CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH
College of Engineering
 Department of Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Course Syllabus, Spring 2008 Semester
CECS 174 Program and Problem Solving I

Course Description
Introduction to basic concepts of computer science and fundamental techniques for solving problems using the Java programming language. Structured problem solving, object-oriented programming, programming style. Applications to numerical and non-numerical problems.

Prerequisite  MATH 113 (or equivalent)

Course Objectives
 Upon successful completion of this course, a student should have:

• An understanding of terminology: program, software, hardware, memory address, byte, operating
  system, CPU, algorithm, classes, objects, methods, parameters.
• A knowledge of: software life cycle, fundamental data types, the structure of Java programs, compilation process, testing and debugging a program, programming style, JavaDoc, scope of variables, object oriented design.
• An ability to: write a Java program that manipulates multimedia objects in interesting ways; choose appropriate data types; declare variables; assign
  values to variables; use basic input and output of variables; program with logical expressions; structure while and for loops; design loops controlled
  by different artifacts; write conditional statements; declare, initialize and access an array; use Java packages; declare a method; build classes to
  perform a task; write methods that calculate and return values; design and write a design sheet for an algorithm; use strings.
• A knowledge of multimedia object representations and an ability to manipulate multimedia objects
  • Picture as an object, Pixel as an object, array of pixels, 2d arrays
  • Using loops to change all pixel values of a picture (e.g.: convert a picture to grayscale).
  • Designing algorithms to manipulate pictures (e.g.: create a collage)
  • Sound object: increase/decrease volume, sound clips, splicing sounds together, reversing sound. Sound formats.
  • Communicate information through writing design sheets and algorithms.

Course Topics
The following is a tentative list of topics that will be covered in this course.

•  Introduction to the basic concepts of computer science
•  Introduction to the fundamental techniques for solving problems using a programming language
•  The Java Compiler and JVM runtime environment
•  Programming style, documenting code with JavaDoc
•  Multimedia representation and manipulation
•  Java primitive data types
•  Strings
•  Selection (if statement) and repetition statements (for loop, while loop, for-each loop)
•  Arrays and Matrices
•  Multimedia: Picture as an array of pixels and as a matrix of colors, Sound as an array of samples
•  Classes and Methods
•  Using existing classes that represent multimedia objects
•  Inheritance: Extending existing classes with modified behavior
•  Design and development of methods to manipulate multimedia
•  Use of Java packages.

Text Book and Course Materials

• Introduction to Computing & Programming with Java: A Multimedia Approach, Mark Guzdial
  and Barbara Ericson, Prentice Hall publisher, ISBN: 0-13-149698-0.
  Text book Web site   http://www.pearsonhighered.com/academic/product/0,3110,0131496980,00.html
• CECS Computer Account to complete lab assignments
• Access to BeachBoard: http://beachboard.csulb.edu
• To work from home, you’ll need:
  • DrJava: A Java IDE. Get the most recent release from: http://www.drjava.org/
  •  bookClasses: The Java Classes created by the authors of the textbook and used to teach the computing and programming concepts.
     Get these from a computer in the lab.
  •  mediasources: A set of pictures and sounds used by the authors of the textbook. Get this from the CD that is with the book or from
     a computer in the lab.
    Recommended Materials:
    - If you’re a CECS major, I highly recommend investing in a book to be used as a Java reference throughout your Java programming
       classes. I recommend the following:
    - Big Java, 3rd Edition By Cay S. Horstmann (San Jose State Univ), 2008.
      ISBN:978-0-470-10554-2. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470105542.html
• Copies of the course notes , homework, lab assignments, projects and other announcements posted on the class Web page.

Grading          

A  100-90%  B  89.9-80%  C  79.9-70%  D   69.9-60%  F  59.9-0%
The grade scale may be lowered but it will not be raised.

Class policies

Examinations, Quizzes and Lab Assignments

• Quizzes, examinations and final are closed notes and books.
• There are no make-up examination except in cases of an accident or serious illness. Makeup exams may be taken if you received my permission PRIOR to the exam at least one weeks. Makeup exams might not be the same ones taken by the class.
• All lab assignments are due during the lab on the due date. Lab assignments may be turned in up to one week late with a penalty if you received my permission; however, a 50% of total points will be deducted from the assignment.
• Unclaimed assignments and examinations will be discarded two weeks after the due date.
• Lab assignments and projects are posted on the class web site.

• The final examination is comprehensive.

Attendance/Withdraw

• Attendance at the lecture session and to the labs is mandatory. 
• If a student will no longer attend class, he or she must correctly drop that class or he or she will receive a failing grade.
• February/10 - Deadline : withdraw or drop classes using "My CSULB" or IVR before 10:00 pm, withdraw or drop classes without a "W" grade.
  To drop the class after the February 10, a student must obtain approval from the class instructor and the chairperson of the department offering
  the class.                              
• April/25 - Deadline: drop a course without college dean's signature (Drop at this time are generally not approved except in cases of an accident or
  serious illness.)
• May/16 - Deadline: to drop a course with college dean's signature (Drop at this time are rarely approved and are not permitted after the final day
  of instruction.)

Grading

• Keep examinations and lab assignments for grading verification. Without them, your grade will be based on grade assigned in the instructor's grade
  sheet. No grade change on quizzes, exams, lab assignments and projects will be made more than one week after the grades are assigned. Before
  the last week of the semester, the students will verify their grades on quizzes, exam and lab assignments with their signatures. After that, the grade
  will not be changed for any reasons.
• If you do not agree with the grade on any activity, you may request that the grading of the activity be re-evaluated. The request must be made
  within 48 hours of having received the graded activity. The exception is for situations where I tallied the score incorrectly.
• Incomplete grades are given only in accordance with the college guidelines. These guidelines can be found in the college catalog.
• A CR/NC grade will result in CR if the final grade is a C or better; otherwise, a NC grade will be given.

Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on quiz, exam, lab assignment or project; failure in course; and or expulsion from
the University. See the the University Catalog concerning plagiarism/cheating. You can read it online here: http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/catalog/07-08/campus_info/cheating.html. The campus policy can be found here: http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/research/our/information/policies/cheating/

Accommodations
Students with disabilities who need reasonable modifications, special assistance, or accommodations in this course should promptly direct their request
to the course instructor. If a student with a disability feels that modifications, assistance, or accommodations offered are inappropriate or insufficient,
he/she should seek the assistance of the Director of Disabled Student Services on camps.

Important dates

• Feb 10  DEADLINE:   withdraw or drop a course using "My CSUSB" or IVR , withdraw or drop classes  without "W".
• Feb 15  DEADLINE:   add courses,  file for CR/NC or Audit grades options.
• April 9  DEADLINE:    drop or withdraw from all classes.
• April 25  DEADLINE:   drop a course without college dean's signature- drops at this time are generally not approved except in cases of an accident or a serious illness.
• May 16  DEADLINE:  drop a course with college dean's signature - drops a this time are rarely approved and are not permitted after the final day of instruction.
• May 17 -23 - Final Examinations
• Holidays:  Cesar Chavez Holiday ( Mon 3/31) and Spring Recess (4/1-4/4)

COURSE OUTLINE

THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO  CHANGE