Computer Science 101

Course Outline

Length of Course: One semester (14 weeks)

 

Classroom Hours Per Week: 4 hours lecture, 1 hour lab
 
Number of Credits: 3 credits
 
Corequisites: Principles of Mathematics 12 or a university mathematics course, English 097
 
Description of Course:
An overview of the history and fundamentals of computing and the connections with the arts, psychology and biology. This course provides a thorough and rigorous overview of the fundamental issues concerning both hardware and software. No prior computing background is required.
 
Course Outline:
1. Becoming Skilled at Information Technology:
  • Understanding the basics around computer.
  • Getting familiar with the World Wide Web, computer networks, and other internet features.
  • A brief look at the future of possible human and computer interface.
2. Web Page Design:
  • Creating web page using HTML and JavaScript.
  • Getting acquainted with programming concepts, such as: data types, logical flow statements, and functions.
3. Computer Graphics:
  • History and profiles of computer artists.
  • Graphical applications.
  • Programming approaches to image generation:
    • 2D shape representation.
    • 2D graphic manipulation.
    • Use Java to generate geometric art images.
    • Algorithmic Thinking: using iteration and randomness to create 2D images, trees, flowers, and more.
4. Computing, Language and Intelligence:
  • Is artificial intelligence possible with the use of computer?
  • The Turing test, computational natural language processing; computers and learning connectionist models of computing.
5. Data and Digitizing Information:
  • Representing information digitally.
  • How information is processed?
  • Understanding the basic concepts of computer hardware, computer software, interpreters, and compilers.
6. Application Software:
  • Basics of Spreadsheets.
7. Natural Computing:
  • Examples of ‘computation’ in nature.
  • The genetic code: digital representation biological information in DNA.
  • What is bioinformatics?
  • Biologically inspired computing methods.
8. Sound, Lights, and Magic: Representing Multimedia Digitally
  • Digitizing color.
  • Computing on representations.
  • Digitizing sound.
  • Digital images and video.
Evaluation:
Quizzes 10%
Lab assignments 15%
Projects 15%
Midterms 25%
Final exam 35%
 
Text:
Fluency with Information Technology: Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities, 3rd Edition, Lawrence Snyder, Addison Wesley, 2008.
 
Transferability:
SFU: CMPT 100(3)
UBC: CPSC 1 st (3)
Note that:
Columbia College CSCI 101 & 120 transfer to CPSC 101(4) and CPSC 1 st (2)
Columbia College CSCI 101, 120 & 125 transfer to CPSC 101(4), CPSC 111(4) & CPSC 1 st (1)
UVic: CSC 100 (1.5 units)
 
Instructors:

Ken Chan, B.Sc. (Simon Fraser), M.S.E.E. ( Wayne)
William Cheng, B.Sc., M.Sc. ( Cal. State)