BOSTON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
 CS 111

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Computer Science 111
Introduction to Computer Science I

Announcements

May 2
Final exam schedule:
  • section A1: Tuesday, May 7, 9-11 a.m.:
    • students whose last names begin with the letters A-L: CAS 324 (note the location)
    • students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z: CAS 315 (note the location)
  • section B1: Thursday, May 9, 9-11 a.m., SMG 105 (the same room as the quizzes)

Additional information about the exam is available here.

Solutions to the sample multiple choice are on the usual solutions page (in the folder with the quiz solutions).

April 18
The URL for the online Practice-It! site has changed. The new URL is: http://practiceit.cs.washington.edu

April 12
Quiz 3 will be held on Friday, April 26. You can find info. about the quiz and a set of review problems here.

The quizzes will be held in the same locations as the first quiz (see below).

March 4
Quiz 2 will be held on March 22 (the Friday after spring break). You can find info. about the quiz and a set of review problems here.

The quizzes will be held in the same locations as the first quiz (see below).

February 11
Quiz 1 will be held on Friday, February 22. You can find info. about the quiz and a set of review problems here. You may also find it helpful to consult a sheet of study tips prepared by the folks at BU's Educational Resource Center.

To provide more room for you to spread out, the quizzes will be held in the following locations:
  • A1 lecture (10-11 a.m.): PHO 206
  • B1 lecture (noon-1 p.m.): SMG 105

Please make an effort to arrive on time or even a bit early, so that you can be sure to have the full 50 minutes for the quiz.

January 22
The undergrad course assistants (CAs) will be available for office hours in the CS lab (EMA 302) during the following times this week:
  • Tues. 6-8
  • Wed. 6-9
  • Thurs. 6-9

They will have expanded hours starting next week.

The office hours for Dr. Sullivan and the teaching fellows -- along with pictures and contact info for all of the staff -- are available using the staff link on the left-hand side.

January 18
Problem Set 0 has been posted. Use the assignments link in the left-hand navigation bar to access it.

Important: Problem Set 0 is not the same thing as Lab 0, which is available below. Make sure that you complete both of them.

January 16
Please complete Lab 0 ASAP.

If you did not receive a copy of the lecture notes and syllabus in lecture today, there are PDF versions available using the lectures link in the left-hand navigation bar.

Welcome!
The first lectures for the semester will be held on Wednesday, January 16. Labs will not meet that first week.

Answers to frequently asked questions:
  • The lab sections are completely interchangeable. Students enrolled in the A lecture may enroll in a B lab, and vice versa. However, students enrolled in the B lecture are better off not enrolling in the A2 lab, since it occurs before lecture on Wednesdays.
  • Details about the textbook are available at the bottom of this page.

Other key details of the course are given below. For more information, consult the syllabus or contact Dr. Sullivan.

Please check this page regularly throughout the semester for announcements and course materials.

Course Information

Description
This first course in computer science develops foundational skills in computer programming using the Java programming language. The course is suitable for mathematics and physical science majors, and others interested in a rigorous introduction. It is also the first course in the computer science concentration. The course will teach the process of developing algorithms to solve problems, and the corresponding process of developing computer programs to express those algorithms.

Prerequisites: none

Instructor
David G. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Lecturer on Computer Science
see the staff page for contact info. and office hours

Lectures:
section A1: MWF, 10-11, STH B19
section B1: MWF, 12-1, CAS B12

Labs
section A2: Wed., 11-12
section A3: Wed., 12-1
section A4: Wed., 3-4
section B2: Wed., 1-2
section B3: Wed., 2-3
section B4: Wed., 4-5
section B5: Wed., 5-6

All labs are in the CS teaching lab, EMA 304.
The lab sections are completely interchangeable. Students enrolled in the A lecture may enroll in a B lab, and vice versa. However, students enrolled in the B lecture are better off not enrolling in the A2 lab, since it occurs before lecture on Wednesdays.

Requirements
  • Eleven problem sets
  • Three quizzes
  • Final exam
  • Attendance at and participation in both lectures and labs

Policies
  • Policy on collaboration and academic honesty
  • Lateness policy: Homework must be submitted electronically using the gsubmit utility by the date and time listed on the assignment. There will be a 10% deduction for homework that is up to 24 hours late, and a 20% deduction for homework that is 24-48 hours late. We will not accept any homework that is more than 48 hours late. Plan your time carefully, and don't wait until the last minute to begin an assignment. Starting early will give you ample time to ask questions and obtain assistance from members of the course staff.
  • Determining the final grade:
    • attendance and participation: 10%
    • problem sets: 40%
    • quizzes: 25%
    • final exam: 25%
  • Extensions and makeup quizzes/exams will only be given in documented cases of serious illness or other emergencies.
  • You cannot redo or complete extra work to improve your grade.
  • Incompletes will not be given.

Textbook
Building Java Programs by Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp (Addison Wesley, 2010). We will be using the second edition of this textbook (ISBN 9780136091813); copies are available at the Barnes & Noble at BU. If you don't expect to need the book after the semester is over, you can lease a much cheaper electronic version of the book here: http://www.coursesmart.com/9780132131353. If you think you might continue on to CS 112, you should purchase a hardcopy of the book, because it is useful as a supplemental reference for that course. Note that you will not need the CD that comes with the textbook.