Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: Computer Science

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group III

Credit Hours: 4

Description: PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTING & PROGRAMMING ***** DISTRIBUTION COURSE GROUP 3 ***** This course is an introduction to computing that foucuses on the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) using desgin patterns. Computational problem-solving and the accompanying programming methodology are taught using progressively richer subsets of the Java programming language. Program design concepts such as structural and behavorial abstractions are key elements in building software systems that are correct, flexible, extensible, and robust. Design patterns provide a vocabulary for codifying these abstractions. The course emphasizes an incremental, test-driven approach to writing programs, which is the essence of stat-of-art "agile" software engineering methodologies such as eXtreme Programming. OOP is the most prevasive paradigm for constructing modern software systems. Computer professionals and non-professionls alike will require a solid background in OOP to understand and effectively utilize these systems. This course is recommended for Engineering and other non-COMP majors, plus students who have yet not committed to a COMP major. This course is a pilot for the first semester of a new two-semester COMP 201/202 introduction to computing targeted at non-COMP majors. Starting in Fall 04, there will be two different introductory programming sequences: COMP 201/202 targeted at non-COMP majors and COMP 210/212 targeted at COMP majors.COMP 202 and (Scheme-based) COMP 210 will be offered in Fall 04. Unlike the existing COMP 210/212 sequence, the new course sequence uses Java exclusively; it does not cover functional programmin in Scheme. Students who take the new sequence and subsequently decide to major in COMP can enter the major by taking a shour 1-hour course on functional programming in Scheme that will be offered each spring starting in Spring 05. For further information, see http://www.rice.edu/~comp210 or contact Cory Cartwright (cork@rice.edu), Dung Nguyen (dxnguyen@rice.edu), or Stephen Wong (swong@rice.edu).