Bishop’s University
Department of Computer Science
CSC201
Foundations of Computer Science
Fall 2014
Instructors: Dr. Madjid Allili
Emails: mallili@ubishops.ca
Offices: J125
Phones: 2740
Lectures: TTH. 8h30-9h45 in N314.
Labs: F. 9h00-11h30 in J118
Office Hours: TTH: 10h15-11h00 & 13h15-14h00.
Additional office hours are available by appointment.
Synopsis. The department of Computer Science finds it very important to provide its students in their early stages of academic career with a fundamental understanding of computer
science and an exposure to the diverse areas of research and study within this domain. This
overview of the discipline does not assume any prior background in computer science, or
programming. This makes this course appropriate and accessible for students not majoring
in computer science and who want to explore this important field.
Course Description. This course introduces you to the discipline of Computer Science.
It is not, as many people think, a course on how to use computers! The course covers all
the areas of the discipline, starting from algorithms and their efficiency, then moving to the
actual machine, boolean logic, and the main hardware components. The course then moves
to software, from machine language to assembly and high level language programming. Following, we will discuss other topics, such as compilers, models of computation and others.
The lab component of the course consists of a software simulation package with practical
exercises for each chapter.
Prerequisites. There are no formal prerequisites to the course. The informal prerequisites
are plenty of time, and willingness to experiment and do work.
Textbook. The required text for this course is Invitation to Computer Science, by Schneider and Gersting, 6th Edition, Course Technology. This text offers a breadth-first overview
of computer science that assumes no prior background in programming or mathematics. The
authors begin by showing that computer science is the study of algorithms, the central theme
of the book, then move up the next five levels of the hierarchy: hardware, virtual machine,
software, applications, and ethics.
Course Contents. Please note that this is a tentative sequence and that nothing is written
in stone. If we need to spend more time on some difficult concept, we shall do so.
2
CSC201-Course Outline
No. of lectures
2
6
5
3
2
2
1
1
Topic
Introduction
Algorithms & Efficiency
Binary Numbers & Boolean Logic
Computer System Organization
Assembly Language & System Software
Introduction to C++
Compilers
Models of Computation: The Turing Machine
Book chapter
1
2, 3
4
5
6
9
11
12
Evaluation. Final grades in this course will be based on performance on (1) Labs, (2)
Assignments, (3) Midterm Exams, and (4) Final Exam. Grades in these individual areas will
be weighted as follows:
1. Labs (10%)
2. Assignments (15%)
3. Midterm Exams (35%): There will be two midterm exams worth 35 % of the final
grade and the lowest mark will be dropped. The precise dates of the exams will be
announced in class approximately two weeks in advance.
4. Final Exam (40%)
General Notes.
1. Please turn your cell phones, PDAs, laptops off before coming to class! The use of
laptops during class is allowed only in exceptional cases, and requires permission.
2. Late assignments will not be accepted unless a special permission is obtained from the
instructor.
3. As Departmental policies:
(a) You must obtain at least 50% of the exam components marks (midterm and final
exams) in order to pass the course.
(b) There are no supplemental exams.
4. Assignments can be discussed among students, but should be written individually in
your own words.
5. Students are strongly advised NOT to make final plans for travel or employment during
the final exam period since special arrangements will NOT be made for examinations
that may conflict with such plans.
6. You’ll get a lot more out of the lectures by reading relevant sections of the text first.
7. Please read the academic calendar regarding academic integrity and attendance. IMPORTANT: Copied assignments will be assigned a zero. Stricter disciplinary action will be taken in cases of cheating in exams.
Special Needs. If because of a disability, you may have a need for special accommodations,
please come and discuss this with us at the beginning of the semester. As well you must
contact the Counselling Resource Centre to obtain authorization for any special arrangements.