Calendar description

CSCI 159 (4) Computer Science I A first year course in computer science. Topics include structured programming, top-down program design, procedures, recursion, and an introduction to dynamic data structures. CSCI 159 was formerly called CSCI 160; credit will not be granted for both courses. Credit will only be granted for one of CSCI 160 or CSCI 159. (3:0:2) Prerequisite: Pre-calculus 12, MATH 152, or equivalent.

Delivery Mode
Face-to-face

Contact Information
Lecturer: Dave Wessels,
  - phone: (250) 740-6375 (scitech switchboard)
  - email: David.Wessels@viu.ca

Office hours (in room 222, building 315):
  Fridays noon-2pm
If you need to see me outside office hours, please see me before or after class or send me an email to arrange an alternate time.

Contact hours/timetable
Lectures (building 480 room 202):
  Mon/Wed 10-11:30am

Labs (building 315 room 102):
  - F25N01 Wednesdays 3-5pm
  - F25N02 Mondays 3-5pm

Course Resources
Course website: the course website is csci.viu.ca/~wesselsd/courses/csci159/

Resources available on the site include links to this course outline, lab specifications, notes and examples on programming in C++ in a linux environment, quiz and exam resources, practice programming problems, where to get help, and notes on technical assistance.

VIULearn: course announcements and some email communication, will be provided through the course pages on VIULearn.

csci.viu.ca: the departmental linux servers will be used for much of the lab work this semester (details and instruction will be provided in the course lab sessions).

Textbook: there is no required text, but reference will sometimes be made to various online works. In such cases, links will be provided on the Supporting Resources page for the course.

Assessment
Lab exercises: 36%
Lab quizzes: 24%
Final exam: 40%
Note that to use CSCI 159 as a pre-requisite for CSCI 161/162 a minimum C- is required in 159.

Topics

The planned course topics include, but are not limited to:

• Basic command-line skills with the linux operating system
• Basic syntax and semantics of a higher-level language (C++)
• Constants, variables, and literal values for primitive data types (e.g. numbers, characters, Boolean)
• Expressions and assignments
• Simple I/O including file I/O
• Functions and parameter passing
• Conditional and iterative control structures
• The concept of recursion
• Documentation and program style
• Top-down program design and incremental development
• Enumerated types
• Arrays
• Strings and string processing
• Structs and classes
• Pointers
• Dynamic memory allocation and release
• Intro to dynamic data structures
• Intro to basic software development tools and processes

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Identify and explain the purpose of the basic components of a C++ program (such as variables, constants, expressions, assignments, I/O, loops, conditionals, functions, parameters, recursion, structures and classes).
• Build simple C++ programs that correctly use any of the basic components.
• Analyze and explain the behaviour of simple programs using the basic components.
• Solve basic programming problems by determining and using appropriate programming tools and strategies.
• Describe and demonstrate the concepts of problem identification, algorithm design, implementation, testing, and debugging.
• Develop and follow a professional and consistent style for the writing of source code, based on a set of coding standards.
• Write programs that manage and use complex data structures.
• Create functions that effectively receive pass-by-value and/or pass-by-reference parameters and return values as needed.
• Follow processes discussed in the labs to use basic software development tools for editing, compiling, debugging, and tracking software

Labs
You must be enrolled in and attend your weekly lab session, during which you will work on applying the concepts discussed in lectures. The lab sessions may include in-lab exercises and quizzes, plus discussion and work towards the completion of various take-home exercises. Details on lab requirements, submission processes, and late penalties will be discussed in the labs and outlined on the course website.

Computer Accounts
To work on your labs, you will be given accounts on the computer science linux servers. There will be a computer science user id and password associated with your account, this is in addition to your VIU account.

Lab and Computer Usage Rules:
See https://scitech.viu.ca/computer-science/computing-resources - Lab and Computer Usage Rules

Code and documentation quality
A significant practical component of this course is learning to adhere to good principles and practices in the development of software and its accompanying documentation. As such, students will be expected to strictly adhere to code and documentation standards that will be provided for each lab exercise. Work that fails to follow the designated standards may not be accepted for grading, and/or may be significantly penalized.

Individual work:
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all work in the course (quizzes, lab exercises, assignments, exams) must be completed as strictly individual work: not teams or paired exercises, and not using help from external sources (other individuals, in person or online, or AI tools such as CoPilot or chatGPT).

Appeals of Grades:
Any exercise or examination grade may be appealed. However, the appeal must be made to the instructor, in writing and attached to the work in question, and within 7 days of the grade being made available to the class. The instructor reserves the right to re-grade the entire piece of work submitted on appeal, not necessarily just the component that the student believes is in error.

Grade Conversion:
The following scale will be used but the instructor reserves the right to lower the numerical score required for a particular letter grade if that seems appropriate, but the same conversion will be applied to all persons in the class. Under no circumstances will the numerical score required for a particular letter grade be raised.

90-100	85-<90	80-<85	76-<80	72-<76	68-<72	64-<68	60-<64	55-<60	50-<55	<50
A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D	F

Resources
A wide range of other supporting resources are provided by the institution, including:

• Faculty of Science and Technology
• VIULearn
• Library
• Academic Advising
• Writing Centre
• Math Learning Centre
• Services for Aboriginal Students
• Counseling Services
• Accessibility
• Registration
• VIU Students' Union

Accessibility
Vancouver Island University recognizes its legal duty to provide educational opportunities that enable students with a documented disability to access courses, programs, facilities, and services.

The Policy and Procedural Guidelines apply to all students who have identified themselves to the institution as having a documented disability who are inquiring about, applying to, or registered in credit or non-credit courses in both on and off-campus programs.

• Policy 32.02 - Services Available to Students with a Documented Disability

Academic Integrity
Integrity in academic work is a central element of learning and is the basis of intellectual pursuits in any academic community. It is also your responsibility to abide by the Student Conduct Code and Student Academic Code of Conduct

• Academic Integrity

Links to University Policies, Standards, and Guidelines
Below are links to many of the official VIU policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• University Policies
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
• Student Conduct and Care
• Student Academic Code of Conduct
• Student Affairs
• Academic Regulations
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)