THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Document hand1.pdf contains the LATEST information about this course. This page will be UP-TO-DATE after the first day of classes. Before that day, consult hand1.pdf as the information below might be that of a previous semester.

An introductory course in computer science and programming (using MATLAB) and its use in solving engineering and scientific problems. The emphasis is on the logical analysis of a problem and the formulation of a computer program leading to its solution. Topics include basic concepts of computer systems, algorithm design, programming languages and data abstraction. Designed for students not specializing in computer science. Elements of C programming will also be introduced briefly, time permitting.

INSTRUCTOR:	Alex Gerbessiotis	E-MAIL:	alg101@cs.njit.edu
OFFICE:	GITC 4213, 4th floor	TEL:	(973)-596-3244
OFFICE HOURS:	Mon 4:00 5:30pm and Thu 4:00- 5:30pm
OFFICE HOURS:	By appointment Mon/Tue/Thu
ASSISTANT:	TBA on course web-page
CLASS HOURS:	Tue 11:30-12:55pm,Thu 2:30-3:55pm,GITC 2400

Course Web Page: http://www.cs.njit.edu/~alexg/courses/cs101/index.html

The following also works: http://web.njit.edu/~alexg/courses/cs101/index.html

1.2 Course Administration

Prerequisites

No course required. Knowledge of last 4 digits of your NJIT id.

Textbook

MATLAB Programming for Engineers by Stephen J. Chapman, 4th edition.
ISBN-10: 049524449X , ISBN-13: 978-0495244493.
We abbreviate in class this textbook as SC.

CourseWork:

2 exams (including the final); 5 15-minute quizzes; two mini-projects

Grading:

1000 points = Exam1(300) + Exam2(300) + Best-4-of-7(400). (The best 4 of QZ1-5 and MP1-2 will contribute 400 points.)

QZ1-5

Five 15-minute quizzes to be given at unannounced dates. They will test material covered in class the week or two weeks prior to the quiz week. 100 points per quiz.

MP1-2

Two mini-projects will be given at least three weeks in advance. Each one is worth 100 points.

Exams

Dates in course calendar. Both exams are open-textbook only. You may bring a copy of the textbook but you are not allowed to borrow one during the exam. Exam1 is on Tue Oct 18, 75mins, 300 points. Exam2 is on ??? Dec ??, 2hrs, 300 points (check with the Registrar).

ExamConflicts

Per University regulations. You are not allowed to take the exam of another section.

Due Dates

Programs MUST be received by email before noon of the last day they are due. Submit early, do not wait until the very end. We must receive your submission by the deadline, and we will acknowledge it promptly. It's up to you to properly form and submit an email (see Handout 2). Use an NJIT email address. No late work is accepted because of the Best-4-of-7 rule.

Topics

Tentatitive list of topics

• T1 : High-level computer organization. Introduction to computing. 
  T2 : Bits and Bytes
  T3 : Data representation in memory. Integers and reals
  T4 : The abstract data type: Matrix and Vector. Implementations using
       an array. 
  T5 : The fundamental concepts  of MATLAB.
  T6 : MATLAB basics.
  T7 : MATLAB vector/matrix functions and operations
  T8 : MATLAB misc plotting functions
  T9 : MATLAB Branching statements
  T10: MATLAB loops (iterative) statements
  T11: MATLAB functions 
  T12: Advanced MATLAB features
  T13: C programming fundamentals
  

Objective 1

Learn the fundamentals of computing and programming.

Objective 2

Learn how to formulate the input/output relationship of a computational problem that will lead to the development of a compute-based solution for it.

Objective 3

Learn the fundamentals of the programming language/tool MATLAB.

Objective 4

Learn how to use MATLAB to solve (simple) computational problems in science/engineering.

Objective 5

Learn how to use MATLAB to solve more elaborate problems.

Outcome 1

Be able explain fundamental computing concepts related to processing, memory and data organization as related to engineering.

Outcome 2

Be able to formulate succinctly and correctly the input and output relationship of computational problems.

Outcome 3

Be able to provide a computer-based programming solution for such problems using a high-level language such as MATLAB.

Outcome 4

Become familiar with the syntax and functionality of MATLAB.

Outcome 5

Be able to effectively use MATLAB for solving more complex problems arising in science or engineering.

* Exam 2 is scheduled by the Registrar ** In this calendar, a week starts on a Thursday

Programs

Submitted code must be conform to the requirements of Handout 2. Programming problems are graded based on test instances decided by the grader on a test platform of the grader's choice (e.g. AFS). Do not expect partial credit if your code fails to run on all test instances unless you accompany your code submission with a detailed bug report.

Extensions

No extension will be granted for the mini-projects for any reason.

Grading

Written work will be graded for conciseness and correctness. Be brief and to the point and write clearly, and mark answers clearly and unambiguously. Only material covered in class, in the relevant notes and chapters of the designated textbook can be used. DO NOT USE pencils to write down your solutions; if you decide to do so and use a pencil do not complain about grading.

Grades

Check the marks in written work and report errors promptly. Resolve any issue related to Ex1, QZ1-5, MP1-2 no later than the Reading Day. If you believe a grade you received for the solution of a problem is not representative of your effort, talk to the grader first and then to the instructor (if different). For mini-projects an email with your grade is sent back to you by replying to the email that was used to submit the work. The final grade is decided based on a 0 to 1000 point performance. A 50% or more is C or better, 90% or more is usually required for an A. The instructor reserves the right to push a student's grade up based on that student's solid (unaccounted) work in class .

Collaboration

Collaboration of any kind is NOT allowed in the in-class exams. Students who turn in code obtained through the Internet or otherwise, or is product of another person's/student's work, risk severe punishment, as outlined by the University. The work you submit must be the result of your own effort.

Mobile Devices

Mobile phones/devices and/or laptops/notebooks MUST BE SWITCHED OFF (NOT JUST SILENCED) before the class exams. Switch off noisy devices before class.

Email/SPAM

Send email from an NJIT email address. NJIT spam filters or us will filter other email address origins. Do not send course email to the instructor's email address unless there is a good reason (e.g. you don't want the grader to read the email or it's urgent and you believe the instructor will respond faster). Include CS 101 in the subject line then.

Missing class

If you miss a class and there is no Exam due it's up to you to make up for lost time; if there is an unscheduled Quiz then there are other quizzes or MPs to substitute for it. MP submission does not require your presence; an email suffices.

Missing MP

There are two scheduled mini projects; none of them is required since you can still take 3 quizzes to satisfy the Best-4 rule. Plan ahead of time and submit early; do not wait until the last MP or the last day of the deadline. No extensions are granted for any reason medical or otherwise.

Missing Exam

If you miss an exam and there is a valid documentation for your absence, such documentation must be presented within 3 working days from the day the reason for the absence is lifted. The maximum accommodation will be the number of missing days to the exam date.