CSCI 102: Fundamentals of Computation (Spring 2024)

Course Description:This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of algorith-mic thinking as a primer to programming. It is intended for students who have little to no prior programming experience with the goal of providing a strong foundation for CS 103 Introduction to Programming. The course introduces the mathematics and basic language constructs needed for programming as well as the problem-solving techniques required to analyze a problem and pro duce an algorithm. These techniques are put into practice over the course of the semester with an introduction to programming using C++. Weekly lab and programming assignments will provide hands-on experience and active learning techniques.

Concepts include data representation, basic discrete math, control structures (conditional and iterative structures), functions, and arrays. Weekly small-group discussions will provide the op portunity for students to practice the concepts learned in class, review and ask questions. Weekly assignments will provide opportunity to practice, apply, and deepen the knowledge gained from lectures. By the end of this course, students should feel comfortable to take information-based problem descriptions and write a software program in C++ to perform the required task.

Important Note: Please make absolutely sure that you can make the above dates. No make-up exams can be offered for any reason whatsoever. Moreover, no online exams will be offered to on-campus students for any reason. If a student misses Midterm 1 due to a valid reason (e.g., documented medical or family emergency), the grade of Midterm 2 will be considered as the grade of Midterm 1. If a student misses Midterm 2 due to a valid reason, they will receive a grade of IN (Incomplete) and they must take the exam in the next semester with the students of that semester. Unexcused absence in an exam warrants a grade of zero.

1. Frank Vahid and Roman Lysecky, Programming in C++ with ZyLabs. (Zy)

1. Cay Horstmann, C++ for Everyone, 2nd Edition, Wiley; 2012. (Hort)

– Final grades are non-negotiable and are assigned at the discretion of the instructor. If you cannot accept this condition, you should not enroll in this course.

– Class Participation Activities will be assigned at the beginning of the semester and should be completed by the due date that is specified on Zybook. Because of the nature of Participation Activities and because they are for extra credit, there will be no grace period for them and NO EXTENSION to their due dates under any circumstances.

– Homework is assigned on an approximately weekly basis. All homework deadlines are on FRIDAYS, except those Fridays that are holidays, in which case the deadline is moved to the subsequent Monday. Three one-day grace periods can be used for each homework with 10% penalty per day. Absolutely no late homework will be accepted after the grace period. A late assignment results in a zero grade.

– In case of documented illness or grave family situations, exceptions can be made to the late submission policy, mostly in the form of waiving the late penalty at the discretion of the instructor, given the fact that three lowest lab scores and two lowest homework scores will be dropped anyway for everyone.

– Poor internet connection, failing to upload properly, broken laptops, or similar issues are NOT acceptable reasons for late submissions. If you want to make sure that you do not have such problems, submit homework eight hours earlier than the deadline. Please do not ask the instructor to make individual exceptions.

– Students are encouraged to discuss homework problems with one another, but each student must do their own work and submit individual solutions written/ coded in their own hand. Copying the solutions or submitting identical homework sets is written evidence of cheating. The penalty ranges from F on the homework or exam, to an F in the course, to recommended expulsion.

– Posting the homework assignments and their solutions to online forums or sharing them with other students is strictly prohibited and infringes the copyright of the instructor.

Instances will be reported to USC officials as academic dishonesty for disciplinary action.

– Make-up Exams: No make-up exams will be given. If you cannot make the above dates due to a class schedule conflict or personal matter, you must drop the class. In the case of a required business trip or a medical or family emergency, a signed letter from your manager or counselor or physician has to be submitted. This letter must include the contact of your physician or counselor or manager.

– An excused absence supported by documents in the first midterm can be made up by using the second midterm’s grade in lieu of the first midterm. An excused absence in the second midterm results in an IN (incomplete) grade.

– Midterm and final exams will be closed book and notes.

– All exams are cumulative, with considerable emphasis on material presented since the last exam.

– The final summative experience will be assigned after Midterm 2. It is not an in-person exam, only a project that must be submitted before the deadline.

– Students are required to attend all the lectures and discussion sessions and actively participate in class discussions. Use of cellphones and laptops for anything unrelated to programming in C++ is prohibited in the classroom.CSCI 102 Syllabus – January 8, 2024