Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

CISc 120 - Programming Fundamentals I
Semester III - Summer 1, 2009

Syllabus Contents  (Revised 5-11-2009)
	Course Overview
	Course Objectives
	HU Core Competencies
	Required and Suggested Texts
	Statement on Academic Integrity
	Grading
	Problems Arise
	Tutoring - Problem Session  (Office Hours)
	Project and Exam Descriptions
	Course Conduct
	Class Schedule

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This course introduces the concepts and techniques of computer programming.  Emphasis is placed on developing the student’s ability to apply problem-solving strategies to design algorithms and to implement these algorithms in a modern, structured programming language.  Topics include: fundamental programming constructs, problem solving techniques, simple data structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), program structure, data types and declarations, control statements, algorithm strategies, and algorithm development.  This course is taught using the C# programming language.  This course includes a laboratory component.

The goal of this course is for the student to acquire the basics of how computers work and how they are integrated into the workplace environment.  There is an emphasis on practical computing skills and productivity techniques.  The programming section of the course will provide an understanding of how to design, code, and debug applications using problem-solving techniques and style. 

We will explore these topics through in-class presentations/labs/exercises (both individual and group-based), discussions, readings (from both text and on-line sources), and a variety of graded assignments/labs/tests.  As part of this course we will explore the major organizations, government institutions and private sector industries and educational programs connected with our major topics.

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At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:

• Define and illustrate the basic concepts and methods of object-oriented programming.
  
• Illustrate the object-oriented programming process using C#.
  
• Define and illustrate the use of User-Defined Classes.
  
• Define and illustrate the use of Dynamic Data Structures.
  
• Develop the ability to apply problem-solving strategies to various computing problems.
  
• Design and implement algorithms in a modern, structured, Object-Oriented Programming language.
  

Note to students with disabilities:  It is Harrisburg University's policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities.  It is also your instructor's policy to try and help students learn by whatever reasonable means necessary.  If you have a disability related need that requires a modification in your testing situation, please notify your instructor a week before the first test or quiz so that your need can be accommodated. You may be asked to present documentation that describes the nature of your disability and the recommended remedy.

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At the conclusion of this course a student will have met the following core competencies that reflect HU's mission:

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving skills are demonstrated by the student’s ability to:
  - Identify and clarify the problem,
  - Gather information,
  - Evaluate the evidence,
  - Consider alternative solutions,
  - Choose and implement the best alternative.  
  
• Communication - The core communication skills are demonstrated by the student’s ability to:
  - Express ideas and facts to others effectively in a variety of formats, particularly written, oral, and visual formats,
  - Communicate effectively by making use of information resources and technology.
  
• Teamwork and Collaboration - The students will be working with others to increase involvement in learning and by sharing one's own ideas and responding to others' reactions to sharpen thinking and deepen understanding.
  
• Information Technology - The students will be making effective use of the .NET information resources and technology.
  

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• Doyle, B., C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, 2^nd Edition, Thomson Course Technology,
  ISBN-13: 978-1-4239-0146-4, 2008.  This is the required text book for the course.
• (P) Papers, programs, and online references will be made available to supplement the course text book.
  
• Reference Books:
  -  Farrell, J., Microsoft Visual C# 2005: An Object-Oriented Programming, 2^nd Edition, Thomson Course Technology,  
     ISBN: 1-4239-0151-7, 2008.
  - Lewis, J., C# Software Solutions, Foundations of Program Design, Pearson/Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,
     ISBN: 0-321-26716-8, 2007.  http://www.aw-bc.com/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0321267168,00.html
  - Watson, K., Nagel, C., Pedersen, J. H., Reid, J. D., Skinner, M., White, E., Beginning Visual C# 2005, Wiley   
     Publishing, ISBN: 0-7645-7847-2, 2006.
  - Dann, W., Cooper, S., and Pausch, R., Learning to Program with Alice, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-131-87289-3, 2005.

