CS100J: Overview

Overview of CS100J: Spring 2004

Details

Course:	COM S 100J Introduction to Computer Programming
Semesters offered:	Fall, Spring
Credits and Grades:	4 credits, Letter or S/U depending on your college requirements
Website:	http://courses.cs.cornell.edu/cs100j/2004sp/
Newsgroup:	cornell.class.cs100j

Synopsis
CS100J and CS100M offer an introduction to elementary computer programming concepts. The courses emphasize techniques of problem analysis and the development of algorithms and programs. To enroll in CS100, you must register for either CS100J or CS100M, which both use Java and MATLAB in different amounts to teach the same concepts:

CS100J: 12 weeks of Java and 2 weeks of MATLAB.
CS100M: 7 weeks of MATLAB followed by 7 weeks of Java.

Neither course presumes previous programming experience. To take CS100M, you must have a firm background in mathematics and at least one semester of calculus. Refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/degreeprogs/ugrad/CSMajor/CoursesandResearch/FirstCSCourse/index.htm for more information about both courses.

Components
CS100J includes lectures and sections. Some of the sections will be held in computer labs. See Syllabus --> Times & Places for times and locations. We also hold occasional review sessions. There are optional Academic Excellence Workshops (AEW) for additional programming practice in a cooperative learning environment.

Course Material
Both CS100M and CS100J require that you program in Java and MATLAB. We will use DrJava for the Java programming environment. For the full list of required and optional course material, including software requirements, see Syllabus --> Material.

Requirements

Attend lectures and sections (labs) and master the material.
Attend labs and submit lab exercises.
Do homework.
Take three prelims and the final. You should check Exams and the online university schedule for exam dates!
Monitor the announcements on the website. Occasionally we post announcements in the newsgroup.
Follow the policies that are described on the course website.
Adhere to the Code of Academic Integrity.

What To Do Now

Review the descriptions of CS100J, CS100M, and alternative courses. Then pick a course!
Pick and attend a section that belongs to the course you have chosen.
Review the course website to learn the course policies.
Review the recent announcements on course web site.
Refer to Notes for assigned textbook readings. Start reading.
Check prelim and final exam schedules for conflicts.
Check out the Association of Computer Science Undergraduates (ACSU): http://www.acsu.cornell.edu/.

Alternatives
If you are shopping around for a "first course" to take in computer science, the CS department offers both programming and non-programming courses. Refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/ugrad/FirstCourse.html for more information about the courses that may suit your needs better than CS100. You might be interested in CS/ENGRI 172: Computation, Information, and Intelligence, which is a non-programming introduction to computer science through the lens of artificial intelligence (fall only).