CSci 1302 Foundations of Computer Science - Syllabus.

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The course timeline

While I try to follow the timeline as closely as possible, keep in mind that topics, dates, and deadlines are subject to change. Changes to deadlines will be announced in class or by e-mail. It is your responsibility to keep up with the changes. If in doubt, please do not hesitate to ask me.

The dates for the midterms are set. If you have any conflicts with those dates, please let me know as soon as possible. No makeup exams will be given unless circumstances beyond your control prevented you from taking the test at the scheduled time AND you have notified me (in person, by e-mail, or by phone) in advance or, if this was not possible, as soon as it became possible.

Both the midterm and the final exams are open book, open notes.

All reading is from Discrete Mathematics with Applications by Susanna S. Epp (3rd edition), unless specified otherwise.

Late problem sets policy: Problem sets are due in the beginning of the class on the due date. If a problem set is submitted at (or before) the next class meeting after the due date, it is graded out of 3/4 credit. If it is submitted any time after the next meeting (until the last class meeting), then it is graded out of 1/2 credit.
Problem sets submitted more than 5 minutes after beginning of the class may be considered late.

Groups for problem sets

Working together with other students on problem sets helps you understand the material better. You may hand in group assignments (two students per group). Hand in one assignment from the entire group with names of both students on the first page. Groups are not set in stone for the entire semester, it's perfectly OK to change them or do some problem sets on your own, just make sure to coordinate it with the other person in your group. However, you cannot do a part of a problem set on your own and a part in collaboration or a part in one group and a part in another.

Working in groups helps learning only if all students in the group discuss all of the problems and participate equally. It doesn't help you learn if you divide problems among the group members (so that one person works on one problem and another works on another) or if one person does most of the work, and the other just puts their name on it. If you feel that group participation is uneven, it's time to talk to your partner(s) and possibly to change your group or to start working individually.

Discussion with students other than those in your group (or anyone not in this class) should be limited to general approaches to the problem. All such discussions as well as use of sources other than the textbook and the handouts given in class must be acknowledged in the beginning of the problem solution.

Studying in groups

Studying in groups is strongly encouraged. You may study for tests, go over textbook materials or lecture notes, and discuss problem sets in general terms (i.e. without actually writing the formulas or giving out the answers).

In-class quizzes

There will be approximately 10-12 quizzes during the semester. A quiz will be about 10-15 minutes and will be based on recent material (including the material of the previous class meeting and the assigned reading). Quizzes are open book: you may use your notes and the textbook and your notes on a quiz. Quiz dates will not be announced in advance.

Missed quizzes are counted as 0. The lowest quiz grade in the semester will be dropped (i.e. it will not contribute to overall grade).