Syllabus for CS 123
Programming I: Java
Fall, 2009

Professor Roger Kraft
Office: Classroom Office Building (CLO), Room 368
Office phone: (219) 989-2696
Office hours: 2:00-3:00 MTWR, and by appointment.
E-mail: roger@calumet.purdue.edu

Text: Introduction to Computing and Programming with Java, A Multimedia Approach, by Mark Guzdial and Barbara Ericson, Prentice Hall, 2007.

This course is an introduction to computer science and computer programming. The programming language used is Java and the topics covered include identifiers, basic data types, expressions, control statements, methods, arrays, objects, classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and simple graphical user interfaces.

This course will cover Chapters 1 through 12 from the textbook. Your grade for this course will be based on about 10 programming assignments and three exams in the following manner: 

           30%    programming assignments,
           40%    two midterm exams (20% per exam),
           30%    Final Exam.
Tentative dates for the three exams are 
           Exam 1   Wednesday, October 7
           Exam 2   Wednesday, November 11
           Final    Final exam week.
Each of the programming assignments will have a due date. To receive full credit for an assignment, it must be turned in by the due date. All programs handed in late will be marked off 5% of the total points for each calendar day late up to a maximum of 50%. If an assignment is more than two weeks late, then it will not be accepted. In this course web site there are detailed instructions on how you are to turn in your assignments. You will be expected to follow the instructions. Also in this web site is information on the criteria used to grade your programming assignments.

You should turn in your own work for each programming assignment. Here is what that means: You may talk with your classmates about the course material and the ideas behind each homework assignment (and, in fact, it is a good idea to do that) but you should solve the problem on your own and write your own code for the solution. Turning in someone else's solution (or even a modified version of someone else's solution) is a breach of academic integrity. Similarly, giving a copy of your solution to someone else in the class is also a breach of academic integrity. If you need help with a homework assignment, come and ask me. You can ask me as many questions as you want! Please do not hesitate to ask me questions after class, in my office, in an e-mail message, over the phone, etc.

In this web site you will find more information about Java and this course. There are links to online help and documentation for Java, information about course reading assignments, and, very importantly, all of your homework assignments and their due dates will be posted on one of these web pages.

The computer programs that you need to do all of your programming assignments are on computers in the Mathematics Computer Labs in CLO 363 and CLO 365. If you wish to work at home, I will show you in class how to install and use a simple, yet very useful, Java development environment. There is more information about this in these web pages.

The objectives for this course are as follows.

  1. Design, implement, test, and debug programs that use each of the following fundamental programming constructs: basic computation, simple I/O, standard conditional and iterative structures, and the definition of functions.
  2. Discuss the representation and use of primitive data types and built-in data structures.
  3. Identify and describe the properties of a variable such as its type, value, scope, and persistence.
  4. Justify the philosophy of object-oriented design and the concepts of encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism.

If you are a student with a documented disability who will require academic/classroom accommodations in this course, please register with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities in the Student Support Services Office located in the Student Union and Library Building (SUL), Room 341, phone numbers: 219-989-2455, 219-989-2454(voice/TTY) or 219-989-2920.

Students are expected to comply with University regulations regarding civility, attendance, and appropriate classroom behavior. Please see the document Student Guide: Civility in the Classroom available from the Dean of Students office and the Dean of Students web site.

Ethics are an integral part of being a student and a professional. Academic integrity is the hallmark of this University. Therefore, Purdue University does not tolerate academic dishonesty in any form. If a student breaches integrity, the student risks sanctions in both the academic and conduct arenas. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized use of other's intellectual property (plagiarism), and lying to an instructor or any University employee. Such actions will result in a failing grade on the assignment with the strong possibility of referral to the Office of the Dean of Students for a conduct sanction (see the Purdue University Calumet Student Handbook available from the Dean of Students office and the Dean of Students web site).


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