Introduction to Computer Science

Shandong University of Finance and Economics

Course Code：

Total Number of Instruction Hours: 36

Number of Credits：2

About this Course

Introduction to Computer Science follows a bottom-up arrangement of subjects that progress from the concrete to the abstract-an order that results in a sound pedagogical presentation in which each topic leads to the next. It begins with the fundamentals of information encoding and computer architecture, progresses to the study of operating systems and computer networks, investigates the topics of algorithms, programming languages, and software development, explores issues of data structures and databases, considers future applications of computer technology via artificial intelligence, and closes with an introduction to the theory of computation. The contents of this course include:

Basics of data encoding and storage, Machine architecture and machine language, Operating systems, Networking and the Internet, Algorithms and algorithm design, Programming languages, Software engineering, Data abstractions, Database systems, Artificial intelligence, Theory of computation

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand fundamental knowledge of computer science, and gain a solid foundation for future scholarship of computer science.

Prerequisites and Preparation

Basic algebra.

Course Goals

After completing this course, students should have a solid grasp of the basics of computers and an understanding of the field of computer science.

Furthermore, students should have a thorough understanding of:

·         The fundamentals of computer science: components of a computer, principles behind which computers operate, information encoding, algorithms, and Boolean algebra

·         Computer hardware: CPU, storage, input/output, etc.

·         Computer software: data structures and algorithms, programming languages, databases, compiling, operating systems, software engineering.

·         Applications of computing systems: computer networks, artificial intelligence, etc.

Course Components and Requirements

·         Assigned readings

·         Lectures

·         Six problem sets

·         One midterm exam

·         Final Exam

Assigned Readings

Computer Science: an Overview, by J. Glenn Brookshear and Dennis Bryow. Publisher: Pearson; 13th edition (March 23, 2018).

Topical material and additional reading for class discussion may be assigned during the semester.

Deliverables and Grading

Method of evaluation and grading:

1）There will be six mandatory problem sets which will be individually graded. At the end of the term students will have the best eight homework grades cumulated up and this will count for 10% of the final course grade.

2）There will be one midterm exam which counts as 20% of the course grade.

3）There will also be a two-hour final exam, which will be cumulative and cover all course materials. This will count as the remaining 70% of the grade.