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COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science. May 28, 2008. Teaching staff. Instructor: Chris Murphy cmurphy@cs.columbia.edu Office hours: Mon 3-5pm, 608 CEPSR TA: Aditi Rajoriya ar2630@columbia.edu Office hours: Tue/Thu 7:30-8:30pm, 122 Mudd Office hours start next week (June 2).
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COMS W1004Introduction to Computer Science May 28, 2008
Teaching staff • Instructor: Chris Murphy • cmurphy@cs.columbia.edu • Office hours: Mon 3-5pm, 608 CEPSR • TA: Aditi Rajoriya • ar2630@columbia.edu • Office hours: Tue/Thu 7:30-8:30pm, 122 Mudd • Office hours start next week (June 2)
About the course • This course is an introduction to computer science for computer science and other science and engineering majors having little or no prior programming experience. • The goals of this course are to teach students: • fundamental Java programming skills • knowledge of the fundamental concepts in computer science • algorithmic program-solving capabilities
Course homepage http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~cmurphy/1004 • Please check the course homepage frequently for important announcements and changes to the reading assignments
CourseWorks http://courseworks.columbia.edu/ • Check the “Discussion” section for questions related to the homeworks • Check the “Gradebook” to make sure our records match your own
Grading • Homeworks: 60% • Final exam: 40% • These are “guidelines” for the final grade
Homeworks • There will be four homework assignments • Each homework has two parts: • Theory • Programming • Homeworks will be posted on the course homepage and in CourseWorks
Exams • An in-class final exam will be held on the last day of class: Wednesday, July 2 • Exam covers material from readings and lectures (so come to class!)
Textbooks • Schneider & Gersting Invitation to Computer Science, Java Version, Third Edition • Lewis & Loftus Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design, Fifth Edition • Both available at CU Bookstore or online
CUNIX • You will need a login account to access Columbia’s computing environment (CUNIX) • Columbia students: It is the same one you use to get your Columbia email, etc. • If you don’t have a UNI or don’t know what yours is, go to http://uni.columbia.edu
Syllabus • The course covers approx. 50% Java programming basics and 50% computer science theory • Check the course homepage for assigned readings for each lecture
Academic honesty • Please familiarize yourself with the Computer Science Department’s policy: http://www.cs.columbia.edu/education/honesty • It is YOUR responsibility to read and adhere to the policy
Today • What is computer science? • What is an algorithm? • Examples of algorithms • Expressing algorithms • Reading: S&G 1-2 • Next lecture: THIS Friday!
What is Computer Science? “The study of algorithms, including: • Their formal and mathematical properties • Their hardware realizations • Their linguistic realizations • Their applications” -Schneider & Gersting, p.4 Computer Science is NOT (just) programming!
What is an Algorithm? “A procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation; broadly: a step-by-step method for accomplishing some task.” -Schneider & Gersting, p. 5 “A well-ordered collection of unambiguous and effectively computable operations that, when executed, produces a result and halts in a finite amount of time.” -Schneider & Gersting, p.10
Theory Homework #1 • Do the following questions from S&G Third Edition: • Chapter 1: 7, 9 • Chapter 2: 1, 10, 11, 21, 23 • Homework is due at the beginning of class on June 4! • Just a paper copy, not electronic