CS 331 Spring 2009 > Syllabus

CS 331 Spring 2009
Syllabus

COURSE:	CS 331 Programming Languages. 3 credits.
Time & place:	2:15–3:15 p.m. MWF, 104 Chapman.
Prerequisites:	CS 311. Prerequisites will be enforced.
INSTRUCTOR:	Glenn G. Chappell, Dept. of Computer Science.
Office:	201B Chapman.
Office hours:	10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. MWF on spring 2009 class days, or by appointment.
Office phone:	[474-]5736. This is also voice mail.
E-mail:	`ffggc@uaf.edu`
Paper mailbox:	Inside the CS Department office, 202 Chapman.
TEXT:	Sebesta, Concepts of Programming Languages, 8th ed. The 7th edition of this book is also acceptable.
WEB PAGE:	`http://www.cs.uaf.edu/2009/spring/cs331`

Course Topics & Goals

CS 331 is a survey of the field of computer programming languages. We will look at how languages are specified and how a program in a language is executed. We will examine programming language features, comparing and contrasting their appearance in various languages. We will also take a closer look at some particular languages that differ significantly from those covered in the early CS courses. Topics include syntax, semantics, lexical analysis, and parsing, kinds of languages, study of particular languages, and language features (e.g., types, control structures, functions, OO support, concurrency, exceptions, etc.).

After taking this class, students should:

Understand the concepts of programming-language syntax, semantics, lexical analysis, and parsing, and have an overall understanding of how the latter two are performed.
Understand the various kinds of languages and the primary ways in which they differ.
Understand various standard language features and the different forms they can take in different languages.
Have a basic programming proficiency in multiple significantly different languages.

Important Dates

Fri, Jan 23	First class meeting
Wed, Mar 18	In-class midterm exam
Fri, Mar 27	Last day to withdraw
Mon, May 4	Last regular class meeting
Wed, May 6	Final exam 1–3 p.m. in the classroom

Procedures

Class meetings — Class meetings will be conducted using a lecture-discussion format.

Homework — Homework will be assigned roughly weekly, and will consist of both programming and answering questions. Late homework will be accepted for partial credit up to 5 calendar days after the assignment due date, with credit awarded decreasing with each day the homework is late.

Quizzes — Short in-class quizzes will be given, unannounced. However, possible quiz topics will always be announced in advance, and will be taken from class lectures and assigned readings. No make-up quizzes will be given.

Exams — Two exams will be given: midterm and final. The final will be comprehensive, emphasizing material covered after the midterm. See “Important Dates”.

Grades

Course grades will be based on points earned, using a 90-80-70-60 scale. The lowest two quiz scores and the lowest homework score will be dropped. Point totals will be as follows.

Assignments and Quizzes (total)	225 pts
Midterm Exam	75 pts
Final Exam	100 pts
TOTAL	400 pts

Policies

Students are expected to be at every class meeting on time, and are responsible for all class content, whether present or not. If absence from class is necessary, in-class work (other than quizzes) and homework may be made up only if the instructor is notified as soon as possible; in particular, absences due to scheduled events must be arranged ahead of time.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to UAF procedures.

Students in this class must pay the CS lab fee. Payment allows access to the Chapman 103 lab.

UAF academic policies: http://www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics
CS Department policies: http://www.cs.uaf.edu/cs/Policies.html