BOSTON UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
 CS 111

home

course details
     schedule
     staff
     tutors
     academic
        conduct
     other info
     syllabus

materials
     lectures
     labs
     assignments
     solutions/A1
     solutions/B1
     resources
     Piazza

WebSubmit

Computer Science 111
Introduction to Computer Science I

Announcements

May 2
Final exam schedule:
  • Section A1: Friday, May 11, 9-11 a.m., CAS 211 (note the location)
  • Section B1: Tuesday, May 8, 3-5 p.m., SCI 109 (note the location)

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 9
Quiz 3 will be held on Wednesday, April 25. You can find info. about the quiz and a set of review problems here.

The quizzes will be held in the following locations:
  • A1 lecture (10-11 a.m.):
    • students with last names from A-K: CAS 316 (our usual classroom)
    • students with last names from L-Z: CAS 313
  • B1 lecture (noon-1 p.m.): COM 101

March 7
Quiz 2 will be held on March 23 (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 following locations:
  • A1 lecture (10-11 a.m.): PHO 206
  • B1 lecture (noon-1 p.m.): COM 101 (note the change from last time)

February 13
Quiz 1 will be held on Friday, February 24. 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.): SAR 101

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 23
Office-hour times -- including this week's office hours for the course assistants -- are available by using the staff link at left.

We've also added a resources link that we encourage you to explore -- in particular, the online supplements available for the textbook.

Finally, we encourage you to do the readings from the textbook that we have recommended for each week. Use the schedule link at left or consult the syllabus.

January 20
Problem Set 0 is now posted on the assignments page -- use the assignments link in the left-hand navigation bar. The assignment is due on Thursday, 1/26.

Note that Problem Set 0 is not the same thing as Lab 0. You should complete Lab 0 ASAP (see below).

You should also begin the reading for next week, which can be found in the syllabus and in the online schedule (use the schedule link at left).

January 18
Please complete Lab 0 ASAP.

Welcome!
The first lectures for the fall semester will be held on Wednesday, January 18. Labs will not meet on that day.

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.
  • Details about the textbook are available at the bottom of this page.

Other key details of the course are given below. For more information, 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, CAS 316
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
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.

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.