A New Introductory Course Sequence in Computer Science

From: General Student Ememo (memofrom@Colorado.EDU)
Date: Wed Apr 25 2007 - 23:45:10 MDT

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    Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:45:10 -0600 (MDT)
    From: General Student Ememo <memofrom@Colorado.EDU>
    Subject: A New Introductory Course Sequence in Computer Science
    
    

    TO: Select CU Students

    FROM: Department of Computer Science

    SENDER: lesley.mcdowell@colorado.edu

    DATE: 4/25/07

    SUBJECT: A New Introductory Course Sequence in Computer Science

    The Department of Computer Science will offer a new introductory course
    sequence beginning in Fall 2007. It will replace CSCI 1200 Introduction to
    Computing. Course descriptions follow.

    ----
    Course to be offered Fall 2007
    CSCI 1220 Virtual Worlds: An Introduction to Computer Science
    Professor: John Bennett
    Time:  MWF 12:00-12:50
    Place: Engineering Center ECCR 245
    This course introduces the fundamental principles of computer science
    using an on-line virtual world called Second Life as the "laboratory"
    for the course.  Second Life is distinguished from other MMPOG (massively
    multiplayer online games) in that everything about the virtual environment
    is entirely programmable.  That is, a desired object is created in
    Second Life by learning how to program the appearance and behavior of
    that object as opposed to learning some trick or gimmick envisioned
    by game creators.  Students in CSCI 1220 will learn how to program by
    creating objects of interest in Second Life.  In-class and in-world
    discussions and readings will introduce the student to important ideas
    and concepts that shape the field of computer science.  The course is
    open to all undergraduates and assumes no prerequisites.
    CSCI 1220 will be available for new freshmen and transfer student
    registration on July 25th.  Continuing students can register for the
    course beginning August 6th through August 17th and then again during
    individual time assignments which begin August 24th.
    ----
    Course to be offered Spring 2008
    CSCI 1240 The Computational World
    Professor: Mike Eisenberg
    Time, Place: TBA
    This course will be an introduction to computational ideas -- to the
    ways that computers have revolutionized thinking in the natural sciences,
    engineering, and the arts in the past half century. The course will not
    include a programming prerequisite or a programming lab, but it will
    stress the types of mathematical and algorithmic thinking that are
    essential to programming and to computer science more generally. The
    course is open to all undergraduates and assumes no prerequisites.
    Topics and themes that will be discussed in CSCI 1240 include:
    Algorithms and their design
    Recursion and self-similarity
    Computability
    Emergent behavior
    Intelligence: natural and artificial
    Experimental mathematics
    Physical computation: robotics, "smart" materials, and ubiquitous computing
    Introduction to information theory
    Introduction to quantum computing
    For more information about these courses or registering for CSCI 1220, email
    lesley.mcdowell@colorado.edu.
    

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