Venit, S., & Drake, E. (2009). Extended prelude to programming: concepts and design (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

A study of techniques for finding solutions to problems through structured programming and step-wise refinement. Topics include principles of programming, the logic of constructing a computer program, and the practical aspects of integrating program modules into a cohesive whole. Algorithms are used to demonstrate programming as an approach to problem solving, and basic features of a modern object-oriented language are illustrated. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CMIS 102, CMIS 102A, or CMSC 101.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

This course provides an introduction to the design of solutions to computer-solvable problems. Students learn how to use data types, files, arrays, and subprograms, and basic programming control structures such as sequence, selection (decisions), and repetition (loops).

Also, students acquire a fundamental understanding of object-oriented programming design, concepts, and constructs, and then apply this knowledge through extensive practice of the Program Development Cycle. Though real-world examples, students learn how to analyze a problem, design a program to solve it, write the programming code to implement it, and test the solution to locate and correct programming errors.

The course grade will be determined as follows:

  Quizzes........20%
  Assignments....30%
  Midterm........25%
  Final..........25%

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

  90 - 100% = A
  80 - 89% = B
  70 - 79% = C
  60 - 69% = D
  Less than 60% = F

The projects, which consist of pseudo code, short Visual Basic, or short C++ programs, will include basic coverage of the following:

•          data types and their uses
•          algorithm development
•          selection type statements
•          looping type statements
•          I/O concepts
•          object-oriented programming