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According to the University's Student Handbook: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception, and is the educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person, or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any violation of academic integrity will be thoroughly investigated, and where warranted, punitive action will be taken.

Students should be aware that standards for documentation and intellectual contribution may depend on the course content and method of teaching, and should consult the instructor for guidance in this area.

Honor Code - We as members of Harrisburg University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or lie in maters related to academic work.  As a Community of Learners, we honor and uphold the HU Honor Code.

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Your grade is based on 500 possible points. You earn points with each programming assignment, exam, and quiz as show below.

A: 465 to 500;   A-: 450 to 464;   B+: 435 to 449;   B: 415 to 434;   B-: 400 to 414;
C+: 385 to 399;   C: 365 to 384;   C-: 350 to 364;   D: 300 to 349;   F: 0 to 299.

Research on college success demonstrates that class attendance is a significant factor in student success.  Considerable material will be covered during each class session.  There will be discussion of assignments and handouts may be distributed.  Therefore, lecture attendance will be calculated into your participation grades. If a student must miss a class, it is his/her responsibility to get the notes, assignments and any handouts, etc. from a classmate preferably prior to the next class period.

PROJECTS AND EXAMS
Activity	Weight	Due Date
Programming Assignments	180 Points	All Semester
Quizzes	100 Points	All Semester
Mid-Term Examination	100 Points	28-May-09
Class Participation	20 Points	All Semester
Final Examination	100 Points	24-June-09

You earn your grade but it will be assigned by me. The criteria for each programming assignment will be discussed in detail, as well as the grading scheme. Each programming assignment will be evaluated on how well it addresses the questions posed, the clarity of thinking, the organization and presentation of the documentation material, the quality of coding, and program's timeliness.

I urge all students to utilize their web-based portfolio and keep copies of excellent programming assignments there as evidence of the quality of work that they are capable of producing.

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Problems happen to people when they are least expected.  If any problems arise that you expect could impact your work in CISc 120 -- PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  I want to see every student succeed -- but I can only help if I know as soon as possible!

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OFFICE HOURS - TUTORING - PROBLEM SESSIONS

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There are programming assignments, quizzes, a mid-term exam and a final exam.  Please consult the schedule to see when the assignments are due and when the quizzes and exams are scheduled.  You will receive instructions for each programming assignment well in advance of the due date.

Here is a brief description of each:

• Programming Assignments - Each student is responsible for completing the programming Assignments in accordance with the specifications in the text.  There will be six (6) programming assignments, each worth a maximum of thirty (30) points for a total of 180 points.
  
  

• Quizzes - There will be five (5) quizzes, each worth a maximum of twenty-five (25) points.  The lowest quiz grade will be dropped for a total of 100 points.  A student who completes all 5 quizzes on time will earn up to twenty-five (25) bonus points.
  
  

• MidTerm Examination - This examination will cover the class material up to the midpoint of the semester
  (100 points).
  
  

• Final Examination - This will be a comprehensive examination that covers all the course material (100 points).
  

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A few rules will help us to get the most of our investment in CISc 120:

• Classes will start on time and end as scheduled.  Please take your seat prior to the start of class.
  
• You will attend each class and actively participate in the discussions during class.  If you are uncomfortable with public speaking, or if English is not your native language, please talk to the instructor in the first two weeks of the course to establish ways to make you more comfortable in speaking and interacting with other students (your peers).
  
• For every hour of class time, I anticipate that you will need to budget about 3 hours of out-of-class time.  This implies that you need to budget about 120 hours of out-of-class time over the course of the semester.  This time estimate is a guide and you may need to budget more.  For example, if the material is new to you or difficult to comprehend, it will require more of your time.
  
• You are responsible for all the readings, even if the material is not explicitly covered in class.  You should read the class materials prior to class and be prepared to discuss and ask questions about the readings and assignments.  You should also re-read the material after class as not every topic will be covered during class time.  Many passages in the text may need to be read several times to gain clarity.  Also, taking notes on the material you are reading and reflecting on the reading and these notes will help you better understand the issues, concepts and techniques that are being presented.
  
