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COURSE REQUEST SYSTEM - PRODUCTION
UPDATE PENDING REQUEST
3/25/2010
Course: CS 100 Version: 3 Title: Discovering Computer Science
User Unit Code: 99999
Date Entered: 9/9/2009 10:40:07 PM
by Santhi Nannapaneni, Assistant Director for Student Affairs
Last Modified: 3/25/2010 9:37:09 AM
by Kim Neumann, Assistant Director
General reason for this request:
The course is being submitted for inclusion in the General Eduction list under the category "Understanding the Natural
World". The course description is being updated to reflect recent emphasis. The course title is being changed to better
reflect the content and goals of the class.
The title is also being changed from "Computer Literacy" to Discovering Computer Science" to better reflect the course
content. The title Computer Literacy suggests a very basic skill set (e.g., using word processors, connecting to the
internet, etc.) while the course really aims to give non-technical majors an understanding of the fundamentals of
computation and an appreciation for societal issues relating to computing (e.g., security, privacy, copyright law,
etc.). The title of "Discovering Computer Science" is much more suitable for this kind of content.
This request should be processed at the same time as the following related academic program request(s):
None
Requested type of approval and effective date:
Permanent approval effective Fall semester, 2010
Previously:
Permanent approval effective Fall semester, 2001
Course Subject (Rubric): CS / Computer Science
Primary Unit: Computer Science
Course Number: 100
Course Version: 3
Course Title: Discovering Computer Science
Short title: Discovering Computer Science
Previously:
Course Title: Computer Literacy
Short Title: Computer Literacy
Course Description:
Fundamentals of computing; history of computation; computer organization; program design, testing and debugging;
Web design; computer animation; software tools; societal and legal issues in computing.
Previously:
Introduction to computing; the Internet; Web; file systems; electronic mail; basic tools (such as editors, databases);
programming concepts; computer ethics; security and privacy. Computer lab.
Notes to Students:
Extensive computer use required.
Previously:
None
Cross Listings:
None
Previous Course Number and/or Subject:
None
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Expected Registration:
Freshman and sophomore undergraduate
Junior and senior undergraduate
Type of Course:
Elective
General Education credit
Previously:
Elective
GENERAL EDUCATION CREDIT
Category
Rank (if applicable)
Analyzing the Natural World
1
LAS non-laboratory course for the purposes of determining General Education Credit
General Education Learning Outcomes
Use and understand scientific method to analyze ideas and obtain knowledge.
Assessment Methods
In-class discussion, Exam
Programming projects including design, testing and debugging
Computer usage assignments
Think critically about contemporary issues in science and technology.
Assessment Methods
Exam
Programming projects including design, testing and debugging
In-class discussion of ethics, privacy, security and legal issues in computing
Computer usage assignments
Analyze quantitative information and draw conclusions from these analyses.
Assessment Methods
In-class discussion
Programming projects including design, testing and debugging
Computer usage assignments
Justification for inclusion in the General Education category or categories:
During the course, students will complete a number of programming projects where the goal will be to produce a
program which correctly performs a specified task.
This process includes solution design, implementation in a specific programming language, testing, debugging and
refinement. In this process, students must devise a set of experiments by which their implementation is tested. They
then evaluate the results of these experiments and if incorrect results occur, develop hypotheses for implementation
errors leading to the incorrect output and develop new experiments and tests and refinements to their implementation to
evaluate the new hypotheses and ultimately arrive at a functionally correct program. In
this process students will come to appreciate the distinctions between sufficient and necessary conditions for a
mathematical claim to hold (in this case, the correctness of a program). Thus, students put into practice many aspects
of the Scientific Method.
Students will also be exposed to aspects of Mathematical Relations inherent in Object Oriented programming. They will
understand technical distinctions between alternative development strategies.
Students will learn to think critically about societal issues relating to computing including privacy and security, ethics,
copyright and patent law.
Through the development of computer programs which include animation students gain an understanding of the
behavior of real objects in the physical world. An appreciation for the processes governing the physical world is gained
by simulating those processes in programs of their own design.
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Previously:
No response
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to apply an understanding of computing resources.
2. Students will be able to operate and use modern computing tools and systems.
3. Students will be able to apply computer programming concepts.
4. Students will be able to design and analyze the results of testing procedures in program development.
5. Students will be able to create computer programs performing graphical animation.
6. Students will be able to describe the main historical developments in computing.
7. Students will be able to describe and reflect on issues relating to ethics, privacy and security in computing.
Previously:
No response
Course Learning Outcome Assessment Methods:
1. A mid-term and final exam will assess the student's ability to apply an understanding of computing resources.
2. Programming projects, homework and lab work will assess the student's ability to operate and use modern
computing tools and systems.
3. Programming projects will assess the student's ability to apply computer programming concepts.
4. Programming projects will asses the student's ability to design and analyze the results of testing procedures in
program development.
