Tentative Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2021
Classroom: on-line
Time: TR 2:45 pm - 4:30 pm
(asynchronous as much as possible)
Instructor: Dr. Michael Weeks
Computer Science Department
Office Hours: (on-line only) Wednesdays 1-2:55 p.m.
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
I get a lot more e-mails than I can answer, so do not expect an answer.
If it is important and/or urgent, come see me in my office (or during office
hours).
CS Dept phone (404) 413-5700
Teaching Assistant:
Sonam Dawani,
Email: sdawani1 @ student.gsu.edu
TA's office hours: via Webex,
Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
FINAL EXAM
The Final Exam time is
Tuesday April 27, 10:45 - 13:15
Spring 2021 GSU final exam schedule.
TEXTS
Michael Weeks,
Programming Fundamentals Using MATLAB,
ISBN-13: 978-1683925552, Mercury Learning & Information,
Dulles, VA, 2020.
We will cover these topics (the order will change):
- 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
- Projects
- Working with Sound
- Working with Images
- Reading and Writing files
- Recursion
- Compression
- 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 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
-
There are short homework assignments, meant to give you
regular practice using MATLAB.
- You might be able to do each of these in one sitting.
- You are allowed to collaborate with other students on these. Collaboration is not allowed on all work; it is your responsibility to know when you are (or are not) allowed to collaborate.
- Turn in a print-out of your solution (unless the specific assignment says otherwise).
- These will be checked.
-
There are also programming assignments, that should be more involved.
- These assignments should require a little more fore-thought, and may require several sessions to complete.
- You are not allowed to collaborate with other students on these.
- Turn in a print-out of your solution and give an electronic copy to the TA (unless the specific assignment says otherwise).
- These will be graded.
- Grade base 4630 (undergraduate)
- 4 quizzes will constitute 35% of the course grade.
- Approximately 4 programming 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 programming assignment score.)
- There will be a short homework assignment each week, constituting a total of 20% of the course grade.
- The project will constitute 30% of the course grade.
- Attendance/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)
- 4 quizzes will constitute 30% of the course grade.
- Note that the 6630 quizzes/tests may be different from the 4630 quizzes/tests, containing additional material, or different questions.
- Approximately 4 programming assignments will constitute 10% of the course grade. Assignments may ask for additional work for graduate students.
- There will be a short homework assignment each week, constituting a total of 20% of the course grade.
- 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 25% of the course grade.
- Attendance 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.