Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2021 - CMPT 125 D100

Introduction to Computing Science and Programming II (3)

Class Number: 4491

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 17, 2021
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 120 with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A rigorous introduction to computing science and computer programming, suitable for students who already have some background in computing science and programming. Intended for students who will major in computing science or a related program. Topics include: memory management; fundamental algorithms; formally analyzing the running time of algorithms; abstract data types and elementary data structures; object-oriented programming and software design; specification and program correctness; reading and writing files; debugging tools; shell commands. Students with credit for CMPT 126, 129, 135 or CMPT 200 or higher may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is a rigorous introduction to computing science, intended primarily for students who have already taken CMPT 120 as an introduction to algorithms and programming. Students will learn fundamental concepts of computing science and basic principles of algorithm design and software development. All case studies will be presented using a C and C++ The co-requisite to this course is CMPT 127, which is a 3-credit lab course. Students who enroll in CMPT 125 will be manually enrolled in CMPT 127. Students are required to take both courses at once, but their grades will be assigned independently of each other. CMPT 127 is a programming-intensive lab, where students are expected to complete approximately 100 assignments (C++ programs) over the course of 12 weeks. Assignments build in difficulty and duration from five minutes to two hours. Roughly 8-12 assignment problems will be posed per week: the first 1-3 of which will be completed with instructors and TAs in mandatory guided labs; the remainder will be completed as independent homework.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Topics

  • Brief review of elementary programming and problem solving; introduction to C.
  • Performance measurements; algorithm design and analysis; asymptotics; fundamental algorithms.
  • Encodings of basic types: int, unsigned, float, char, pointer.
  • The memory model: addresses, dynamic data types, safe initialization, safe cleanup, and safe arrays.
  • Good coding style; defensive coding practices; testing.
  • Recursion: simple recursion; recursion on trees; divide and conquer algorithms.
  • Reasoning about programs: assertions, invariants, and correctness.
  • Abstract data types; information hiding;
  • Elementary data structures: stacks, queues, binary trees
  • Compound data types; basic object/method design in C++.

Grading

NOTES:

To be discussed the first week of classes

Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better).

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.