CSCI 1210 — Syllabus

CSCI 1210A: Introduction to Computing for Engineers and Scientists, SPRING 2013

Section A:  MW 10:50--12:05 (Goodwyn 205),   Course ID (CRN #):  2599

 

INSTRUCTOR

Yi Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Auburn University Montgomery

Department of Mathematics

School of Sciences

Room 213B, Goodwyn Hall

Email:  [email protected]

Homepage: http://sciences-srv.aum.edu/~ywang

Phone: 334.244.3318

Office Hours: MW:9:40--10:40am, or by appointment.

           

 PREREQUISITES: MATH 1150 grade C or higher (Precalculus and trigonometry)

 

TEXT: Moore, Holly. 2012. Matlab for Engineers, 3rd ed. . Prentice Hall. ISBN-10: 0132103257 ISBN-13:  9780132103251.

  

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Computer programming in a high-level language, with emphasis on the use of the computer as a tool for engineering or science.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Given a software requirements specification and a software design, the student will successfully translate that design into source code using MATLAB and run the program

2. Given source code written in MATLAB, the student will correctly answer questions about the source code's purpose and about the syntax, semantics, and run-time results of the code.

Topics Covered: (specify number of meetings/hours on each)

1. Computers and computing fundamentals (1 hour)

2. MATLAB program structure, 5 programming steps, and commenting code (4 hours)

3. MATLAB environment (1 hour)

4. The basics of MATLAB - variables, arithmetic operations, math functions, and input/output (6 hours)

5. Functions (2 hours )

6. Beginning decision making and loops (5 hours)

7. Vectors and matrices (3 hours)

8. Reading and writing to files (3 hours)

9. Cell and Structures arrays (3 hours)

10. Exams (75-minute midterm exam and 150-minute final)                         

Total: 31.75 hours

Laboratory Projects (Total 15 weeks):

Note: Skills introduced in an assignment are repeated in subsequent assignments. 

 1.      MATLAB environment, command window and diary file (1.5 weeks)

2.      Interactive I/O and computation (1 week)

3.      Input validation and selection (1 week)

4.      Sequence and decision (1 week)

5.      More repetition, selection, and output formatting (1 week)

6.      Debugging Techniques ( 0.5 week)

7.      Data file I/O (1 week)

8.      User defined functions (1.5 weeks)

9.      Vectors (1 week)

10.   Parallel arrays (vectors), columnar output with header and summary footer (1 week)

11.   Spreadsheet input and matrices (1 week)

12.   Spreadsheet I/O and plotting (1.5 weeks)

13.   Structures and Pointer (1 week)

14.   Objects/Classes (1 week)

 

Oral and Written Communications:

Students are taught how to document source code.  This includes file preface blocks, function preface blocks, and inline comments.

Social and Ethical Issues:

None.

Theoretical Content:

Students are introduced to the software engineering principles of abstraction, stepwise refinement, and reuse

Problem Analysis and Solution Design:

Students are introduced software development

 This course will use Blackboard http://bb9.aum.edu. Syllabus, Class announcements, homework assignments, weekly schedule and updated grades will be posted on Blackboard. On-line quizzes within BlackBoard may be offered. Students are required to register this course in their BlackBoard accounts. It is the students’ responsibility to check the information posted on BlackBoard . I will also post from time to time some studying resources such as old exams on BlackBoard .

 

HOMEWORK/QUIZZES/WORKSHEETS:  It is imperative that you do the homework. If you have trouble with the assigned problems (or any others in your book) then see me ASAP. Please work as many problems as you can (even beyond the assigned list if possible). The bottom line is that if you want to learn some mathematics, the only way to do this is by “getting your hands dirty” working problems.  The collected Homework/Quizzes/worksheets will be averaged for part of your final grade. Sometimes in-class Quiz will be given without notice in advance.

EXAMS: There will one in-class mid-term test and one final.   Being absent from the Final Exam results in a grade of FA. You must prove to the instructor’s satisfaction that your absence was unavoidable, in order to take a makeup Final Exam.

