Course Outcomes

– An ability to use procedural programming language concepts including expressions, decision statements, simple data types, Boolean logic, input/output, loop constructs, and procedures.
– An ability to combine programming techniques to solve problems of varying degrees of difficulty.
– An ability to refine computer programs through testing and debugging to ensure proper operation.
– An ability to find and understand programming language documentation to learn new information needed to solve programming problems.

Prerequisite

C or better in MATH 104, MATH 105 or MATH 113, or specified score on math placement test

Corequisite

CS 101 (waived for non–CS majors)

Professor Contact Information

Dr. Mark Snyder

Office: Engineering Rm. 5346

Email: msnyde14@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-5624

Web http://cs.gmu.edu/~marks

Office Hours: T (2 - 4 PM) or by appt.

Textbook

The Practice of Computing Using Python by William Punch & Richard Enbody © 2011 (An eText version is available)

Course Materials

BlackBoard (courses.gmu.edu) – All assignments must be submitted (per published deadlines) via BlackBoard.
GTA/UTA contact information, class schedule, slides, materials, assignments, grades and other relevant documents are available on BB.

Email

Students must use GMU email system for all correspondence with professor (using the following email subject format: CS112_00x_NAME
(Where: x is your lecture section number & NAME is your name - failure to adhere to this policy will result in returned emails).

Grading

500 points total:

 105 pts: 7 Programming Assignments (21%) (drop lowest of 8)

   40 pts: 4 Quizzes (8%) (drop one lowest of 5)

   35 pts: Class Participation (7%)

 120 pts: 2 Programming Projects (24%)

   75 pts: Midterm Exam (15%)

 125 pts: Final Exam (25%).

Final course grades are calculated as follows:

     A+ (>= 490 pts.)    A (>= 460 pts.)    A- (>= 450 pts.)

     B+ (>= 440 pts.)    B (>= 410 pts.)    B- (>= 400 pts.)

     C+ (>= 390 pts.)   C (>= 360 pts.)    C- (>= 350 pts.)

     D (>= 300 pts.)      F (< 300 pts.)  

Class Participation

Students are expected to attend and actively engage in both lecture and lab sessions. Three absences (total, lectures and labs combined) are excused without question. Additional absences require acceptable documentation. Students must arrive on time to log participation for a lecture or lab session. Take notes – a significant portion of the information disseminated during classroom sessions are not delineated on slides.

Class Policies

Students are expected to arrive at lecture and lab sessions on time. On rare occasions when tardiness is unavoidable, enter the classroom quietly and sit in the rear to avoid disruption of class proceedings. Show courtesy to your fellow students and to the lecturer conducting the session.

Lecture

Students are responsible for reading and understanding material referenced in class schedule, which may or may not be explicitly covered during lecture. Readings must be completed prior to lecture. Questions and clarifications regarding material should be presented in class, during professor/GTA/UTA office hours or via Blackboard discussions. All electronic devices must be turned off or silenced during lecture.

Lab

Students must attend and participate in the lab section for which they are registered, unless prior permission is granted by lab GTAs. Quizzes (unannounced) will be administered during lab sessions. Missed labs result in zero credit for quizzes administered during that session (no make-ups except for excused absences). The lowest of the 5 quiz grades will be dropped from the overall class grade calculation.

Programming Assignments

Lab programming assignments are due one week from the start time of the specific lab section in which they are assigned. The lowest of the 8 lab grades will be dropped from the overall class grade calculation. Late lab programming assignments will not be accepted. Programming assignment specifications (e.g., algorithms, techniques, syntax, etc.) may be discussed verbally with other students, but code may not be shared. All resources used in the assignment must be listed in the code header. Sharing of code or use of code from any unapproved resource constitutes an Honor Code Violation. When in doubt – ask.

Programming Projects

Assignments must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for full credit. Late projects will be tolerated, but are subject to a penalty of 20% per day (measured in 24-hour increments from time of deadline). No assignments of any type will be accepted for credit after final exam. Projects may not be discussed with anyone other than the instructor, GTAs, UTAs and Peer Advisers. Acceptable references are restricted to those expressly listed in the project specification. Use of any unapproved resource constitutes an Honor Code Violation. Review the CS Honor Code Policies and the CS Statement on Academic Integrity. When in doubt – ask.

Contested Grades

Contesting of grades on any/all submissions must be requested within one week of the item's return. No grade changes will be considered subsequent to that deadline, or after the final exam meeting.

Exams

Exams are closed book/notes unless specified otherwise by instructor. Appropriate documentation (as determined by instructor) and requisite permissions are required for make-up exam requests. Picture IDs are required to take all exams. Note: A failing grade on the final exam (<60%) will result in a failing grade (F) for the entire course, regardless of performance on other assignments.

Honor Code

All students are expected to abide by the GMU Honor Code. We take this policy very seriously and it is rigorously enforced. All class-related assignments are considered individual efforts unless explicitly expressed otherwise (in writing). Students should also review and understand the CS Honor Code Policies and the CS Statement on Academic Integrity. Any questions regarding these policies should be discussed with the professor.

Learning Disabilities

Students with a learning disability or other condition (documented with GMU Office of Disability Services) that may impact academic performance should speak with professor ASAP to discuss accommodations.