Tentative Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2016
Classroom: Classroom South 107
Time: TR 02:50 pm - 04:35 pm
Instructor: Dr. Michael Weeks
Computer Science Department
Office: 25 Park Place (SunTrust building), room 754
Office Hours:
1:00 to 2:55 Wednesdays, until December 5.
Be sure to be there at least 15 minutes before the end time
if you expect to see me.
web-page: http://www.cs.gsu.edu/~mweeks
Put the course number (4630 or 6630) in the subject line to make sure
that your e-mail does not get classified as spam. Do not expect an answer.
If it is important and/or urgent, come see me in my office.
Phone: (678) 952-8196
Teaching Assistant:
Navya Sree Kolluri
TA's office: 25 Park Place, room 650R
TA's office hours: Monday 3-5 p.m.
TA's e-mail address: nkolluri1 @ student.gsu.edu
FINAL EXAM
The Final Exam time is in the above classroom on
Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.
TEXTS
Ottmar Beucher and Michael Weeks,
Introduction to MATLAB & SIMULINK A Project Approach,
Third Edition (0-978-1-934015-04-9),
Infinity Science Press,
2007.
We will cover:
- Chapter 1 - Introduction to MATLAB
- Welcome
- Getting used to the environment
- Algorithms, Pseudo-code
- Tracing a program/algorithm step-by-step
- Debugging with breakpoints and print statements
- Divide and conquer
- Variables
- Data Types
- Conditional program flow (if)
- Iteration / Looping (while)
- Solve a problem for one case, then iterate
(Take care of middle, then first and last) - Functions
- Abstraction and Encapsulation
- Planning a large program, working with stubs
- Chapter 3 - Projects
- Working with Sound
- Working with Images
- Reading and Writing files
- Recursion
- Compression
- We may cover Chapter 2 - Simulink iff we are able to use it in the lab. (No, that's not a typo. Iff means "if and only if".) We have a new contract with the Mathworks that may (or may not) include Simulink.
- Other topics from the text as time permits.
- Selected articles from other sources.
PREREQUISITES
None.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to give science majors experience with the MATLAB programming language.
MATLAB is used for scientific applications involving images, sound, and other signals.
No previous programming experience is needed.
MATLAB will be used for assignments.
RATIONALE
MATLAB is a powerful language used by Computer Scientists, Engineers, and Mathematicians for applications such as image processing and signal analysis. These skills are useful in sciences like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
GRADING
- Grade base 4630 (undergraduate)
- 2 equally-weighted tests will constitute 40% of the course grade.
- Any quizzes will count as 10% of a test, and will be factored into the above.
- Approximately 5 Assignments will constitute 10% of the course grade. (Having fewer assignments allows more time to devote to the project; having more assignments gives a better chance of a higher assignment score.)
- There will be a programming challenge each week, constituting a total of 25% of the course grade. These are short homework assignments meant to give you regular practice on MATLAB commands.
- The project will constitute 20% of the course grade.
- Participation will constitute 5% of the course grade. You are expected, at a minimum, to come to each class on time and prepared. You are also expected to contribute to the class. Disruptions will count against you.
- Grade base 6630 (graduate)
- 2 equally-weighted tests will constitute 30% of the course grade.
- Any quizzes will count as 10% of a test, and will be factored into the above.
- Note that the 6630 tests may be different from the 4630 tests, containing additional material, or different questions.
- Approximately 5 Assignments will constitute 10% of the course grade. Assignments may ask for additional work for graduate students.
- There will be a programming challenge each week, constituting a total of 25% of the course grade. These are short homework assignments meant to give you regular practice on MATLAB commands.
- A research paper and presentation will constitute 10% of the course grade. The presentation will be a short (5 minute) video, followed by a question and answer session.
- The project will constitute 20% of the course grade.
- Participation will constitute 5% of the course grade. You are expected, at a minimum, to come to each class on time and prepared. You are also expected to contribute to the class. Disruptions will count against you.