Syllabus -  EG280 Computer Science For Engineers

Spring 2001

 

Course Information

EG280 CS for Engineers,  Spring 2001 (CRN: 2160)

MW 1:00 to 2:15  GH120                      

 

General Information

Textbook: Engineering Problem Solving With C, 2nd Ed., by Etter and Ingber

Supplies: Students should have access to  a C Compiler.  This may be a personal copy (i.e., purchased through the book store or downloaded from the Internet), or the compiler available in the Marshall University computer labs located in the Drinko Library and other campus locations.

 

Instructor

William E. Pierson                                  Email: pierson@marshall.edu

Web Site: http://users.marshall.edu/~pierson/wephome.html

Office:       114 Gullickson Hall               Office Hours:  10:00 to 12:00 MWF

Phone:  696-2695                                                           1:00 to 3:00     TR

Fax:  696-5454                                                    (or by appointment)

                                                                 

Course Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide an introduction to computer programming fundamentals using C++.  The course will emphasize engineering-related applications and introduce object-oriented programming techniques.

Course Prerequisites:  MTH130, MTH132  or equivalent

 

Computer Projects and Homework

A significant number of homework problems and computer programming projects   will be assigned and graded.  HW assignments, along with answers and solutions to selected problems, will be posted to the web site listed above.  Most non-programming HW assignments will be individual efforts.  Typically, for programming projects students are encouraged to work in two-person teams and to submit one solution per team.  However, each student is individually accountable for understanding all material.  See a further description of HW assignments below. 

 

Grading

Activity

Points

 

 

Points           

Grade

Hourly Exams:  3 @ 100 points each 

300

 

 

450 – 500

A

Homework  Average:

100

 

 

400 – 449     

B

Final Exam:

100

 

 

350 – 399

C

Total Points:           

500

 

 

300 – 349

D

 

 

 

 

0 – 299

F

 


C.        Course Schedule (Tentative, subject to revision)

Week

Topic

Text Reading

1

Introduction: computer hardware and software; engineering problem-solving methodology

Chapter 1

 

Simple C Programs: program structure; constants and variables; data types; assignments statements and arithmetic operations

Chapter 2

2

standard input and output functions; arithmetic functions; character functions;

 

 

sample problems and applications

Chapter 3

3

Control Structures and Data Files: algorithm development; structured programming; software testing

 

 

conditional expressions; relational and logical operators; if/else statements; the switch statement

 

4

loops; data files; sample problems and applications

 

 

wrap-up and review for exam #1

 

5

Exam #1

 

 

Modular Programming With Functions: function definitions and prototypes; parameter lists;

Chapter 4

6

storage class and scope

 

 

engineering applications and examples

 

7

Arrays and Matrices: one- and two-dimensional arrays; searching and sorting; character strings; array initialization

Chapter 5

 

matrices and vector operations; function arguments

 

8

array examples and applications

 

 

wrap-up and review for exam #2

 

9

Exam #2

 

 

Introduction to Pointers: addresses and pointers; pointer arithmetic; pointers and arrays

Chapter 6

10

pointers in function references; dynamic memory allocation

 

 

pointer applications and examples

 

11

Introduction to Structures: structure definition and initialization; I/O; structures and functions

Chapter 7

12

applications and examples

 

 

wrap-up and review for exam #3

 

13

Exam #3

 

 

An Introduction to C++: object-oriented programming:  C++ program structure; standard I/O

Chapter 8

14

file I/O; classes and class definition

 

 

applications and examples

 

15

Wrap-up and review for final exam

 

 


D.        Course Policies

1.   Students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in all class meetings.  However, there are no official penalties for class absences.

2.   Except for extraordinary circumstances (i.e., authorized medical problems) students are required to take exams at the scheduled times and dates.

3.   Homework will be assigned regularly and must be submitted by the due date.   Assignments submitted after the due date will be worth, at most, 50% of the point value of the assignment.

4.   HW assignments should be done on 8.5 x 11” paper in a neat manner that is easy to read, showing all steps and (where appropriate) calculations to each problem.  Answers should be clearly marked and easy to find.  The name(s) of the student(s) and the number of the problem should be shown at the top of each sheet.  Computer programs should be well documented (commented) and thoroughly tested before submission.

5.   Students are encouraged to work together on programming and HW assignments.  However, cheating will not be tolerated on exams.  Any student caught cheating on an exam will receive a zero on that exam.