Course Description and Policies
CS-141: Introduction to Programming, Fall 2015

Course Description

This course includes a study of problem-solving principles, computer programming, some of the principles behind programming languages and the structure of a computer. There are no pre-requisites for this course.

Expectations: Willamette's Credit Hour Policy holds that for every hour of class time there is an expectation of 2-3 hours work outside of lecture where you are engaged in course-related activities. Since our class also meets for 3 hours per week in lab, this policy translates into 3-6 hours of work beyond lecture and lab.

Attendance at lectures and labs is mandatory (see policy below).

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate proficiency in the fundamental concepts of object oriented programming including data types, user interfaces, control structures, arrays, objects, and input/output.
Students will demonstrate the ability to design and implement small to medium-sized Java programs.
Students will demonstrate the ability to work independently to analyze and solve problems

Text

The required textbook is Starting Out with Java: Early Objects (5th Ed), by Tony Gaddis.

Software:

We will be using the Java Programming Language [cartoon]. Java is one of many languages!

We will be using the Netbeans IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Netbeans 8.0.2 will be available on all the machines in Ford 202 and Ford 224. Netbeans is free and may be downloaded to your personal computer. Please download the Java-Neteans Cobundle. Links to it can be found on the Links page.

Labs:

Lab attendance is required unless you can demonstrate that you have completed all of the assigned work. You may discuss the lab with others in the class but copying someone's code directly is not allowed. See section on Plagiarism and Cheating below.

Credit Distribution:

The final grade will be based on the following:

20%	Quizzes - reading and in-class. Late reading quizzes are penalized by 50%. There are no make-up in-class quizzes (but lowest in-class quiz will be dropped).
40%	Programming Assignments. Late assignments are penalized: 1 day by 10%, and more than one day by 50%.
40%	2 Exams (20% each)
Attendence: Each unexcused absence (lecture or lab) beyond 5 will lower your final grade by one grade (e.g. A becomes A-).
Excused Absences: Athletes who must miss an exam are required to let the instructor know at least one week before the scheduled exam time so that arrangements can be made for the exam to be administered by the coach while the team is on the road. Students who must miss an exam for other important and documented reasons should discuss the issue with the instructor at least one week before the scheduled exam time. In the event that a make-up exam is given, the instructor can not guarantee that it will be the same level of difficulty or scope as the original exam.

Accommodations

In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access to this class, please contact me at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students must verify their eligibility though the University in order to receive accommodations. The university policies on disability accommodation may be found here.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Willamette students elected a few years ago to have an honor code. If you are unfamiliar with it, please be sure to read: The Willamette Ethic: The Honor Code of Willamette University

In this class, you are expected to follow the rules:

On reading quizzes, you may use your textbook and your own notes, but no other resources such as other books, web pages, people, etc.
Unless otherwise specified, in-class quizzes and exams are closed book. Calculators and other electronic devices are not allowed.
At times, you will be encouraged to cooperate on lab assignments for this class. The rules and limitations of this cooperation will be defined in class. If you are not clear on the rules, it is your responsibility to ask the instructor. In general, you are welcome to discuss the lab with others but, unless otherwise specified, copying someone's code directly is not allowed.
A significant amount of code is available online and in books. You are not to use this material without authorization from the instructor. If you do, it will be considered as plagiarism. The purpose of this class is to create your own work. If you do wish to use exisiting code then you must:
1. Obtain permission from the instructor.
2. In your code documentation, identify the code's author and where the code originated.
3. Make it clear in your code documentation, which portions of the code you wrote and which was written by someone else.

In the context of this class, plagiarism is defined as representing someone else's work as your own. Cheating is defined as violating stated rules for an exam or an assignment. Plagiarized work will receive a grade of 0 as will any assignment or exam in which cheating occurred. For more information about the rules and process, please read the following links:

Course Description and Policies CS-141: Introduction to Programming, Fall 2015