MONTGOMERY COLLEGE

Takoma  Campus

CS103  Computer Science I

Course Syllabus

I. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

II. GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

1. Course Description

Fundamental concepts of computing. Methods of program development and design: procedural abstraction and step-wise refinement of algorithms; object-oriented abstraction. Language syntax and semantics, and metalanguages. Structured program verification and documentation techniques. A structured, high-level language, object-oriented or with object-oriented features, is introduced and used in this course. Currently the language used is C++. 

2. Specific Outcomes

The student who successfully completes this course will be able to learn:
   a) learn computer organization, including an introduction to hardware and software;
   b) learn introductory programming and use the concepts in appropriately assigned programming assignments;
   c) learn techniques of program design;
   d) learn principles of good programming style, documentation, and verification of elementary program structures;
   e) become proficient in the basic syntax and semantics of the specific programming language(s) used in the course.
 

III. TEXTS AND SUPPLIES

Text: Programming and Problem Solving with C++, Third Edition
Nell Dale Jonis and Bartlett Computer Science., 2002
ISBN 0-7637-2103-4

Reference:
1. Programming Logic and Design. Second Edition. Joyce Farrell. Course technology, 2002.
2. Programming in C++. Dale, Weems and Headingon. Jones and Barlett Publishers, Inc., 2001.
3. Introduction to Programming - A Strategic Approach. Hanapel and LeTraunik. Houghton Miffline Company, 1996.
4.C++: An Introduction to Computing. Second Edition. Adams, Leestma and Nyhoff. Prentice hall, 1998.

Supplies: Notebooks and Diskettes

IV. GRADING

Quizzes may or may not be announced, at the instructor’s discretion. The instructor may elect to drop one or more quiz grades. Final Grading will be determined using the following scale based on the overall average score:

A. Requirements

Students are expected to be on time and to complete all class materials. If you skip more than one class’s worth of materials, you might find it is hard to catch up. Students should expect to spend 1-3 hours for every hour in class.

B. Assignments and Projects

Assignment will be given on each class . Generally, there will be a assignment per week and it is due the following week. Assignment that is turned in should be completed, and represent individual and original work on the part of each student. Late assignment will be discounted 20 percent. However, an assignment would not be accepted once its solution is posted. Please keep a backup copy for your own files.

C. Make-up Policy

There will be no makeup on any exam or quiz.

D. Audit Policy

Audit students must participate fully in the course and follow all policies and procedures to audit the course. Exception: exams are not required.

E. Class Project

Class Project is optional. All related material would be distributed at a later date. All project proposals need to be pre-approved by the instructor by. The project will help to approve the student grade.

V. CLASSROOM POLICIES

A. Attendance and Withdrawal from Class

See above attendance policy and withdrawal date.

B. Academic Honesty

The maintenance of the highest standards of intellectual honesty is the concern of every student and faculty member at Montgomery College. The College is committed to imposing appropriate sanctions for breaches of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty or misconduct can occur in many ways. The following list is not all-inclusive of all prohibited behavior. The list includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating on examinations, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty.

Please refer to the Student Handbook 2000-2002 for more specific information.

C. Classroom Conduct

The College seeks to provide an environment where discussion and expression of all views relevant to the subject matter of the class are recognized as necessary to the educational process. However, students do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn.

If a student behaves disruptively in the classroom, the student may be asked to leave the room for the remainder of the class time. If the student does leave, the faculty member may request the assistance of Security.

Please refer to the Student Handbook 2000-2002 for more specific information.

D. Support Services

Technology Lab Time: Check posting from the Technology Lab.

Disability Support Services: Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see Prof. Harry Zarin, counselor for students with disabilities at 240-567-7767. A letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. A 24-hour TTY phone is available at 301-540-2133. The campus’s main switchboard also can receive TTY calls at 301-353-7000.

For a complete list of other student support services, please refer to the Student Handbook 2000-2002.

VI. NOTES

Professor Alraban’s objective is to help you be successful in this course. The course is designed with the student in mind. When you leave a computer-oriented course, you will have gained a lifetime skill that you can use in many venues. Success in this course is directly related to class attendance and participation, reading of curriculum, and keeping on track with assignments. Best wishes for a semester that you can look back on with pride!

VII. COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

VIII.   General Notes

A . Lab Facilities / Media Resources
For projects students will normally use Microsoft Visual C++ compilers, which are provided in the college computer laboratories.  Students may use a different compiler with the Instructor’s permission. An overhead projector with transparencies and/or a computer projection system may be used in the classroom. Instructors may choose to use computer-equipped classrooms on an occasional or permanent basis. Assignments that require the use of the Internet are appropriate.

B. Teaching Methodologies:
Lecture and discussion, optionally supported by computer demonstrations and/or exercises.
Interaction between teacher and student may also occur through email or web sites.

C. Student Evaluation:
Examinations, assigned programming projects, and quizzes / homework exercises / worksheets as appropriate.

D. Special Requirements / General Comments:
Designed for transfer to UMCP and other local four-year colleges and universities. Such institutions, however, may, or may not, grant automatic transfer credit to students who obtain grades of C or better. It is recommended that students contact any such institution to which they hope to transfer to find out their policies before taking the course at Montgomery College.