CSC 110 – Introduction to Programming Fundamentals

Fall 2004

Missouri Western State College

Department of Computer Science, Math & Physics

Division Liberal Arts and Sciences

Instructor: / Ms. Deborah Becker
Office: / Science and Math Building Room 101-I
Office Hours: / MTWR 8-9:00 AM, MWF 11-11:50 AM or by Appointment
Phone: / 816-271-4521 on campus 4521
Email: /
Course Website: /
Course: / CSC 110-01 - Programming Fundamentals, MWF 12-12:50 PM, Room SM106 or SM120

COURSE PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES:

This course will introduce the first time programming student to the terminology, structures, and concepts of programming design and development.

  1. The primary purpose of this course is to prepare students who have not had formal programming instructions to succeed in advanced design and coding classes.
  2. This is also an exploratory class for students who are not sure whether they have an aptitude for computer programming and for those fulfilling minor degree requirements.
  3. The course builds a foundation in programming logic structures and concepts that can be applied to other programming languages.
  4. The students in this class will experience and develop skills in programming, design, and development using Microsoft's Visual Basic.Net a more object oriented Windows applications tools.

PREREQUISITE:

ACT composite score of 15 or higher, or completion of Math 095 or higher with a grade of C or better.

TEXT/MATERIALS:
1. Text: David I. Schneider, An Introduction to Programming With Visual Basic. Net, 5th Edition. (2002)

  1. Software: Microsoft Visual Basic.Net -- Professional Edition (available in the Computer Labs), Student edition should be provided on CD in the back cover of the textbook. Student may also request a copy of the Department Visual Basic.Net software.
  2. Handouts: Additional handouts will be given out in the class before lectures; the students are responsible for maintaining these materials. If you lose copies of class assignments they are posted on the web

KEY COURSE QUESTIONS:

  1. How has the paradigm shift in programming design affected program design concepts and tools?
  2. How can a programmer identify structurally organized code, how does the object oriented design impacted the traditional structural approach?
  3. What types of programming structures are used in today's programs?
  4. What advantages are derived from the different planning tools: flowcharts, hierarchy charts, pseudocode?
  5. What are the steps in programming planning?
  6. What is the program development cycle, program life cycle?
  7. What are the decision structures covered in this class and how do they influence the program flow?
  8. What are the looping structures covered in this class and how do they influence the program flow?
  9. Do I want to be a programmer?

NONDISCRIMINATION:

MWSC is a community of people with respect for diversity that emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all individual faculty, staff, and students. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in any of its program or activities. The instructor in this course strongly supports the College's nondiscrimination policy.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION:

MWSC is committed to making reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, or procedures necessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently from other individuals in the College community. The instructor in this course strongly supports the College’s disability accommodation policy and will make reasonable accommodations for any student with a physical or documented learning disability in order to facilitate the student’s learning and performance. Students requiring an accommodation should contact the instructor during the first week of classes.

USE OF COLLEGE COMPUTERS AND FACILITIES:

The MWSC Disciplinary Code prohibits students from unauthorized access or use of College computers, computer systems or networks. The Computer Science Department feels that any student who uses any ID or password other than that which has been officially assigned to him or her, or who accesses any unauthorized files, is in violation of the Disciplinary Code. Any student found guilty of this violation may have all access rights to College computers removed immediately and for the following semester. A repeated offense may cause permanent revocation of all access rights. The College may take additional disciplinary action. Materials and Supplies: Students will be responsible for back up copies of all work completed on the microcomputer.

Students should obtain a zip disk for this course. The disk should be clearly labeled with the student's name, semester, course number and section number.

EVALUATION:

Grades will be based on number of points accumulated by completing homework, quizzes, and exams. The total points available in the class will divide points accumulated. The grading will be based on a strict scale as follows:

Percent Grade:90-100%A

80-89%B

70-79%C

60-69%D

Below 60%F

COURSE GRADE COMPOSITION:

Exams(4)X100=400Points

Programming Assignments(6)X25=150

Quizzes/Homework (12)X10=120Approx

Class attendance 30= 30

800

EXAMS:

Course exams will cover material from lectures, handouts, and assignments. Four exams will be given. There will be an exam at the competition of chapter 2, midterm 1will be given at the end of chapter 3, midterm 2 will be given at the end of chapter 5, and the final will cover chapters 6 and 7. Exams will be partially objective (multiple choice/true false) and include coding problems. The final exam will by nature be comprehensive and consist of 50% objective and 50% programming and planning concepts. (All makeup exams will be coding exams).

PROGRAMMING ASSIGNMENTS:

Programming assignments will be handed out in class and posted on the classroom web page. The day the programming assignment is made the program requirements will be discussed. You should find a class buddy and share notes on programming assignments. Each student is expected to write his/her own unique programs, but having a buddy to talk over debugging problems has proven to be helpful in this course.

QUIZZES/HOMEWORK

Quizzes can happen at the beginning of class or at the end of a lecture session and cannot be made up. Homework problems assigned at the end of the class period and are due and will be discussed in class the next class period. No homework problems will be accepted late.

LATE PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT POLICY:

Programming Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the date indicated on the class schedule unless otherwise changed by the instructor. Program solutions will be randomly presented in class on the day that they are due. Programs that are late without a valid reason will be automatically reduced by one letter grade and will not be accepted beyond one week late unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Programs that are over one week late will not be evaluated and the student will receive a zero for that assignment.

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is expected at every class session and will be monitored. Students are responsible for obtaining all information, materials, and assignments for a missed class.

PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING:

Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable. An individual who has turned in a plagiarized assignment as his or her own will receive a failing grade for that assignment, if that person turns in another copied assignment they may receive a failing grade for the course. This will also be the policy for anyone who is involved in cheating or other conduct unacceptable at the collegiate level.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT:

From the beginning to the end of the assigned time, students are to devote their efforts and mental energies to the assigned material for the day. In addition, respect and common courtesy require that individuals not distract others around them with idle talk or disruptive behavior. If this occurs, that person will be asked to leave the classroom.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Aug 30First day of class
Sept 6Labor Day (no Class)
Oct 20Midterm grades due

Nov 5Last day to drop with (W) grade
Nov 23THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY BEGINS

Dec 10 Last day of class

Dec 15Section 01 FINAL EXAM 11:30 --1:20 pm