5. Programming projects will assess the student's ability to create computer programs performing graphical animation.
6. A midterm exam and final exam will assess the students' ability to describe the main historical developments in
computing.
7. In-class discussion and lab work will assess the student's ability to describe and reflect on issues relating to ethics,
privacy and security in computing.
Previously:
No response
Purpose of this course in relation to overall curriculum and relationship to other courses offered by primary
unit:
This course is meant to be a service course to the other departments and colleges in the University. Students in the
Department's Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering programs will not receive credit towards
graduation for taking this course. While there are other courses in the department that provide an introduction to
computing (CS 101, CS 107, etc.), this course is designed for students not earning a technical degree in a computer
related area. This course explores how computers and computation impacts every day life.
Previously:
This course is meant to be a service course to the other departments and colleges in the University. Students in the
Departments Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering will not receive credit towards graduation for
taking this course.
Relationship of this course to similar courses offered by other academic units:
While there are other courses in the University that provide an introduction to Computing (CS 101, CS 107, MCS 260,
etc) this course is designed for students not earning a technical degree in a computer related field. The scope of the
course is broader than (e.g., including societal issues relating to computing) than the mentioned above while the
technical content is tuned to be suitable for non computing majors.
CS101 (which serves as a first course for CS majors) is probably the most superficially similar course. The main
distinctions are as follows. CS 100 is broader in scope than CS 101 while CS 101 delves deeper into the nuts and bolts
of programing (e.g., greater emphasis on programming language syntax, semantics and compilation) so as to prepare
CS majors for the rest of the CS curriculum. On the other hand, CS 100 covers Objects at a high level of abstraction
while CS 101 does not (this material is introduced in CS 102 for CS majors). Also, CS 100 includes web page design
which is not part of the CS 101. CS 101 programming projects generally have a higher level of difficulty and emphasize
problem solving and algorithm design.
Previously:
DNA
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Major Topics:
Hardware (3)
How the Computer Works
Historical Development
Computer Organization
Software Tools (7)
File Systems
Editors
Computer Networking
Web Page Design (8)
Computer Programming (20)
Flow Control
Objects, Methods and Variables
Computer Animation
Ethics, Security and Privacy (5)
Exams (2)
Total hours: 45
Previously:
Hardware Tools
9
How the Computer Works
Historical Development
Communications
Personal Computer Tools
15
Spreadsheets
Database
Statistical Packages
Word Processing
Desktop Publishing
Software Tools
9
How to Write a Simple Program
Survey of Programming Languages
Overview of Computer Science Fields
Ethics, Security and Privacy
5
Exams
2
Total
5
45
Sample Sources and Resource Materials:
Capron and Perron, "Computers & Information Systems: Tools for an Information
Age." Benjamin/Cummings, 2005
Wanda Dann, Stephen Cooper, and Randy Pausch, "Learning to Program with Alice",
Prentice Hall, 2008
Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen and Harry Lewis, "Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty and Happiness After the Digital Explosion"
Addison-Wesley, 2008
Previously:
Capron and Perron, "Computers & Information Systems: Tools for an Information
Age." Benjamin/Cummings, 1993.
Prerequisite(s):
None
Recommended Background:
None
Corequisites:
None
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Restrictions:
None
Credit Restrictions:
No credit given if the student has credit in CS 101 or MCS 260.
No graduation credit for students enrolled in a major offered by the Departments of Computer Science or Electrical and
Computer Engineering.
Previously:
No graduation credit for students enrolled in a major offered by the Departments of Computer Science or Electrical and
Computer Engineering.
Credit Hours:
3 hours.
Type of Instruction:
Type of Instruction
Contact Hours/Week Over 15-Week Term
Lecture-Discussion
3
Laboratory
1
Contact hours exceed the number of credits. Explanation:
Lab section supplements materials covered in lecture.
Previously:
Type of Instruction
Contact Hours/Week
Lecture-Discussion
3
Laboratory
1
Contact hours exceed the number of credits. Explanation:
Grading Mode: Normal
Course may be audited by registered visitors.
Sign-Offs:
To be forwarded for review, sign-off, and comment to the following administrators:
Chairperson(s) or director(s) of department(s) or unit(s):
None
Dean(s) of college(s) or school(s):
None
Comments related to request for sign-off:
None
Frequency of Offering:
Offering varies.
Special Technology or Equipment Support Request:
Electronic Classroom
Faculty Proposer(s):
None
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT APPROVAL STATUS
APPROVED for Computer Science by Peter Nelson, Head on 9/24/2009 9:08:50 AM
PRIMARY COLLEGE APPROVAL STATUS
APPROVED for Engineering by Michael McNallan, Associate Dean on 3/24/2010 4:33:31 PM
OFFICE OF VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS APPROVAL STATUS
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NOT YET APPROVED
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