Diablo Valley College

Computer Science Department
Comsc 110: Introduction to Programming, Spring 2009, Section 5046 		 

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. [ Click here for the audio orientation. | Click here for the transcribed orientation. ]
INSTRUCTOR:
Prof. Robert D. Burns, rburns@dvc.edu
Office hours: 1-2pm Mondays in FO-F227
TOPICS COVERED:
Computer and Programming Terminology
Editing and Compiling Code
Constants and Variables
Identifiers, Expressions,and Statements
Console and File Input/Output
Methods (subprograms)
Algorithms and Pseudocode
Conditions, Logical Operators, IF statements
WHILE, FOR, and DO Loops
Grouping Data in Classes and Arrays
Simple Recursive Methods
Dynamic Data Structures
Collections and Linked Lists
CLASS DATES AND TIMES:
M Jan 15th through Th May 21st
Online lectures via transcribed audio MP3
Online labs using discussion group
Last Day To Add: M Feb 2nd
Last Day To Drop with refund: M Feb 2nd
Last Day To Drop without "W": F Feb 13th
Last Day To Drop with "W": F Apr 24th
Spring break: Apr 12 - Apr 18
Online midterm exam: M Mar 16th
Online final exam: M May 18th
GRADING: Lab Exercises (16):  700 points
Online Midterm and Final Exams (2):  100 points
Term Project:  100 points
Online Quizzes (15):  100 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:
Intro To Programming, Using Java (3rd Ed.) by Burns, hardcopy and online
Class website: http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/
Free editor software: Pad (Windows) and JNotePad (also avail. in computer lab)
Free compiler software: Java (JDK 6.0) (also avail. in computer lab)
home or office, PC or Mac required
CLASS POLICY:
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 21st. 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.
Students are expected to follow the DVC Student Code of Conduct. Accordingly, no credit will be given for work that is not original. Students MUST type their own code, and NOT share code with other students. 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.