Syllabus

Meetings: MWF 11:00-12:15 SN 014
Monday and Wednesday will be lectures and demonstrations, Friday will be a lab session (bring your computer).

Instructor: Gary Bishop ( SN 255 , 962-1886, gb@cs.unc.edu, http://www.cs.unc.edu/~gb)

Office hours: See the help page.

Catalog description: COMP 116 Introduction to Scientific Programming (3).
An introduction to programming for computationally oriented scientists. Fundamental programming skills, using MATLAB Python and another imperative programming language (such as C Java ). Problem analysis and algorithm design, with examples drawn from simple numerical and discrete problems. Students can receive credit for only one of COMP 110, 116, or 121 .

Prerequisite: MATH 231. We assume familiarity with univariate differential and integral calculus, and the ability to manually solve a system of simultaneous linear equations. Please see me if you are concerned about whether you have the background required for this course.

Textbook : How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python. Available free on the web at http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/ or in print from Lulu.com. We will also use many other free web resources.

Web site : http://www.cs.unc.edu/~gb/Comp116Spring2011/

Software: All the software you will need for this class is available free for downloading from the web. We will assist you in installing the software in our first Friday class session.

Grading: Quizzes 15% Assignments 35% Midterms 25% Final Exam 25% (Saturday 30 April 12:00-3:00)

Quizzes : There will be a 10 minute quiz at the end of almost every Wednesday class. No makeup is given for missed quizzes, but the lowest quiz score is dropped at the end of the term.

Assignments : Every other week there will be an assignment to write a program and turn it in using the Blackboard web site. Assignments are to be submitted before midnight on their due date, which is typically Weds, but sometimes can be pushed to Friday to include an extra lab session. Once grading has begun, late assignments will not be accepted.

Exams : There will be two midterms in class and a final exam. These are designed so that you do not need to use a computer or perform calculations in the exams, so computers, programmable calculators, and cell phones are not permitted. You may bring a non-programmable calculator if it gives you a sense of security.

Collaboration : Collaboration on assignments IS encouraged. However, what you hand in must be your own writing/typing. Good scholarship requires that all collaboration must be acknowledged. Thus, if you collaborate on the solution of a problem set, I expect that you list your collaborators at the top of the page. Collaboration on in-class evaluations (quizzes, midterms, final) is, of course, a violation of the Honor Code . This includes discussion of questions on a quiz, midterm, or final with students from a section that have not yet taken that evaluation.