Department of Computer Science

Meeting Times and Location:
Section 3: T 8-9:50AM Lab (Caputo 130) OR Roddy Hall Rm 147
               TH 8-9:50AM Roddy Hall, Rm 136

How to reach me: My office hours are Tues/Thurs 12:30-2pm and Weds 12-2pm. Outside of office hours, the best way to reach me is by email (elzer@cs.millersville.edu). If you don't have access to email, my office phone number is 872-3470.  I try to check this as frequently as possible, but I don't check it as often as I do my email!

Prerequisite: Placement into Math 160 or higher. Desire and need for course. This course is introductory, i.e. it assumes you have no knowledge of programming. However, it does assume some rudimentary knowledge of how to use computers, e.g. for word processing. (If this is not the case, you should seek out the department's tutors IMMEDIATELY!)

Required Text: Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach . Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp. 2nd Edition. Addison Wesley. 2010. 
ISBN-10: 0136091814
ISBN-13: 978-0136091813

Grading:
Exam 1: 25%
Exam 2: 25%
Final Exam: 25%
Homework and Programming Assignments: 25% 

Grading will be on a 100 point scale, with 93%=A, 90%= A-, 87%=B+, 83%= B, etc. You must complete all exams, labs, and assignments in order to pass the course.

Goals: There are several goals for this course.  At the end of this course, a successful student will be able to:
1. Develop an algorithm to solve a simple problem
2. Design and implement a simple program using programming structures such as conditionals, loops, and functions
3. Properly test a program to ensure its correctness and robustness
4. Use accepted style when writing a program
5. Use a computer system to edit, compile and execute a program
These goals will be accomplished through hands-on experience with writing your own programs, both in the lab and in project assignments.  The achievement of the goals will be measured through your performance on approximately 10 lab assignments, approximately 3 additional programming assignments, chapter questions and exams. The course builds incrementally (the same way that you should develop your programs!) and each assignment assumes you understand all prior material covered in previous labs and homework. If you missed something, get help. Don't fall behind on programming assignments, and keep up with the reading!