COMP 200 Elements of Computer Science Fall 2004 MWF, 10AM, DH 1046

Comp 200 is an introduction to Computer Science, as opposed to an introduction to programming computers. The course provides a broad overview of computation. It focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of Computer Science rather than the detailed art of programming. Comp 200 is intended for students who want to understand what Computer Science is and why people study it, without necessarily majoring in it.

Because much of the work in Computer Science finds its expression in a program, students in Comp 200 will develop some programs as part of their homework. However, the amount of programming practice in the course will not be sufficient to turn a novice into a skilled programmer. Students who want to develop addition skill in programming should also take one of the programming courses: Comp 210, Comp 110, or Caam 210.

Comp 200 is a Group III Distribution course and an optional core requirement for the Cognitive Sciences major. While the course will differ somewhat in content from previous years, you can see how it went last time it was taught by looking at the web page.
(This material will also serve as a rough syllabus.)

Office Hours

• Keith Cooper (keith@rice.edu), 3131 Duncan Hall, Monday/Wednesday 11am-12pm, or by appointment.
• Nathan Froyd (froydnj@rice.edu), TBA.
• Gabriel Marin (mgabi@rice.edu), 3063 Duncan Hall, Thursday 4pm-5:30pm.

Course Material

• The book is Algorithmics, 3rd Edition by David Harel and Yishai Feldman.
  You will read most of the book over the course of the semester.

• Lecture notes and handouts I post lecture notes and accompanying handouts soon after class. These are in pdf form and will require an appropriate reader.

  You are responsible for the contents of the lectures. Of course, the best way to learn this material is to attend lecture. The notes are not a substitute for attendance. In particular, they may be incomplete.

• The Comp 200 Newsgroup is a valuable source of knowledge on class assignments.
  You should read it at least once a week.
• General Information on the administration of Comp 200 (hours, homework policy, etc.)

• Homework Assignments
• Intro to register and News, Intro to Dr.Scheme, and How to get a PC/Mac Password
• Intro Unix handout (ps), and Mudd's Unix single-afternoon classes.
• You can download DrScheme for your personal computer.