Introduction to Computing Science I

CISC 121/3.0

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Overview

Introduction to design, analysis, and implementation of algorithms. Recursion, backtracking, and exits. Sequences. Elementary searching and sorting. Order-of-magnitude complexity. Documentation, iterative program development, translating natural language to code, testing and debugging.

NOTE: This course is intended for students with some prior experience in programming and who understand the basics of a programming language such as variables, functions, iteration and loops. Without previous programming experience, this course will be difficult.  

Not sure if CISC 121 is the right course for you? Please take a look at the School of Computing's  to decide whether CISC 101/110 or CISC 121 is the best starting point for you.  

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this course, students will be able to 

  • Given a natural language problem description, develop (design, construct, debug and test) simple software in a conventional procedural programming language using an interactive IDE. 
  • Implement and analyze the basic searching and sorting algorithms (insertion, selection; others optional) 
  • Analyse the worst-case computational complexity of small iterative and recursive programs. 
  • Use simple linear data structures (stacks and queues) in small programs. 

Terms

Summer (July–August) 2024
Course Dates
–
Exam Dates (if applicable)
–
Delivery Mode
Online

Evaluation

7.5% - Coding Assignment 1
7.5% - Coding Assignment 2
7.5% - Coding Assignment 3
7.5% - Coding Assignment 4
10% - Quiz 1
15% - Quiz 2
45% - Proctored Final Exam
(Students must pass the exam to pass the course)

*Evaluation subject to change*

Synchronous Sessions  

This course has optional virtual meetings. 

Teamwork  

This course involves teamwork, which strengthens sought-after transferable skills, including communication, relationship building, adaptability, conflict resolution, and more. Students will be asked to work with peers on graded assessments and will be expected to collaborate asynchronously. Students can expect to be graded by peers on individual submissions. Queen’s University and the teaching team are committed to supporting students with strategies to succeed in a team-based setting.   

Proctored Exams  
Exam Centre Location, Eligibility, and Fees  

Students enrolled exclusively in online courses may choose one of two options to write this course’s proctored assessments:  

  1. You may choose to write the assessments online under supervision of Examity proctoring services. A $100 fee will be charged to your SOLUS account. This fee is known as the Off Campus Exam Admin Fee and is applied in SOLUS at the earlier of: term tuition posting date, or the date at which exam writing method is changed to online. The fee is assessed once per ASO course with proctored assessments.  
  2. You may choose to write the assessments in-person on Queen’s campus in Kingston at no additional charge.  

Students enrolled in at least one on-campus course are expected to write this course’s proctored assessments on-campus during the scheduled exam time. They will not be permitted to write this course’s proctored assessments online.

Students were prompted to indicate their preferred exam writing method when enrolling in the course in SOLUS. The exam writing method may be changed by contacting the ASO Exams Team at aso.exams@queensu.ca.  

Information for students writing online assessments using Examity

Selected assessments in this course will be administered in onQ using online proctoring provided by Examity, a third-party, cloud-based service. This proctoring solution was chosen to support our efforts in maintaining academic integrity when online proctoring is required. Queen’s has conducted an extensive privacy and security review of Examity and has entered into a binding agreement with terms that address the appropriate collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with Ontario’s privacy legislation. To learn more about online proctoring, please see the information provided by the Office of the University Registrar.  

If you registered to write online with Examity, all information pertaining to the technical requirements and preparation for writing online will be posted in onQ well in advance of your exam. 

The use of Examity as described is unique to courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science Online. Other Faculties use online proctoring solutions in different ways under different regulations. Students should  contact the appropriate Faculty examination team if they have questions.  

Timing of Final Examinations  

The exam period dates for each Term are listed on the Faculty of Arts and Science webpage under "Important Dates". Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted to SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should not make any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations. Students experiencing extenuating circumstances preventing them from writing their exams as scheduled should review the information about the Academic Consideration process

Textbook and Materials

All required and recommended materials will be available through onQ. 

Time Commitment

Students can expect to spend on average about 16 to 20 hours per week completing relevant readings, assignments, and course activities.