CMSI 182 - Introduction to Computer Science

Spring 2000

Basic Course Data

Lectures:    Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm, Pereira 20

Instructor:    J. Ken Geddes, Jr.
                    Office Hours: Wed. 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm; and by appointment
                    email:        kengeddes@earthlink.net
                    website:    home.earthlink.net/~kengeddes/cmsi182/index.html

Secretary:    Cathy Herrera
                    phone:       (310) 338-2774
                    email:         cherrera@popmail.lmu.edu
                    office:        Doolan 101

Objectives

The goal is to become familiar with the most important concepts, methods, and results that are fundamental to the science of computing. We will study computers - what they are, how they work, what they can do, and what they cannot do.  The text presents the great intellectual achievements of computer science.  The central great idea is that of the algorithm - a procedure or recipe that can be given to a person or machine for doing a job.  About a third of the course will be devoted to learning how to program computers in a high-level language.

Prerequisites

None.

Texts and Materials

The required text is:

    A. Biermann,  Great Ideas in Computer Science : A Gentle Introduction, 2nd ed., The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1997.  Here is a link to the web site for this book:  http://www.cs.duke.edu/~aimee/

Some other references are:

    David Harel, Algorithmics: The Spirit of Computing, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, 1992.

    L. Goldshlager and A. Lister, Computer Science: A Modern Introduction, Prentice-Hall International, London, 1988.

    I. Pohl and A. Shaw, The Nature of Computation: An Introduction to Computer Science, Computer Science Press, Rockville, MD, 1981.

    J. G. Brookshear, Computer Science: An Overview, 2nd ed., Benjamin/Cummings, Menlo Park, CA, 1988.

    M. S. Carberry et al., Foundations of Computer Science, Computer Science Press, Rockville, MD, 1979.

    K. Maly and A. R. Hanson, Fundamentals of the Computing Sciences, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1978.

Coursework

Grades

Grades will be awarded as follows:
    90 to 100%    A
    80 to 89%      B
    70 to 79%      C
    60 to 69%      D
    0   to 59%      F
(These may be raised by a "+" or lowered by a "-" as deemed appropriate by the instructor.)

Your overall percentage will be determined as follows:
    Homework    20%
    Test 1            20%
    Test 2            20%
    Final exam     40%