UMUC-Europe Syllabus

Prerequisite: CMIS 102 or previous programming experience (Not open to students who have taken CMIS 340. The first in a sequence of courses in Java.) . A study of structured and object-oriented programming using the Java language. Discussion covers the discipline, methodologies, and techniques of software development. Algorithms and simple data structures are developed and implemented in Java; object-oriented concepts are applied. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CMIS 141 or CMIS 141A

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, you should be able to: • understand the basic syntax and semantics of the Java programming language • describe the steps necessary to develop a working Java program from a problem description • apply design techniques and abstraction to reduce complex problems by dividing them into components that can be implemented as Java classes • write clear program documentation • write and debug Java programs to implement applications using: a. if-else and switch flow control structures b. while and for loop control structures c. classes and methods, including instance and class methods, and methods with parameters and return values d. external disk file input and output e. structured data types such as arrays and classes • understand the ethical requirements and responsibilities of computing professionals, particularly in the areas of software piracy, data privacy, and the use of computer resources

Course Introduction:

This course is an introduction to real-world problem solving using the Java programming language. Students acquire the critical skills needed for formulating programmatic solutions to problems and then use these skills in creating programs that properly implement programming constructs such as selection statements, loops, methods, and arrays.

Additionally, students are exposed to the object-oriented approach to programming that provides them with flexibility, modularity, clarity, and reusability. Students learn that object-oriented programming mirrors the real world more closely than traditional programming methods by placing data and the data’s operations into a single entity called an object.

Grading Information and Criteria:

The course grade will be determined as follows:

Class Participation..........10%
Quizzes (2)..................20%
Programming Projects (4).....40%
Final examination............30%

Grading Scale:

Letter Grade Percentage

A 90% or Above
B 80% to 89%
C 70% to 79 %
D 60% to 69%
F 59% or Below

Grading Criteria for Programming Projects:

Some of the major criteria are:

Program Layout (Visual Appeal)

• proper naming conventions (using symbolic constants, appropriate names for variables, methods, and so forth)

• documentation

• consistent conventions (indenting, braces, headers, and so on)

• proper use of white space

Program Design

• modularity (including proper use of parameters, use of local variables, and so forth)

• correct and appropriate use of programming structures (loops, conditionals, classes, and the like)

• efficiency of algorithm

• proper I/O (prompt and echo input, clear and properly formatted output messages, and so on)

Test Data

• good test data suite included

Functionality

• program compiles

• program executes on sample data

• meets all requirements

Other Information:

Late assignments/programming project policy: Unless you have made arrangements with the instructor PRIOR to the assignment/project due date, grades on all assignments and the project submitted after the due date will be reduced by at least one letter grade (depending on the degree of lateness). Feedback on late programming assignments may be reduced. Makeup Exam Policy: Students are expected to take the midterm and final exam when scheduled. In the event of illness or extraordinary circumstances, the student must contact the faculty member and provide documentation to request an exception and approval to take a makeup exam. If the request is not approved, the exam grade will be recorded as a zero. For online classes, failure to register for a proctored exam is not an approved reason to request a makeup exam. UMUC has an online guide to writing and research in available at: http://tychousa.umuc.edu/writinggde/

Project Descriptions:

The projects, which consist of Java programs, will include basic coverage of the following: • the J2SDK to compile and run a Java program • input and output data from a program • simple calculations in a program using primitive data types and numeric operators • simple selection statements such as if/else, switch and conditional expressions • a for statement in a sentinel control loop to enter data • user-defined methods and existing packages, classes, and methods • a simple class • proper use of static variables, methods, and constants • arrays to efficiently organize data

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Week 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computers, Programs and Java Chapter 2 - Primitive Types and Operations Week 2 Chapter 3 - Selection Statements Project 1 Due Week 3 Chapter 4 – Loops Quiz 1 Week 4 Chapter 5 – Methods Project 2 Due Week 5 Chapter 6 – Arrays Quiz 2 Week 6 Chapter 7 – Objects and Classes Project 3 Due Week 7 Chapter 8 – Strings and Text I/O Week 8 Review for Final Final Exam Project 4 Due