Diablo Valley College

Computer Science Department
Comsc 110: Introduction to Programming, Spring 2006, Section 1266

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to programming emphasizing modular design and development of programs, coding style, documentation, debugging, and testing. All control structures and data types of a commonly-used language are covered. Language: Java. Recommended: Comsc 100 or Comsc 105 or equivalent.

INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Robert D. Burns, rburns@dvc.edu
Office: FO-F227 (925)685-1230 x2610
Hours: MW[2:15-3pm] TTh[2:15-4pm]

TOPICS COVERED:
Computer and Programming Terminology
Editing and Compiling Code
Constants and Variables
Identifiers, Expressions,and Statements
Console Input/Output
Methods (subprograms)
Algorithms and Pseudocode
Conditions, Logical Operators, IF statements
WHILE, FOR, and DO Loops
Grouping Data in Classes and Arrays
File I/O Basics
Simple Recursive Methods
Dynamic Data Structures
Vectors and Linked Lists

MEETING DATES AND TIMES:
W Jan 18th through W May 17th
MW 3-4:30pm, L-143 Lecture
MW 4:30-6pm, L-149 Lab
Last Day To Add: M Jan 30th
Last Day To Drop with refund: M Jan 30th
Last Day To Drop without "W": M Feb 13th
Last Day To Drop with "W": F Apr 28th
Holidays: M Feb 20th, M Apr 17th, W Apr 19th
Midterm Exam: M Mar 20th, 3-4:15pm
Final Exam: M May 22nd, 3-5pm

GRADING:	Lab Exercises (16):	800 points
	Midterm Exam:	50 points
	Final Exam:	50 points
	Term Project:	50 points
	Online Quizzes (14):	50 points

FINAL GRADE: Strictly applied
A	900-1000 points	B	800-899 points
C	700-799 points	D	600-699 points
F	0-599 points		no extra credit

TEXT, REFERENCES, AND SUPPLIES:
Introduction To Programming, Using Java by Burns
Class website: http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/
Free editor software: Pad (Windows) and JNotePad (also avail. in computer lab)
Free compiler software: Java JDK (J2SE 5.0) (also avail. in computer lab)
USB drive or floppy diskettes

CLASS POLICY:

	Expect to spend about 12 hours per week on this course -- 3 in lecture, 3 in lab, and 6 outside of class.
	Lab assignments are posted on the class website.
	Lab assignments are due at midnight of the evening of the due date indicated on the course outline. Completed lab work must be posted to the class website for credit.
	For questions on lab assignments, anytime and anywhere, use the online discussion group (accessible via links on the class website: http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/). Students may post and reply to questions in order to help eachother. The instructor monitors the discussions and answers questions when appropriate. Use this method so that all students benefit from questions, answers, and clarifications.
	One point per day will be deducted for each late assignment. Late work will be accepted until noon on Th May 25th. No credit will be awarded for any late work after that time.
	Contact the instructor in person in lab, lecture, or office hour, or by email. You can use the phone during office hours -- if you leave a voice message, calls will most likely not be returned.
	The final exam and the midterm exam are both open book and open note.
	Arrangements for missed exams must be made with the instructor in advance. Make-up exams can only be scheduled for a time period in which the instructor is conducting another exam.
	Online quizzes are conducted during the 72-hour period preceding lecture as indicated in the course outline. No make-ups for missed quizzes. Quizzes cover the material for the indicated week's reading assignment in the course outline, and the lecture notes for the week. Quizzes are accessible on the class website via the internet, and require a Java JRE or JDK pluggin to run in your browser. Quizzes are timed, each allowing a few minutes for 5 or fewer multiple-choice questions.
	No credit will be given for work that is not original. Points awarded for lab work that is later found to be not original will be withdrawn. Points awarded for work that is deleted from the Student File Area before grades are assigned at the end of the semester will be withdrawn.
	Lecture classes start at 3:00pm sharp. Do not trust classroom clocks -- check the time on the class website home page (http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/) which is synchronized to the atomic clock.