In this course, we will continue sampling the perspectives and methods of computer science. The first and most apparent difference is the change in notation for expressing algorithms, namely Java instead of Python. Although there will be some review of elementary matters in order to get you up to speed in Java, a major focus of the course will be object-oriented programming, and we will try to get there as soon as possible. Along the way, we will develop tools to analyze the efficiency of algorithms, methods for writing more efficient algorithms, and ways to write data structures. This course will involve much programming from many disciplines. We will also look "under the hood" at computers and learn to program in the language of a modern computer.
Our main textbook is Introduction to Programming In Java: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne. The textbook authors maintain a website for the book at http://introcs.cs.princeton.edu/java/home/.
We will also use selected sections of Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science by Max Hailperin, Barbara Kaiser, and Karl Knight. You will not have to buy this, since it is available for free on the web.
Attendance, both physical and mental, is required. I reserve the right to lower your grade if I feel you are missing or showing up late too often. Should you need to miss a class or lab for any reason, you are still responsible for the material covered in there. This means that you will need to make sure that you understand the reading for that day, that you should ask another student for the notes from that day, and that you make sure that you understand what was covered. If there is an assignment due that day, you should be sure to have someone hand it in. You do not need to explain why you missed a class unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
For this course, you will need to complete 7 projects. In each case, I will indicate what I expect of you. A project report that meets those expectations is due before the start of class on the date specified. If you submit the report late, your grade will drop 5% per day late or fraction thereof. If you are too sick to complete a report on time, you will not be penalized. However, you need to talk to me or email me as soon as possible, and provide the necessary doctor's note. Other circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, you should talk to me or email me (asap) around the time of the incident.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we will meet in the OHS 326 computer lab. One or more of those lab days will be provided for you to work on each project. However, you will generally need to spend additional time on the project outside of class.
Some lab days are not for project work. Instead, the syllabus lists a topic from the textbook with the prefix "In lab:". On these days, I will be covering material from the book, somewhat like on a class day, but in an environment where I can ask each of you to try things out on your individual computers. For each of these days where a textbook topic is covered in the lab, the same topic is listed on the following class day. We will have this extra class time to go over the topic some more if you need it. Any remaining time will be available for us to talk about topics that are not in the textbook.
There will be two intra-term tests during the semester and a final exam as scheduled by the registrar. If you have a conflict with a testing time, please contact me as soon as possible to make an alternate arrangement.
Each intra-term test consist of two parts: a written part and a programming part done on separate days. In general, the written part will be held during lecture time and the programing part will be held during lab time. Please see the course schedule on when each part of the intra-term tests is scheduled. The final will be two hours, I will publish the time for the final when it is set.
Half of the course grade will be the the average of all your project scores. Your test and final scores will be averaged, and that will be the other half of the course grade.
Your letter grade for the course will be recorded as follows:
| A: 94-100 | A-: 90-93 | |
| B+: 87-89 | B: 83-86 | B-: 80-82 |
| C+: 77-79 | C: 73-76 | C-: 70-72 |
| D+: 67-69 | D: 63-66 | |
| F: ≤ 62 |
Please point out any arithmetic or clerical error I make in grading, and I will gladly fix it.
I reserve the right to lower your grade if I feel you are missing or showing up late too often to classes or labs.
Gustavus Adolphus College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or you think you may have a disability of any nature) and, as a result, need reasonable academic accommodation to participate in class, take tests or benefit from the College's services, then you should speak with the Disability Services staff, for a confidential discussion of your needs and appropriate plans. Course requirements cannot be waived, but reasonable accommodations may be provided based on disability documentation and course outcomes. Accommodations cannot be made retroactively; therefore, to maximize your academic success at Gustavus, please contact Disability Services as early as possible. Disability Services (https://www.gustavus.edu/advising/disability/) is located in the Academic Support Center. Disability Services Coordinator, Kelly Karstad, ( or x7138), can provide further information.
It is ok for students to get together in small groups to go over material from the lectures and text, solve problems from the text, study for exams, and discuss the general ideas and approaches to projects. However, work to be turned in must be done independently. It must not be based on help from others or information obtained from sources other than those approved by the instructors (e.g., the text, the course webpage, and materials provided in the lectures). Effective learning is compromised when this is not the case.
You should never read or copy another student's code or solutions, exchange computer files (or pieces of papers with solutions written on them), or share your code/solutions with anyone else in the class until after both parties have submitted the assignment. Under no circumstances may you hand in work done by someone else under your own name.
You are expected to be familiar with the college Academic Honesty Policy and to comply with that policy. Full descriptions of it and the Honor Code can be found in the Academic Catalog (online at https://www.gustavus.edu/general_catalog/current/acainfo). If you have any questions about it, please ask. A first violation of the honor code will result in a grade of 0 on the homework or exam in question. A further violation will result in an automatic F for the course and a notification to the Office of the Provost.
Support for English learners and multilingual students is available through the Academic Support Center's Multilingual Learner Academic Specialist, Jody Bryant ( or x7197). The MLAS can meet individually with students for tutoring in writing, consulting about academic tasks, and helping students connect with the College's support systems. When requested, the MLAS can consult with faculty regarding effective classroom strategies for English learners and multilingual students. The MLAS can provide students with a letter to a professor that explains and supports appropriate academic arrangements (e.g., additional time on tests, additional revisions for papers). Professors make decisions based on those recommendations at their own discretion. In addition, English learners and multilingual students can seek help from peer tutors in the Writing Center (https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/).
Please let me know if there is any accommodation in the course that would enable you to more fully show your abilities; for example, I would consider allowing extra time on tests, as well as allowing a dictionary in an otherwise closed-book test.
Title IX is federal legislation that makes clear that violence and harassment based on sex or gender are civil rights violations. Gustavus Adolphus College takes incidents of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment seriously.
Sexual misconduct includes the following: non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation (taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another), intimate partner violence (physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse), and stalking. (Please see the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy in the Gustavus Guide for more details and definitions or online at: https://www.gustavus.edu/deanofstudents/policies/gustieguide/sexualassault.php#misconduct).
Sexual Harassment is any behavior of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, offensive or fails to respect the rights and dignity of another person whether of the same or opposite sex. (Please see the All- College Policy against Harassment and Sexual Harassment for examples and more details: https://www.gustavus.edu/facultybook/allcollegepolicies/#Anchor-Sexua-60443.)
As a student who may choose to share information about an incident of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment with a Gustavus employee, you need to know that if Gustavus employees become aware of an incident of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, they have to report information about these events to the appropriate college authorities. This requirement is to make sure the College can support and protect students.
So, if a faculty member becomes aware of an incident of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment, they must report what they know about this incident, including student names, to the Dean of Students Office within twenty-four hours.
The college will respect the confidentiality of the victim and alleged offender(s) as much as possible consistent with the College’s legal obligations. Students also always have a choice as to whether to participate in an investigation or not.
The only exception to this reporting responsibility for Gustavus employees is that conversations with SART/CADA, Chaplains, Counseling Center staff, and professional health care staff may be kept strictly confidential. SART/CADA can be reached 24 hours a day at 507-933-6868.
If you have any questions, contact the Title IX Coordinator (Paula O’Loughlin, Associate Provost, at 507-933-7541) or Deputy Coordinators (Stephen Bennett, Associate Dean of Students, at 507-933- 7526 or Ken Westphal, Vice President for Finance, at 507-933-7499).