Syllabus for Computer Science 201

Introduction to Computer Science, Spring 2025

MWF 10:30-11:20am. Davies Auditorium.

Stephen Slade

113 AKW, 432-1246 stephen.slade@yale.edu

Office hours via zoom. Meeting ID 459 434 2854. Wednesday, 4-6pm.

Teaching Assistants: Please see Instructor and TA contact information.

Course Description

Introduction to the concepts, techniques, and applications of computer science. Topics include computer systems (the design of computers and their languages); theoretical foundations of computing (computability, complexity, algorithm design); and artificial intelligence (the organization of knowledge and its representation for efficient search). Examples stress the importance of different problem-solving methods.

Textbook

The Racket Guide. A description of Racket for people with previous programming experience.

Optional: How To Design Programs (online copy). (buy from Amazon) An introduction to programming using Racket written by the inventors of racket. It assumes no programming background.

Other Resources

Web page

The course web page is at http://zoo.cs.yale.edu/classes/cs201.

Ed Discussions.

Students will be able to access Ed Discussions through Canvas, which permits an interactive exchange of questions and information. Note: students are not allowed to post code to Ed Discussions.

Canvas

Course canvas site: Canvas

Zoo accounts

The Zoo is a collection of computers located on the 3rd floor of AKW at the front of the building. You will need a *course account* on the Zoo to submit homework. Once you register for the course, an account on the zoo will be created within a few hours through an automated process. A Zoo tutorial is available on-line from the course web page.

Course directory

The course directory, /c/cs201 is accessible from your Zoo course account. It contains copies of handouts.

Course Requirements

The course requirements consist of class attendance, (more-or-less) weekly programming assignments in Racket and occasional written homework and canvas quizzes, and two MIDTERMS and a FINAL EXAM. Plan on spending between 6-8 hours per week on the course outside of class. The programming assignments are an integral part of the course.

Please try not to leave the homework to the last minute. You will be more efficient, learn more, have more chance to get help, and generally be calmer and happier if you do the associated reading first and start the programming or other problems early.

Grading

The final grade in the course will be based on class participation (e.g., canvas quizzes), your performance on the programming assignments and other homework, and the exams. The weighting of these components will be approximately 1/3rd on quizzes and homework and 2/3rd on exams.

Late Policy

Late work without a Dean's extension will be assessed a penalty of 5 points per day, based on the day and time recorded by the gradescope electronic submit program. At the end of term, up to 50 points will be deducted from the total lateness penalties your homework has accrued. However, according to Yale College regulations, *no* homework can be accepted after the end of Reading Week without a Temporary Incomplete (TI) authorized by your dean.

If you have a Dean's extension or a TI, making up missed work may involve alternative assignments, at the discretion of the instructor; please check with the instructor in this case.

Errata Policy

Policy on Working Together

Unless otherwise specified, the homework assignments are your individual responsibility. Plagiarism is a violation of University rules and will not be tolerated. You must neither copy work from others (at Yale or elsewhere) nor allow your own work to be copied. You are definitely on the wrong side of the boundary if you give or receive a printed or electronic copy of your or anyone else's work for the course from this term or previous terms.

You are encouraged to ask others for help with the computers and Unix, with questions about Racket, general questions about the concepts and material of the course, but if you need more extensive help with a program or other assignment, please ask a TA or the instructor for assistance. Working in groups to solve homework problems is not permitted in this course. Please talk to the instructor if you have any questions about this policy.

Usability, Disability and Design

This semester, we have a dedicated accomodation assistant for Computer Science, Amma. Her contact email is: cpcsaccommodatedexams@yale.edu. Students who would like to use approved testing accommodations in the course should send their letter to Amma (with a copy to stephen.slade@yale.edu) and coordinate with her at that email address. Use the course identifier CPSC 201 in all communication to Amma since she will be working with other CPSC courses.

During my years at Yale, I have had students who were either blind or deaf. They were generally among the best in the class. I want to make you succeed.

Course Outline