Undergraduate classes, Spring 2009, Computer Science

Note: All courses taken towards the major or minor must be taken on a letter grade basis, not pass/fail.
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CS 110: Computer Science FundamentalsCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: The course will provide a basic understanding of the principles underlying computer systems and software. Topics include an overview of computer hardware, the design of algorithms and their role in problem solving, and programming in a high level language. Databases, networking and the world-wide web, and contemporary issues in information technology will also be discussed.
Particulars: Lectures will be supplemented by readings and some laboratory exercises; there will be several quizzes, a midterm, a final exam, and assignments. Computer-based assignments will account for approximately 25% of the grade but this is not primarily a programming course. CS110 is intended for students who do not expect to take additional computing courses. Students interested in further course work should instead start in CS170.
000MSC: W201MWF 10:40am - 11:30amPhil Huttomax 50
CS 153: Computing for BioinformaticsCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: The course introduces tools of computer science that are relevant to bioinformatics, with a focus on fundamental problems with sequence data. Practical topics will include script programming (either Perl or Python), data management, and web services. We will see a basic overview of the necessary biology, but with most of our attention on computational issues.
Prerequisites: Grades will be based on regular technical assignments (including some programming), a midterm, and a final exam. There is no prerequisite to this course.
000MSC: E308AMWF 11:45am - 12:35pmMichelangelo Grignimax 15
CS 170: Introduction to Computer Science ICredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: This course is an introduction to computer science for the student who expects to make serious use of the computer in course work or research. Topics include: fundamental computing concepts, general programming principles, the Unix Operating System, the X-window system, and the Java programming language. Emphasis will be on algorithm development with examples highlighting topics in data structures.
Particulars: No previous programming experience is required for this course. Students expecting to take more advanced Computer Science courses should start here. The grade in this course will be based on programming assignments and examinations. Typically the programming assignments will count no more than 50%.
000MSC: W201TuTh 11:30am - 12:45pmLi Xiongmax 30
001MSC: W201MWF 2:00pm - 2:50pmPawel Jurczykmax 30
L-1MSC: E308ATu 4:00pm - 4:50pmLi Xiongmax 30
L-2MSC: E308AW 4:00pm - 4:50pmPawel Jurczykmax 30
CS 171: Introduction to Computer Science IICredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: A continuation of CS170. Emphasis is on the use and implementation of data structures, introductory algorithm analysis, and object oriented design and programming with Java. The course will also introduce the basics of procedural programming with C.
Prerequisites: CS170
000MSC: W301TuTh 10:00am - 11:15amShun Yan Cheungmax 25
CS 190: Freshman Seminar: The WebCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: How long can you survive without access to Web applications such as Facebook, Wikipedia, or Google? The Web now is central to our information society, and this course will be a guided tour through the concepts, ideas, and technology underlying the web's evolution into the modern ecosystem for commerce, information finding, and social interaction. We will also gain hands-on programming experience with key web applications such as search, online social networks, and web services. The assignments will primarily consist of lab exercises and group programming projects in which students will program Web2.0 services to do cool stuff. Although the course is self-contained and will explore both conceptual and practical topics, a strong interest in learning how to program and/or some previous exposure to programming would be quite helpful.
Prerequisites: None
000MSC: W303TuTh 1:00pm - 2:15pmEugene Agichteinmax 18
CS 323: Data Structures and AlgorithmsCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: This is an advanced course in computer science, studying ideas and algorithms for processing data in a computer. The course will involve studying such data structures as lists, trees, heaps, hash tables, graphs, and their applications in the construction of efficient algorithms. Searching and sorting algorithms will be also discussed.
Particulars: Grades will be based on programming assignments, written work, a midterm exam, and a final exam. The programming language used in this class is Java.
Prerequisites: CS 171 and CS 224
000MSC: W304MWF 2:00pm - 2:50pmMichelangelo Grignimax 25
CS 325: Artificial IntelligenceCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: Foundations and problems of machine intelligence, heuristic problem solving techniques, search, knowledge representation, applications, AI programming
Particulars: Offered alternate years.
Prerequisites: CS171 and CS224
000MSC: W301MW 3:00pm - 4:20pmJames Lumax 25
CS 355: Computer ArchitectureCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: This is the second course in computer organization and architecture. This course will involve studying the register transfer level of the control unit, micro-programming, pipelining, caching, interrupt handling, virtual memory (paging), and I/O programming. We will also look at SIMD, MIMD architectures, message passing multi-processors and dataflow machines.
Particulars: Students should have a thorough understanding of the SISD von-Neumann architecture. Grades will be based on quizzes, homework, one or two midterm exams, and a final exam.
Prerequisites: CS 255.
000MSC: W301TuTh 11:30am - 12:45pmShun Yan Cheungmax 25
CS 424: Theory of ComputingCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: This course gives mathematical methods to classify the complexity of computational problems. Topics include regular languages, grammars, decidability, NP-completeness, and corresponding models of computation.
Prerequisites: CS 253 and CS 224.
000MSC: W302MWF 3:00pm - 3:50pmOjas Parekhmax 25
CS 452: Operating SystemsCredits: 4− Description− Sections
Content: The structure and organization of computer operating systems. Process, memory, and I/O management; device drivers, inter-machine communication, introduction to multiprocessor systems. An important portion of the course is a course long programming project that implements a simple operating system in stages. Each stage takes about three weeks, and is used as a basis for the next stage. (The scope and pace of the project is somewhat less than the related project in CS580)
Particulars: Grades will be based on the project and a final exam. Must be taken for a letter grade.
Prerequisites: CS 450.
000MSC: E408TuTh 2:30pm - 3:45pmKen Mandelbergmax 16
CS 495RWR: HonorsCredits: 1 - 12− Description− Sections
000Faculty (TBA)
CS 497R: Undergraduate Directed StudyCredits: 1 - 12− Description− Sections
000Faculty (TBA)