Don't contact instructor through Angel. Penn State University
Berks-Lehigh Valley College, Berks Campus
College of Engineering
CMPSC 201 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Mr. Curt Minich
Office Phone Number: (610) 374-0739, ext. 2202
Email: Don't contact instructor through Angel.
Office Hours: by appointment
Course Number & Title: CMPSC 201, Programming for Engineers (in C++)
Course Description:
This is a course in introductory problem solving and programming techniques that introduces students to computers and computer programming. It is assumed that you have a basic high school mathematics background, although no prior computer science is assumed. The student will learn a structured approach to programming using C++. The student will also learn how to implement some basic numerical methods including systems of linear equations, finding roots of functions, and approximating the area under a curve.
Class Location:
1 Luerssen Hall on Mondays & 127 Luerssen Hall on Wednesdays
Meeting Time:
6:15 - 8:45 p.m. on selected Mondays & Wednesdays from Aug. 24 to Dec. 15
Schedule:
See our class home page at http://www.minich.com/education/psu/cmpsc201
Recommended Text (but not required):
C++ for Engineers and Scientists by Gary Bronson, third edition, published by Cengage Learning, ISBN 9780324786439
Access Account:
You will need to use your PSU Access Account for the course. You cannot log onto the computers in the computer lab without enabling your Access Account. Please visit the Berks Campus Computer Center in Luerssen Hall (or call 610-396-6195) to set up your account if necessary. Visit the center’s home page at http://www.bk.psu.edu/staff/computer/InfoTech.htm for more information.
Methods:
Programming assignments will have to be completed outside of class. You will have to spend a significant amount of time completing the assignments. It is strongly encouraged that you install the Visual C++ compiler on your home computer so that you will be able to complete the work there. Otherwise you are expected to use the University's computer labs.
You must check your email frequently since the instructor may occasionally make important class announcements via email. If you have a question to ask the whole class (including the instructor) send the question using the In Touch area of Angel. Be sure to checkmark the "Send a copy of this message to recipients' Internet e-mail accounts" if you want to be sure that Mr. Minich reads the email message. You will also be expected to visit the class web site at http://minich.com/education/psu/cmpsc201 regularly for announcements, lecture notes, and assignment information.
There will be a comprehensive final exam. The make up of the final grade will be approximately as follows: 40% Midterm Exams, 10% Quizzes and/or Homework, 30% Programs, 20% Final Exam.
Quizzes may be given at the beginning and/or end of a number of classes. Students who are not present for a quiz for ANY REASON will receive a zero. There is no makeup opportunity for quizzes.
Most exercises and assignments will be taken from the text, supplied handouts, or Internet resources. Students are liable for any assignments, assignment modifications, or other announcements made in class or over the class mailing list. If a student fails to obtain an assignment or learn of an assignment modification during class, it is his or her responsibility to obtain a copy of the information from a classmate.
Each student is expected to bring his or her notebook with lecture notes, programming assignment files and examples, completed homework assignments, textbook, and a calculator to every class.
Late programming assignments and homework assignments will not be accepted. If your program does not compile or work correctly, you must still submit it rather than take the automatic zero for failing to turn it in.
Most printed assignments will be returned during class. Keep all assignments returned to you. The instructor will not change a grade without seeing your graded paper. Also, keep the source files for your assignments on your flash drive and in a backup location for the rest of the semester. Do not change a source file after handing in the assignment.
Grading:
A, A- 90 - 100%
B-, B, B+ 80 - 89%
C, C+ 70 - 79%
D 60 - 69%
F below 60%
Note that you cannot pass the course if either:
Student Responsibilities
Familiarize yourself with the Penn State University published list of student responsibilities at http://www.minich.com/education/psu/cplusplus/studentresponsibilities.pdf
Academic Honesty
It is expected that each student will endeavor to make his or her work unique. It is every student's responsibility to seek help from the instructor if he or she has difficulty with program assignments. All students submitting duplicate programs (or slight variations) will be penalized. All students who collaborated on the assignment will receive zero grades, even the student who did all or most of the original work.
