CPS 210 Computer Science 1: Foundations
Fall 2010
Course Information

Instructor: Paul R. Zuckerman
Office: FOB N2
Office hours: M 9:30 - 11:30, Tu 1:00 - 1:45, Th 9:30 - 11:30, F 11:00 - 11:45.
Other times: drop by or make an appointment.
Phone: (845) 257-3516
Fax: (845) 257-3996
E-mail: zuckerpr@newpaltz.edu
Web page: http://www.newpaltz.edu/~zuckerpr

Teaching Assistant: Janis C. Jackson
Office: FOB N11
Office hours: TBA
Phone: (845) 257-3992
E-mail: jjackson42@newpaltz.edu

Prerequisite
Math Placement Level of at least 4.

Description
This is a first course in computer problem solving and programming in the JAVA language. You will learn what operations a computer can execute, how to organize the operations to solve a problem, and how to make a computer carry out the operations. You will learn how to specify the operations in a manner that is easy to understand. You will learn a technique called object-oriented programming. If you are successful, you will have the background and knowledge to continue studying Computer Science.

Text
Horstmann, Cay Java Concepts, 6th edition
ISBN: 978-0-470-50947-0
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
This book is available in the College book store. It is also available in electronic form from the publisher's web site.

Assignments
I will give programming assignments throughout the semester. We do not grade late work.

Blackboard
If you are enrolled in this course, you will have links to two Blackboard sites at https://blackboard.newpaltz.edu. One of these is specific to your section/lab. The other is a combined site, that is available to all students enrolled in this course. The combined site contains announcements, assigments, files you will need as the course progresses, and study material.

Exams
I will give three in-class exams on dates that I will announce in advance.
I will give a comprehensive final exam on Monday, Dec 20, 8:00 - 10:00 A.M.
I do not give make-up exams for missed in-class exams. I will not excuse you from in-class or final exams unless you provide substantial documentation showing the existence of a serious illness or personal emergency that prevented your attendance.

Canceled Classes
If I have to cancel a class, I will try to post an announcement on Blackboard. Be suspicious of anonymous announcements posted in the classroom.

Grades
Final Exam: 30%
Three In-Class exams: 10% each
Programming Assignments: 15%
Labs: 25%

Attendance
This class has two class sessions and one lab session per week. The classes and labs are opportunities for you to build and validate your understanding of the material. Therefore, I expect you to attend and be actively engaged in every session. Attendance means that you are in class ON TIME and stay for the entire class period.
I will assume from your presence that you have constructed some useful understandings from the class. I will infer from your absence that you have not. Accordingly, I will deduct 3% from your course average for each class absence beyond two. There is no way to make up a missed class. I will deduct 2% from your course grade for each lab absence beyond one. You can make-up a maximum of two labs by attending a different section of the same lab exercise. Otherwise, there is no way to makeup missed labs.
Please do not offer excuses for sessions you miss. I assume that every absence is necessary. The grade deduction is not a penalty. It is part of the method I use to assess and report what you have learned.

Computer Facilities
The lab sessions meet in Hum 301, which is the primary Windows-based computer facility of the Department of Computer Science. It is managed by the Academic Computer Services staff and is available to all students who are enrolled at SUNY New Paltz. The computers in Hum 301 and elsewhere contain the special software you will need for this course. We will also make this software available to you for installation on your personal computer.

Other important information

• This course requires concentration for long periods of time on very difficult problems.
• This course is cumulative. It will be impossible for you to understand the later parts of the course without understanding the earlier parts. If you fall behind in your work, you will become confused, you will not understand the material, and you will not be able to complete the course successfully.
• You cannot master this course by merely reading books. Studying the textbook is necessary but not sufficient for learning the course material. This course requires active, not passive learning. You must learn to think in a way that will enable you to use the computer as a problem-solving tool. You will have to learn this by studying examples and practicing.
• This course requires a substantial commitment of time and effort. It is time consuming. In order to complete the assigned work, you will have to spend time thinking, writing, and working with computers. The customary guideline of two hours of study time for each hour of class time is not relevant for this course. You must be prepared to devote the necessary time, which could be as much as twelve to fifteen hours per week in addition to class time.

Software
For students who are enrolled in Computer Science courses, the Department of Computer Science can distribute licensed copies of Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP Profession, and other software development tools.
To obtain these products contact:
Aram J. Agajanian agajania@cs.newpaltz.edu
ComputerScience/UNIX Support
845-257-3775

College Policies
You are responsible for knowing and observing the College's academic policies and procedures and rules of conduct, including the rules against eating and drinking in classrooms.