CS 115 : Course Description

Course Description

This course is CS 115 Introduction to Computer Science 1, UAE edition, for Fall 2012.

CS 115 is an introductory programming course at the University of Waterloo using the functional language Scheme. It has been designed with the diverse interests, backgrounds, and goals of students always in mind. Aware of the varied ways in which this material might be of use in the future, we have included concepts that are beautiful and universal.

The focus of the course is foundational concepts in computer science (rather than the mechanics of programming) and ways of thinking about computation (rather than solving tasks in a rote fashion). Students will learn skills that are applicable to new languages and environments, not just those used in the course.

Because of the fundamental nature of the concepts taught in CS 115, the course can serve both students whose primary interest in computers is in their use in their chosen areas of study and students intending to minor in CS.

If you are a CS major and/or love mathematics, you should consider CS 135 or CS 145, whether or not you have previous experience with computers. We have provided links to pages designed for prospective students of CS 135 and CS 145. Each student in the Faculty of Mathematics will take one of the three courses (115, 135, 145) as part of the core Faculty requirements.

Lecture Times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 10:20am

Lab Times: Mondays from 2:00pm to 3:50pm

Required Material:

Course Notes (your instructor will give you this)

Course Textbook:

How to Design Programs (See the Schedule for sections you have to read)

Course Policies: See below and the Assignments page.

Academic Integrity

In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Check the Office of Academic Integrity's website for more information.

All members of the UW community are expected to hold to the highest standard of academic integrity in their studies, teaching, and research. This site explains why academic integrity is important and how students can avoid academic misconduct. It also identifies resources available on campus for students and faculty to help achieve academic integrity in — and out — of the classroom.

Grievance

A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 — Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4. When in doubt please be certain to contact the department's administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.

Discipline

A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about "rules" for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 — Student Discipline. For typical penalties, check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.

Avoiding Academic Offenses

Most students are unaware of the line between acceptable and unacceptable academic behaviour, especially when discussing assignments with classmates and using the work of other students. For information on commonly misunderstood academic offenses and how to avoid them, students should refer to the Faculty of Mathematics Cheating and Student Academic Discipline Policy.

Appeals

A decision made or a penalty imposed under Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71, Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 — Student Appeals.

Note for students with disabilities

AccessAbility Services (formerly the Office for Persons with Disabilities or OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term.