Diablo Valley College

Computer Science Department
Comsc 110: Introduction to Programming, Spring 2011, 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. ]
INSTRUCTORS:
Prof. Robert Burns, rburns@dvc.edu, lecturer
Prof. Daniella Blackburn, dblackburn@dvc.edu, grader
Burns office hours: M 4-6pm, FO-227, MW 6-7pm, ATC-115
TOPICS COVERED:
Editing, Compiling, and Managing Code
Algorithms and Pseudocode
Constants and Variables
Identifiers, Expressions, and Statements
Console and Text File Input/Output
Subprograms and Parameter Lists
Conditions, Logical Operators, IF statements
WHILE, FOR, and DO Loops
Grouping Data in Structures and Arrays
Collections and Linked Lists
Simple Recursive Functions
MEETING DATES AND TIMES:
Sa Jan 22nd through Th May 26th at noon
Online lectures via audio podcast
Online labs using discussion group
Last Day To Add: F Feb 4th
Last Day To Drop with refund: F Feb 4th
Last Day To Drop without "W": Th Feb 17th
Last Day To Drop with "W": F Apr 29th
Online midterm exam: M Mar 21st, all day
Online final exam: M May 23rd, all day
GRADING: Lab Exercises (15):  650 points
Online Midterm and Final Exams (2):  100 points
Term Projects (2):  150 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 (4th Ed.) by Burns, hardcopy and online
Class website: http://cs.dvc.edu/
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:
All lectures are pre-recorded MP3s, with accompanying HTML visuals. Lectures become available as scheduled on the course outline, and not before.
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://cs.dvc.edu/). 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 26th. No credit will be awarded for any late work after that time.
Contact the instructor by email or visit during office hours.
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.
EXPECTED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students completing the course will be able to:
write programs that use constructs of sequence, ifs, and loops.
write programs that have subprograms with parameter lists.
write programs that apply arrays.
On the first day of class, and then again on finals day, take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/sp2011comsc