 

GRADES: Here is a breakdown of the points of Homework/quizzes/worksheets/tests/final:

                                        Programming Assignments…500

                                        Midterm Test………..........…200

                                        Final………........................…300

                                        Total points:                            1000
          

To pass this course at least 300 points (60% credit)   is required out of the programming assignments.            

 If you get the following percentage and at least 300 points out of the programming assignments you will receive

                                                        >=90…….................…A

                                                        >=80 and <90………..B

                                                        >=70 and <80………..C

                                                        >=60 and <70………..D

                                                        <60................................F   

 

Grades in the course will reflect students’ demonstrated attainment of course objectives. I reserve the right to adjust these ranges downward or make appropriate scaling if necessary due to excessive difficulty of assignments or tests. Borderline cases  will be considered according to the attendance, grades of all  mid-exams and grade of the final by the sole discretion of the instructor.   

 

STUDYING RESOURCES:

• There are 30 class meetings (each of 100 minutes) , plus the final exam period .

• FREE TUTORING HELP: Students can go to the Learning Center, 325 Moore Hall, 244-3470, for free tutoring help for this course by appointment.   Additional tutoring services are available in the Instructional Support Lab, 203 Goodwyn Hall, 244-3265.                                                      

SOME IMPORTANT POLICIES IN THIS CLASS: 

HOW TO SUCCEED THIS COURSE?

In addition to my effort, your efforts are indispensable. 

(1) Except extreme cases, attending class only is far less sufficient to succeed (pass? ) the course. Let alone occasionally attending class.

 

I would suggest you to write down your objective grade for this course, and commit your effort to this milestone of your life goal. Again, I wish you succeed.

My objective grade for this course is                         . I will commit         hours for each lecture hour to study the course materials. 

 

GUIDELINES OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR FINAL GRADE:

1. All raw scores are converted to percentage to participate in calculating and comparison. The maximum percentage is 100% for any given assignment or exam.
2. A quiz in this syllabus refers to an in-class quiz, an attendance-taken, a collected homework, or a collected worksheet.
3. A missed quiz is scored as 0 for that quiz.   Finally, the average percentage of all the quizzes are calculated for the points of the quiz part. 

APPEALS: After final course grades have been submitted, you may appeal your final grade. As a first step, you would make a written appeal to the instructor of the course.

CLASS ATTENDANCE AND ENVIRONMENT: Perfect or near-perfect class attendance is important for students to gain and demonstrate competency in course concepts and skills. Students are expected to accept responsibility for class attendance and to complete in-class work assignments and examinations as scheduled by the instructor.

            Please be courteous to your fellow students and the instructor at all times. For example, do not converse with other students, read the newspaper, or sleep during the lecture. Do not pack up earlier than scheduled dismissing time.

Cell phones have to be set to silent (or preferably be turned off). If you have to answer a cell phone call during class, please quietly leave the classroom and move to a location where your conversation does not disrupt any class in progress.

Children should not be brought to class, except in emergency circumstances and only with the permission of the instructor.

Food, drinks, or gum should not be brought into the classroom.

AUM prohibits smoking in campus buildings. If you smoke, you may only do so outside the buildings.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism or cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. You can discuss solutions with classmates, but cannot copy (totally or partially) someone else’s solution or allow someone else to copy your solution. You will receive an ”F” in the course if you are caught.

DISCIPLINE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY. The policies of the Student Discipline Code apply. You are advised to familiarize yourself with these policies, which can be found in the current edition of the AUMANAC.  Please, adhere to the standards of academic integrity stated in the AUM Catalog.

SPECIAL SERVICES.
It is the policy of Auburn University Montgomery to accommodate individuals with disabilities pursuant to federal law and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course. If you qualify for this service, please contact either the AUM’s Center for Disability Services (CDS) located in Library Tower, Room 706 (Phone: 334-244-3632, Fax:334-244-3907, TDD: 344-244-3754) or me for the corresponding referral.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Material presented in this course may be protected by copyright law.    

 

Disclaimer: The right of interpretation of this syllabus exclusively belongs to the instructor.