CSCI 101 Introduction to Computer Science Profession
by Hui Chen, Ph.D.

Syllabus

You may download it the CSCI101 Syllabus in a PDF file.

Description

This course provides an introduction to the computer science professions. Basic skills and qualities such as collaborative learning, effective communications, and computer science codes of ethics will be introduced.
Co-requisites: CSCI 150/151 Programming I with Lab

Topics Covered

VSU Computer Science Curriculum; advising process; ACM Code of Ethics; computing career paths; computer Science research areas; professional conduct; lifelong learning

Course Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, students will be familiar with the requirements of the Computer Science curriculum and the Department, have been introduced to the variety of computing professions available to them, be exposed to skills and resources for being successful students at VSU, be familiar with the ACM Code of Ethics, and understand the importance of lifelong learning and be introduced to strategies for accomplishing this.

Textbook

Glenn Glenn Brookshear and J. Glenn Brookshear. 2015. Computer Science: An Overview (12th ed.). Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, USA.

Additional Materials

  1. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  2. IEEE Computer Society
  3. ACM Computing Career Website
  4. ACM Code of Ethics
  5. ACM and IEEE Computer Society Software Engineering Code of Ethics

Weekly Class Schedule

  1. 08/17 Discussion on CSCI 101 class organization

    Assignment:

    Review the class syllabus

  2. 08/24 Discussion on curriculum, classroom management, advising, and mentoring

    Topics: Department and program; Computer science curriculum; mathematics and computer tutoring services; Academic Center for Excellence; important software applications and services; advisors and mentors

    Resources:

    Academic Catalog
    Trojan Links
    Banner
    Blackboard

    Assignment:

    Look for Assignments 1 and 2 in Blackboard. Due 1PM, August 31 in Blackboard

  3. 08/31 Discussion on career path in computing

    Resources:

    ACM's Computing Carreers website

    Assignment:

    Assignment 3: Answer the question under "Assignment (08/31)" in Blackboard. (Due 5PM, 09/02/2016)

  4. 09/07 Data, Data Storage and Manipulation

    Reading:

    Sections 1.1 - 1.4 and Section 2.1
    Chaim Zins. 2007. Conceptual approaches for defining data, information, and knowledge: Research Articles. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 58, 4 (February 2007), 479-493. DOI=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.v58:4

    Assignment:

    Assignment 4: Answer questions in the textbook: Q9 and Q12 in page 74. (due 1PM, 09/14 in Blackboard)
    Assignment 4: What are the full names of ACM SIGARCH, SIGPLAN, SIGMOD, and SIGKDD (due 1PM, 09/14 in Blackboard)

  5. 09/14 Discussion with Representatives from IBM Watson

    Event:

    Panel discussion with representatives from IBM 12:00 - 1:00PM, Engineering Auditorium, Engineering Building

    Assignment:

    Assignment 5 is in Blackboard. Due 09/23/2016. This assignment is for classes on both 09/14 and 09/21.

  6. 09/21 Discussion with Representatives from IBM Watson

    Event:

    IBM engineers will host a Technical Interview Test Preparation session at at 5:00 - 8:00PM, Thursday, September 22, HM 210S.

    Assignment:

    Assignment 5 is in Blackboard. Due 09/23/2016. This assignment is for classes on both 09/14 and 09/21.

  7. 09/28 Algorithms and Programming languages

    Resources:

    Barack Obama - Computer Science Question
    CS Unplugged - Sorting Algorithms

    Reading:

    Sections 5.1 - 5.2 and Section 6.1
    A Neural Network for Machine Translation, at Production Scale, Google Research Blog
    The 280-Year-Old Algorithm Inside Google Trips Google Research Blog

    Assignment:

    Assignment 6: Question 5 in page 251 of the textbook (due 10/05 in Blackboard) (due 10/05 in Blackboard)
    Assignment 6: List top 5 most popular programming languages based on your own research. You must include the references and evidences to support your answers. (due 10/05 in Blackboard)

  8. 10/05 Software Engineering

    Resources:

    Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice

    Reading:

    Chapter 7 of the textbook

    Assignment:

    See Assignment 7 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 10/12/2016)

  9. 10/12 Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

    Resources:

    Artificial Intelligence @ CSUnplugged

    Resources:

    Chapter 11 of the textbook

    Assignment:

    See Assignment 8 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 10/19/2016)

  10. 10/19 Computer Graphics

    Resources:

    ACM SigGraph 2016

    Resources:

    Chapter 10 of the textbook

    Assignment:

    See Assignment 9 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 10/26/2016)

  11. 10/26 Computer Systems and Networking

    Resources:

    Linux
    Open Solaris
    Apple OS X and iOS
    Android
    Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

    Reading:

    Chapters 3 and 4 of the textbook

    Assignment:

    See Assignment 10 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 11/02/2016)

  12. 11/02 Foundation and Other Areas of Computer Science

    Resources:

    Finite State Automata

    Reading:

    Chapter 12 of the textbook

    Assignment:

    see Assignment 11 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 11/09/2016)

  13. 11/09 On Local and Global Impacts of Computer Science

    Resources:

    Computer science can change the world, by the U.S. National Science Foundation
    CS & IT Symposium 2010: Closing Keynote - The Global Impact of Computer Science

    Assignment:

    see Assignment 12 in Blackboard (Due 1PM, 11/16/2016)

  14. 11/16 On Ethical, Legal, Security, and Social Aspects of Computer Science

    Resources:

    ACM Code of Ethics
    ACM and IEEE Computer Society Software Engineering Code of Ethics
    Ethics for App Makers
    Ethics in Computing: Real Ethics and Virtual Reality video
    Ronald E. Anderson, Deborah G. Johnson, Donald Gotterbarn, and Judith Perrolle. 1993. Using the new ACM code of ethics in decision making. Commun. ACM 36, 2 (February 1993), 98-107. DOI=http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/151220.151231
    Sam Nitzberg, Conflict and the computer: Information warfare and related ethical issues. In 21st National Information Systems Security Conference., Arlington, USA. 1998.
    Spafford’s Congressional Testimony Warns of Impact on Blameless Seeking Employment, The Association for Computing Machinery, May 6, 2008
    Cryptographers Have an Ethics Problem by Antonio Regalado, September 13, 2013
    Robotics: Ethics of artificial intelligence

    Assignment:

    Browse ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct website.
    Watch the two online videos "Ethics for App Makers" (in your own time) and "Real Ethics and Virtual Reality" (in class) listed above under "Resources"
    see Assignment 13 in Blackboard (Due 5:30PM, 11/30/2016)

  15. 11/23 - 11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday. University Closed. No Class.

  16. 11/29 Reading Day (Instructor holding office hours)

  17. 11/30 - 12/05 Final Examination Week

    CSCI101 Final Exam:

    1:00 - 3:00PM Friday, December 2, 2016 (submission of essay in Assignment 13)
    Final Examination Week (11/30 - 12/05):