Homepage: www.users.csbsju.edu/~jschnepf

Text: Java: An Eventful Approach by Bruce, Kim B.; Danyluk, A. P.; and T. P. Murtagh

Course Overview: This is an introductory course and thus assumes NO PRIOR computer programming experience; however, basic mathematical skills and lots of time are expected! The course is an intensive introduction to the art and science of problem-solving and programming. Our department starts students with development of a core skill for a computer scientist, solving problems by designing algorithms and implementing them with a programming language. Currently, the programming language we have chosen to use is Java - a modern object-oriented language with a large library of classes which enable one to fairly easily handle tasks involving animations and designing Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's).

Programming languages are not really languages in the same way that human languages are, but there are many similarities that come up when you are learning one. For example, you must learn the vocabulary and structure of the language (whether Japanese or Java) and you must learn proper usage. For another, actually using the language is critical to learning its proper use.

CSCI 161 is meant for majors but the skills acquired in learning a programming language are quite general and useful in all kinds of disciplines. Thus, CSCI 161 is of great value to anyone willing to put in the work. You will find that learning to program will require a great deal of time outside of class. You must take each new piece of the language and write programs using the new piece until you understand it thoroughly. Most people who have taken a programming course will tell you that you will have to spend more time than is normal for a course at any level, let alone at the 100 level.

Course Objectives: On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

· understand how to write programs to solve problems using a computer

· understand how to design good computer user interfaces that make those programs easy to use

· know the basic mathematics and mathematical structures necessary to understand the algorithms you develop

Prerequisites:

· Some skill with mathematics.

· Lots of time

Skills you will learn in this class:

· The syntax (structure) of the programming language Java.

· The semantics (meaning) associated with program elements and structures.

· Logical flow of programs.

· Data representation and structure.

· Analysis of programs and algorithms for efficiency.

· Solving problems by designing algorithms and implementing them using a programming language.

· Recognizing good interface design to make software usable by people.

Labs: Attendance at all labs is required; any student who must miss a lab for reasons beyond his or her control must arrange for a makeup time in advance. No credit will be received for unexcused absences. After the first missed lab, each lab missed will lower a student’s final grade by 2 percentage points, in addition to the loss of points incurred for the unexcused absence. A total of 4 unexcused lab absences will automatically result in a failing grade for the course.

Programming Projects: There will be some programming projects associated with the labs. While the labs are intended to be collaborative in nature, unless otherwise specified, the projects are to be your own work. Projects may be discussed with other students in the class but what you submit MUST be your own work in your own voice.

Assignments handed in after the due date will be docked for being late. No assignments will be accepted more than one cycle after they are due.

Academic Honesty: You must properly attribute any work or ideas you use in assignments for this course which are quoted or derived from others. Plagiarism includes not only copying the ideas and the written and spoken words of others, but also copying or otherwise appropriating their computer files as well. Interfering with the work of others including their use of computing facilities is also a serious academic offense. I will report all instances of plagiarism, cheating, or other academic misconduct to the appropriate Academic Dean, and follow the guidelines in the Course Catalog

Any programming project that is not your original work will be graded as a zero. A second offence will result in an F for a grade for the course.

Evaluation: Your final grade for the course will be calculated using the following percentages:

Labs	10%	A	Understand material at an advanced level	90%+
Lab Quizzes	15%	B	Understand material at a fully competent level	80%+
Lab Projects	10%	C	Understand material at an acceptable level	70%+
Quizzes	15%	D	Partial Comprehension of the material	60%+
In Class Exams	20%	F	Unsatisfactory Performance	59%-
Final	25%

There will be 6 quizzes during the semester; the lowest quiz will be dropped. Make up quizzes will not be given. ABs, BCs and CDs will be given for borderline cases at the instructors discretion.

Special Accomodations: Student needing special accommodations or who have special needs are invited to share this information with the instructor as early as possible.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

Cycle	Topic	Lab	Reading/ Quizzes
1	Concept of an Algorithm		Ch 1 & 2
	Idea of classes / Programming	Unix
	Mutator Objects	Using Dr. Java and Book Classes
2	Using Numbers/ Accessor Methods		Ch 3 & 4
	Selection: if, if-then-else	Placing Objects on the Canvas	Quiz 1
	Selection: Switch	Selection to Choose Shapes
3	Primitive Types		Ch 5 & 6
	Classes	Data Representation
	Constructors, Methods, & Overloading	Numerical Data and classes
4	Loops and iteration		Ch 7 & 8
	Declarations, Scope	Building classes with Conditionals	Quiz 2
	Simple Animations & Multiprocessing	Using loops for repetition	Ch 9
5	Communicating with ActiveObjects
	In-class Exam 1	Active Objects
	More Animations	Lab Quiz 1
6	Use of Interfaces		Ch 10 & 11
	Standard GUIs	More Animations	Quiz 3
	Events	Interfaces
7	Recursion		Ch 12
	Numerical Recursion	GUI Components
	More Loops	Recursive Structures
8	Arrays/Array Lists		Ch 13 &14
	Collections	Unix and editors	Quiz 4
	Multidimensional Arrays	Lab Quiz 2
9	In-class Exam 2		Ch 15
	Image Processing	Command line parameters and Applets
	Strings & String Functions	Image Processing
10	Inheritance & Polymorphism Protected vs Private		Ch 17
	Overriding Methods/ Parent methods	Manipulating Text	Quiz 5
	Design of Class Hierarchies	Strings
11	Inheritance, String Methods		Ch 16
	More String methods	Strings II
	Strings & Patterns	Inheritance	Quiz 6
12	Packages & Exceptions		Ch 18
	Large Programs and Software Engineering		Ch 20
	Review	Lab Quiz 3
Final		ROOM 244	Dec 17th, 10:30

CSCI 161 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming Fall Semester, 2009

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

CSCI 161
Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming
Fall Semester, 2009