SYLLABUS

CSCI 251 Programming for Engineering and Sciences

Sec 1, Fall 2019
Instructor:​ Torumoy Ghoshal
E-mail: ​[email protected]

Class Room: ​Connor 13

Class Time: ​MWF 12-12:50pm
Office:​ Weir 232
Office Hours:​ Monday 10am-12pm, Tuesday 11am-12pm or by appointment

Course Description:
Algorithm development and structured programming techniques, including numerical and graphical
applications related to engineering and scientific problem solving.

Textbook​:
● Engineering Computation with MATLAB, David M. Smith, Addison-Wesley Pearson Education,
Boston 2010 (ISBN 978-0–13–256870–8, edition 3)

Equipment:
● Flash drive​ (or ​personal laptop​) to save programs.

Software requirement​:
● MATLAB (can be downloaded from ​MyOlemiss (​Technology - Research software))

Course Co-requisite​:
● MATH ​261 Unified Calculus & Analytical Geometry I

Course Outcomes:
This course is designed to provide the student with the skills to solve engineering and scientific problems
through structured language (MATLAB) programming, including algorithm design, coding, debugging,
documentation, and testing skills. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
● Explain the rudiments of program design and development.
● Interpret engineering or scientific problems in the formation of computer programs with deductive
reasoning and top-down design strategy.
● Formulate programming solutions by applying knowledge of:

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 ○ The basic components of a computer language, such as constants and variables with built-in
data types, assignment statements, arithmetic and logical expressions, and console-based
input and output;
○ Control statements implementing conditioning and/or repetition as well as the nesting of
multiple control construct;
○ Built-in functions and subroutines;
○ Decomposition of large problem solutions into user-defined subprograms in the form of a
function or subroutine;
○ Array processing techniques for simple vector or matrix calculations, including image file
manipulations.
● Identify and eliminate errors in computer programs.
● Use of proper programming practices (such as commenting, indentation, consistent and meaningful
naming conventions) to develop complete, understandable, and maintainable programs.

Blackboard & Adler Accounts:

Course materials, announcements, homework assignments, programming assignments and reading
assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Students registered for this course have automatically been
enrolled in the appropriate Blackboard course. Log in regularly to check for new postings.

All students will be given a Computer Science Adler account which gives access to the two computer labs in
Weir Hall (rooms 227 and 229 in Weir). The lab computers have MATLAB installed and give students
access to their own personal H:\ drive, which allows them to save programs on the Computer Science
server.

Teaching Methods:
1. Lectures​: Important materials from the text and outside sources will be covered in class. Students
should plan to take careful notes and do assigned projects/assignments.

2. In-Class Labs​: throughout the semester, there will be in-class labs. These assignments will be
posted ahead of time on Blackboard and must be completed before the end of class to get credit. ​No
late lab assignments will be accepted. ​(​If you don’t show up, you get a 0 for the in-class lab​.)

3. Homework and Programming Assignments:​ Programming assignments must include a header

with your name, course number, section number, and assignment number. Also, you must include
the following signed statement on the first page (or commented at the beginning of your program):

In keeping with the Honor Code of UM, I have neither given nor received any inappropriate assistance
on this assignment.

All programming assignments must be submitted through ​Blackboard​. ​All but one assignment
may be turned in late with ​a penalty of 10% per day​.

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 4. Exams: ​This course has ​three exams​, which cover material from class lectures / textbook, from
homework and/or programming assignments, and from lab assignments. You may not take an exam
other than on the scheduled date.

At the end of the semester, a comprehensive multiple choice ​assessment exam​ will also be given. The
exam is an overall evaluation of students’ learning outcome of the course objectives and is required by the
School of Engineering.

An ​optional​ comprehensive ​final exam​ will be given for this course that may be used to replace one test
grade. Refer to the University of Mississippi’s final exam schedule for the date and time of the final exam.

5. Attendance: ​Attendance for this course is mandatory, though ​3 absences​ will be allowed before
affecting a student’s grade. There are no excused absences unless it is a University of Mississippi
sanctioned event.

Note​: If you are late for a class, it is ​your responsibility​ to inform the instructor after class so that you can
be marked as present.

Grading:

Semester Grade Percentage

A- (90-91) A (92-100) Attendance 5%
B- (80-81) B (82-87) B+ (88-89) In-Class Lab Assignments / Quizzes 10%
C- (70-71) C (72-77) C+ (78-79) Homework and Programming Assignments
30%
D (60-69) Assessment 5%
F (<60) Exams + Final exam 50%

Course Policies:
Missed Classes and Exams​: The student is responsible for learning and obtaining material discussed on
class days when he/she was absent. This can be done through contacting a classmate who was present or
by contacting the instructor during his office hours.

Missed exams cannot be made up under any circumstances except for documented reasons.

Homework and Programming Assignments​:​ All assignments are due on the date due. ​Late submission
of ​one​ of the assignments will be assessed a penalty of 10% per day.​ No exceptions are made.

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Honor Code​:​ All aspects of this course fall under the provisions of the Honor Code of the School of
Engineering. Tests, programming assignments, homework assignments, and lab assignments must
represent the ​individual​ effort of the student without assistance from others. You may discuss ideas with
other students but only in general terms. Violations of the Honor Code will result in a ​zero​ for the
assignment and will be turned over to the ​Honor Code Committee​ of the School of Engineering.

Need for Assistance​:​ If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it
difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it, or which will require ​academic accommodations​,
please notify me as soon as possible.

Blackboard Support​:​ Check the class Web page in ​Blackboard​ for additional information about this
course.

Course Outline ​(all weeks are ​tentative​ and subject to change)

Week# Dates Topic Labs/Exam

1 Aug 26 – 30 Chap 1 Introduction & Binary
2 Sep 4 – Sep 6 Chap 2 Matlab Environment Lab#0
Chap 2 Variables, Data types,
3 Sep 9 – 13
Assignment
4 Sep 16 – 20 Chap 3 Numerical & Boolean operators Lab#1
5 Sep 23 – 27 Chap 6 Strings Exam#1
6 Sep 30 – Oct 4 Chap 4 Selection – if statements Lab#2
7 Oct 7 – Oct 11 Chap 4 Selection – switch Lab#3
8 Oct 14 – 18 Chap 4 While Loops
9 Oct 21 – 25 Chap 4 For Loops Lab#4
10 Oct 28 – Nov 1 Chap 5 Functions Exam#2
11 Nov 4 – Nov 8 Chap 8 File I/O
12 Nov 11 – 15 Chap 3 Arrays Lab#5
13 Nov 18 – 22 Chap 11 Plotting Exam#3
14 Nov 23 - Dec 1 Thanksgiving Break
15 Dec 2 - Dec 6 Review Assessment,​ Lab#6
Final See Ole Miss Final Exam Schedule

● Aug. 30 Students may add courses on a space available basis through this date.
● Sep 9 Last day to register or add classes (between August 31 and Sep 9 may add
only with instructor’s approval.) Refund period ends.
● Sep. 16 Mandatory drop date for non-attendance

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 ● Oct. 7 Deadline for course withdrawals (no refund, refund period ended Sep 9).

New Attendance Policy​: Starting Fall 2015, each student’s attendance will have to be confirmed at least
once within the ​first two weeks of class​. If a student has not voluntarily dropped the course and if his or her
attendance has not been verified, then the university administratively will drop that unconfirmed student
from the class. New policies will aid retention efforts and ensure financial aid is awarded properly.