SYLLABUS

CSCI 101 Introduction to Computers
(a gateway to contemporary computer technologies and knowledge)

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of North Dakota
Fall 2024

Class times: 10:10am – 11:00am, MoWeFr
Classroom: Harrington Hall 204
Credit hours: 3
Class pages: http://undcemcs01.und.edu/~wen.chen.hu/course/101/
 
Instructor: Wen-Chen Hu   (my teaching philosophy)
Email: wenchen@cs.und.edu
Zoom ID: https://und.zoom.us/j/2489867333
Office: Upson II 366K
Office hours: 02:30pm – 04:30pm, MoWeFr
 

Class Attributes
Math/Science/Technology Essential Studies requirement for information literacy

Lecture Notes
No textbook will be used. Instead award-winning, interactive, informative, and practical lecture notes (based on books, papers, online documents, and user manuals) and detailed and precise class instructions will be provided. Collectively, the lecture notes and instructions are more like a small book, which supplies much more information than regular notes do. Students will not have problem learning the subjects or taking the exams after studying them and doing programming exercises.

Course Description
An overview of the fundamental concepts and applications of computer science. Topics include data storage, hardware, operating systems, and programming principles.

Objectives
This course is for non-computer-science majors, so no advanced computer knowledge and programming will be covered. After taking this course, students will be familiar with the following practical computer subjects:
  • The four computer foundations: (1) programming languages, (2) computer architecture, (3) operating systems, and (4) computer algorithms and theories,
  • Data storage such as databases,
  • Electronic and mobile commerce systems, and
  • Smartphone architecture.
Evaluations
    Attendance (counted every class)  ——  10%
    Two exams                         ——  30% each
    Final exam                        ——  30%

Tentative Schedule
    Weeks      1 &  2  ——  Introduction
    Week            3  ——  Operating Systems
    Weeks      4 &  5  ——  The World Wide Web
    Weeks   6, 7 &  8  ——  WWW Programming
    Week            9  ——  Programming Languages
    Week           10  ——  Data Structures and Algorithms
    Week           11  ——  Data Storage and Databases
    Weeks     12 & 13  ——  Computer Architecture
    Weeks 14, 15 & 16  ——  Smartphones

Dishonesty
Under no circumstances will acts of academic dishonesty be tolerated. Any suspected incidents of dishonesty will be promptly referred to the Assistant Dean of Students. Refer to the Code of Student Life, Appendix B.2: Academic Dishonesty.

Disability
Students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.