• All work must be completed and turned in on or before the assigned date.  No late work will be accepted.  Late means after the class has begun.  Note that a computer's failure is not an excuse (it represents poor planning on your part).
  
• All work must be done using a word processor.  Carefully proofread your work since mistakes which include spelling errors, grammatical errors, and typos will affect your grade.
  
• Your work should be properly referenced and adhere to standards of both academic integrity and proper form.  Generally, I prefer the APA style (see www.apa.org).
  
• All class credit-related electronic mail must be done using Harrisburg's electronic mail service and the student's assigned Harrisburg University ID.  By 'credit-related' I mean all work to be evaluated for credit.  Any work submitted through a different mail system will NOT be accepted.
  

  NOTE:  If you use a friend's computer - be sure to change the identity information so that the work comes through YOUR account!  Work will not be accepted if it does not come from the student's Harrisburg University account.

• When individual work is assigned it should be done by you, alone.
  
• Students who participate in University-sanctioned events (such as athletics) must make prior arrangements and give the instructor ample notice.  Missing class for practice is not advised.

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This list represents the initial plan for CISc 120.  Please note that it is merely a *plan*.  Actual dates may change due to weather, illness or other unforeseen problems.  Please use this as a guide.

Plan last updated: 11-May-09

Note in the 'readings' section, the related material should have been read by this date.  I will not use class lectures to cover everything contained in the text or other readings.  Please let me know if you do not understand something that is covered in the text or in any other required reading!

Day	Date	In Class	Readings	Due
1 - Mon	11-May-09	Introduction & Background Concepts	Chapter 1	Setup Moodle Account and  install Visual Studio.Net
2 - Tues	12-May-09	C# Programming	Chapter 2	Programming Exercises #4, Page 81  Due: 5-18-2009
3 - Wed	13-May-09	Data Types and Expressions	Chapter 3	Quiz 1 » Chapters 1 & 2
4 - Mon	18-May-09	More Data Types and Expressions	Chapter 3	Programming Assignment #1 Due
5 - Tues	19-May-09	Data Types and Expressions and Methods and Behaviors	Chapters 3 & 4	Programming Exercises #10, Page 133  Due: 5-26-2009
6 - Wed	20-May-09	Methods and Behaviors Continued	Chapter 4	Quiz 2 » Chapters 3 & 4
7 - Tues	26-May-09	Writing Methods and Behaviors	Chapter 4	Programming Assignment #2 Due
8 - Wed	27-May-09	Review - Chapters 1 to 4	Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4	Programming Exercises #8, Page 206  Due: 6-1-2009
9 - Thurs	28-May-09	Chapters 1 to 4	MidTerm Exam
10 - Mon	1-June-09	Behaviors and Making Decisions	Chapters 4 & 5	Programming Assignment #3 Due  Programming Exercises #10, Page 207  Due: 6-8-2009
11 - Tues	2-June-09	More Decisions	Chapter 5	Quiz 3 » Chapters 4 & 5
12 - Mon	8-June-09	Conditionals and Loops	Chapter 6	Programming Assignment #4 Due
13 - Tues	9-June-09	Conditionals and Loops Continued	Chapter 6	Programming Exercises #5, Page 263  Due: 6-16-2009
14 - Thurs	11-June-09	OO Analysis & Design	(P)	Quiz 4 » Chapters 5 & 6
15 - Mon	15-June-09	Arrays	Chapter 7	Programming Assignment #5 Due
16 - Tues	16-June-09	Collections	Chapter 7	Programming Exercises #4, Page 326  Due: 6-22-2009
17- Thurs	18- June-09	Windows Programming	Chapter 8	Quiz 5 » Chapters 6 & 7
18 - Mon	22-June-09	Windows Programming Continued	Chapter 8	Programming Assignment #6 Due
19 - Tues	23-June-09	Review - Chapters 5 to 8	(P)	Practice Test
The Final Examination will be on Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

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