As you know, all UNCW classes were canceled on 9/10/18 starting at noon and resumed on 10/8/18. This resulted in a loss of 700 instructional minutes for this course. UNC System Policy 400.1.6 requires 750 instructional minutes (or the equivalent) for each credit-hour of a course. Thus, our 4-credit hour course requires 3000 minutes of instructional time. To make up for such a large and unprecedented amount of lost time, UNCW Academic Affairs developed a diverse and flexible plan. This plan contains adjustments to the academic calendar, changes to the daily schedule, and the opportunity to make-up time through outside of class and/or online assignments. In some cases faculty and students can also decide to hold make-up courses if necessary. This revised syllabus reflects how this plan impacts our course.

Syllabus - Fall 2018

Required Text

Introduction to Computer Science Using Python: A Computational Problem-Solving Focus, Charles Dierbach, copyright 2013.

Course Description

Prerequisite: MAT 111 or MAT 115.
Problem solving methods and algorithms in a modern high-level programming language. Introduces one or more programming environments. Emphasis on a programming style and the design, coding, and testing of complete programs. Recommended primarily for computer science majors. A grade of 'C' (2.00) or better is required for taking any course for which CSC 131 is a prerequisite. Satisfies University Studies I: Foundations/Mathematics and Statistics. Satisfies University Studies IV: Building Competencies/Quantitative and Logical Reasoning. Partially satisfies University Studies III: Transdisciplinary Cluster/Modeling. Partially satisfies University Studies III: Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster/Modeling.

Schedule **Adjusted due to Hurricane Florence

Monday Topic Wednesday Topic
20 August No Class 22 August Intro to Computer Science
RBC: Ch 1
PA: Ch 1 P2, pg 36 [due 27Aug]
27 August Data and Expressions
RBC: Ch 2
PA: Ch 2 P5, pg 76 [due 5Sep]		 29 August Data and Expressions
SFQ: 2.5, pg 67
3 September No Class
Labor Day		 5 September Control Structures
RBC: Ch 3
PA: Ch 3 M7, pg 121 [due 8Oct]
10 September Control Structures
SFQ: 3.4.6, pg 101		 12 September Hurricane Florence Closure
17 September Hurricane Florence Closure 19 September Hurricane Florence Closure
24 September Hurricane Florence Closure 26 September Hurricane Florence Closure
1 October Hurricane Florence Closure 3 October Hurricane Florence Closure
8 October Lists
RBC: Ch 4
PA: Ch 4 P5, pg 164 [due 15Oct]		 10 October Lists
SFQ: 4.2.5, pg 135
15 October Functions
RBC: Ch 5
PA: Ch 5 D3, pg 205 [due 22Oct]		 17 October Functions
SFQ: 5.2.7, pg 186
22 October Exam 1 Review
review file
TAKE-HOME EXAM 1 (programming)		 24 October Objects
RBC: Ch 6
PA: Ch 6 M2/3 hybrid, pg 245 [due 31Oct]
PA: Ch 6 D1 hybrid, pg 246 [due 5Nov]
29 October Exam 1 Reflection 31 October Objects
SFQ: 6.2.6, pg 226
5 November Modular Design
RBC: Ch 7
PA: Modify palindrome checker, section 7.3.7 [due 7Nov]
PA: Create homework helper module [due 12Nov]		 7 November Modular Design
SFQ: 7.3.6 - 7.3.7
12 November Text Files
RBC: Ch 8
PA: Letter frequency decryption [due 19Nov]		 14 November Text Files
SFQ: 8.4.6
19 November Recursion
RBC: Ch 11
PA: Ch 11 Recursive Magic # Guesser [due 26Nov]
SFQ: 11.1.3		 21 November No Class
Thanksgiving Break
26 November Dictionaries and Sets
RBC: Ch 9
PA: Personal translator [due 5Dec]		 28 November Dictionaries and Sets
SFQ: 9.2.2
5charWords
TAKE-HOME EXAM 2 (written)
TAKE-HOME EXAM 2 (programming)
3 December Exam 2 Reflection 5 December Object Oriented Programming
7 December (Fri) Final Review
10 December Deadline for old assignments 13 December (Thur) FINAL EXAM (0800-1100)

RBC = Read Before Class; SFQ = Study For Quiz; PA = Programming Assignment (template)

Policy Information

Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  1. Students demonstrate an understanding of basic programming concepts including data types, variables, modularity, parameters, conditional statements, iteration, and arrays.
  2. Students demonstrate program development techniques to describe and understand the problem statement, think through input/process/output, leading to problem representation and finally coding.
  3. Students demonstrate the ability to use program control structures (i.e., iteration, conditionals).
  4. Students develop and use algorithms to solve a variety of problems, for instance those related to array processing, statistical calculations, image and audio processing, and text processing.
  5. Students practice modular programming by developing, debugging and integrating modules into a larger program.
  6. Students demonstrate the ability to use programming language specific software libraries.
  7. Students demonstrate the ability to use basic file input and output.
  8. Students demonstrate the ability to use software development tools from command line compile and run commands to an integrated development environment.

Academic Honor Code

As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

Please read and be familiar with the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code. Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.

Special Needs

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register the Office of Disability Services in DePaolo Hall (ext. 2-3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then arrange a meeting to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.

Title IX

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand, to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information, please visit www.uncw.edu/care