Students may talk orally (not via instant messaging or email though) about portions of a programming assignment's specifications or logic. Students tend to learn and reinforce their understanding of concepts when they communicate with each other in this way. BUT neither student must type or write anything down from the conversation. No computer code must be exchanged in this kind of conversation. A student is certainly not allowed to see another student's finished or partially completed program.
This kind of oral discussion is OKAY during the following phases of a programming assignment:
developing a test plan
analysis of the project's specifications
developing the algorithm or pseudocode
interpreting individual errors or bugs when the program is executedBut students must not work together or collaborate with these phases of a programming assignment:
writing the computer code
editing or proofreading the program
finding and debugging errors in a program's source code
documenting the programIf a student does discuss the assignment in any of the permissible phases above, this must be explained in the program's documentation for the instructor to see. Also, every student must be able to explain his/her algorithm to the instructor at any time after a program has been submitted. If a student cannot explain his/her algorithm, the instructor may conclude that the student did not create the algorithm himself and obtained it dishonestly.
Academic Integrity Statement:
All work submitted (programs, tests, quizzes, homework assignments) must be your own and not copied in whole or in part from another student or textbook. In addition, all material that is not your own (ideas or words) in papers must be properly cited. If you are not sure how to cite material in your paper, see your instructor. It is your responsibility to avoid plagiarism. Failure to comply with this rule could result in a failing grade and disciplinary procedures.
Penn State University's Definition and Expections: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
Exams and Programming Assignments:
See our class home page at http://www.minich.com/education/psu/cmpsc201
Make-up opportunities for quizzes or exams:
Due dates of all programming assignments will be announced as far in advance as possible. Students may not makeup quizzes, homework assignments, or programming assignments. Zero grades will be given for ALL missed quizzes, homeworks, and program assignments no matter what the circumstance. Make-up exams will be given only for emergency circumstances. The instructor reserves the right to make a decision in all such cases. If an emergency does arise, call AND email the instructor as soon as possible before the exam in order to arrange for a make-up. If communication is not made with the instructor before the exam (or as soon after the emergency that circumstances allow), you WILL receive a zero grade for the exam. The instructor reserves the right to make this decision in all such cases. A make-up exam must be scheduled to be taken as soon as the emergency circumstances allow. It may also be necessary to take the make-up exam at another location. In any case, make-up exams may follow a different format and contain a different number of exercises or essays than the original exam.
Class attendance policy:
Class attendance is mandatory and will be taken at the beginning and/or end of each class period. Quizzes missed due to absence or leaving a class early cannot be made up. Students will receive a zero for any quizzes missed. If a student is absent, he or she must have a classmate pick up any handouts that may have been distributed.
Class cancellation:
Call the Penn State University Weather Telephone Number at (610) 396-6375 to find out if class has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Note to students with disabilities:
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability related need for modifications or reasonable accommodations in this course, please inform the instructor or contact Disability Services, 610-396-6410, 153 Franco Building, as early in the semester as possible.
Learning objectives :
The learning objectives for this course are clearly marked and listed on the lecture notes within this website.
Disclaimer:
The class schedule, due dates, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students.
Special Fall 2009 Flu Protocols
In compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control recommendations, students should NOT attend class or any public gatherings while ill with influenza. Students with flu symptoms should leave campus if possible and to return home during recovery. The illness and self-isolation period will usually be about a week. It is very important that individuals avoid spreading the flu to others. You will have a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work. Students with the flu do not need to provide a physician's certification of illness. However, ill students should inform the instructor by email or phone as soon as possible that they are absent because of the flu or flu-like symptoms. Students who are absent because of illness will have a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work. Ordinarily, it is inappropriate to substitute for the missed assignment the weighting of a semester's work that does not include the missed assignment or exam. Completion of all assignments and exams assures the greatest chance for students to develop content mastery that is unavailable through the weighting process. The opportunity to complete all assignments and exams supports the university's desire to enable students to make responsible situational decisions, including the decision to avoid spreading a contagious virus to other students, staff, and faculty, without endangering their academic work. The most effective strategies for mitigation are hand-washing along with cough and cold etiquette.