CS171: Algorithmic Computation

Section 2, Spring 2000, Tue,Thu 10:20-11:35 (SH115)
Lab Tue,11:45-1:35 (SH118)

http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~gupta/Classes/CS171

Instructor

Gopal Gupta, SH155, 646-6236, gupta@cs.nmsu.edu

Office hours: TTh 11:45 - 12:45

Teaching Assistant:

Larry King

lking@cs.nmsu.edu

Description

This course is the introductory course for Computer Science majors. Its goal is to develop students' critical thinking and problem solving skills, to introduce them to programming concepts, and to develop their programming skills. This course will introduce students to two different methods of programming (functional and imperative) and put these methods into practice by writing programs in two different languages (ML and Java).

A course schedule is available, and a lab schedule is also available.

Prerequisites

MATH 279, Introduction to Finite Mathematics, is a co-requisite of this class; that is, it must at least be taken at the same time (though you could have taken it earlier). MATH 185 is a prerequisite of MATH 279, and thus is a prerequisite for CS171.

Text and References

Java: Foundations of Program Design, John Lewis and William Loftus

Elements of ML Programming, Jeffrey D. Ullman, ML97 Edition

Our course schedule and lecture notes are available.

On-line notes from Section 1 are available.

Download personal versions of Java and ML:

Java Developers Kit for Windows
The home page for SML. You can find ML for Windows there.
Learn more about Java here (caution: these pages might confuse you at first. I'd stay away from them until later in the semester, unless you have significant programming experience already)

Laboratory and Assignments

Laboratory sessions are held once a week. Lab instructors will hand out new assignments, discuss assignments, return graded assignments, collect assignments, answer questions, and be available to assist students. Laboratory attendance is required. Assignments, however, will generally not be able to be completed during a single lab session; thus, you should plan to spend extra time completing the assignments.

Assignments are individual tasks. While discussion of assignments and problem solving approaches is encouraged, you should do your own lab and hand in your own work. Doing the assignments helps you learn and prepares you for the tests; if you take shortcuts on labs, in the long run you only hurt yourself.

Exams and Grading

There will be three exams in this course, two during the semester and a final.

The total grade for the course is a combination of your assignment (lab) grades and your exam grades. The exact breakdown is:

Assignments	50%
Exam 1	15%
Exam 2	15%
Final Exam	20%
Total	100%

Final Exam

Section 1: unknown
Section 2: Thursday, Dec. 16, 8:00-10:00AM

Course Withdrawals

If you decide to withdraw from the course, you are responsible for ensuring that all steps are taken to formally withdraw. Do not assume that you will be dropped automatically.

I Grades

The grade of I (incomplete) may be given only if you are unable to complete the course due to documented circumstances beyond your control that develop after the last day to withdraw from the course. Appropriate circumstances include illness and death or crisis in your immediate family. Consult the university catalog for regulations regarding an I grade. In no case will an I grade be assigned to avoid a grade of D or F in the course.

S/U Grades

If you elect to be graded under the S/U option, you must declare your intention when registering for the course. All work in the class will be graded in a manner identical to that for students choosing the letter grade option. At the end of the semester, your final letter grade in the course will be used to assign either an S or a U. In accordance with Faculty of Arts and Sciences regulations, you must achieve a minimum grade of C in order to receive a grade of S.

Academic Conduct

The guidelines for academic conduct are stated in the NMSU Student Handbook. Any violations of the code as stated in the handbook will result in a grade of F for the course in addition to any further sanctions imposed by the university.

Accomodation

If you have, or think you have, a disability that interferes with your academic progress, you may contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 646-6840 (V) or 646-1918 (TTY) for an appointment. Services for Students with Disabilities is located in Garcia Annex, Room 102. Current and appropriate documentation will be required in order to receive services.

Credits

Professors J. Cook and H. Leung, past instructors of cs171, for many of the resources you'll find here.