SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPT.
STUDENT COURSE OUTLINE

CST111 -- Introduction to Computer Science & Information Technology
2018 Spring Semester
COURSE: CST111 -- Introduction to Computer Science & Information Technology
CREDITS: 4
CRN: CRN 22111   &   CRN 26664
DAY CLASS: Mondays & Wednesdays    12:30-2:10pm   
H209   (Grant Campus, Caumsett Hall)
EVENING CLASS: Mondays & Wednesdays    6:00-7:50pm   
R219   (Ammerman Campus, Riverhead Building)
INSTRUCTOR: Bruce Alan Martin
("Professor BAM")
EMAIL: bam@suffolk.li
OFFICE HOURS: After class and by appointment.

COLLEGE CATALOG DESCRIPTION :


How did Homer
refer to computers?
(click!)
Survey of concepts and applications of information technology. Introduces role of information technology in solving business problems and supporting organizational functions. Explores organizational structure of modern enterprise and role of information technology within this structure. Introduces major components of information technology and its broad applications through various case studies. Explains need for information technology analyst to understand business-level objectives needed to provide appropriate technology solutions to achieve those goals.

Course cannot be applied to satisfaction of a Liberal Arts and Science elective in any curriculum or of graduation requirements in Computer Science curriculum at SCCC.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:


What did Aristotle
say about computers?
(click!)

This course is required for all three Information Technology tracks. An understanding of information technology concepts is essential for productive use of computers, networks, and related equipment, in organizations of all sizes and types. It is increasingly important to professionals, as well.

This course seeks to give students a thorough, general introduction to this area with particular emphasis on organizational and business uses of computers. Included are introductions to hardware, systems software, applications software, telecommunications, networking and the internet, databases, security, and ethical issues.

OBJECTIVES:    After completing this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Recognize and classify information systems encountered in everyday life and in the business world.
  2. Recognize and define common terms and phrases used in the IT field.
  3. Understand Internet basics and related hardware & software concepts.
  4. Be familiar with how each of the following functions:   computer hardware, software, telecommunications, networking, the internet, world wide web.
  5. Be familiar with the different forms and functions of electronic business, including electronic commerce, electronic document exchange (IDE), and other forms of business exchanges via internal networks and the internet.
  6. Be familiar with the ethical issues and choices associated with the impacts of information technology, particularly with regard to both privacy and piracy.
  7. Be familiar with security issues involved in general information technology, including internet security issues.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:

To successfully complete this course, you must submit required homeworks and programming assignmentsts, and demonstrate proficiency on all exams and projects. All work submitted must be neatly presented clearly labeled and identified as to the assignment and what has been accomplished.
    TEXTBOOK:
    "Computer Science Illuminated"   6th Edition. (or 5th or 4th Edition.)
    by Nell Dale & John Lewis
    Jones & Bartlett Publishers; ISBM 978-0-7637-7646-6

    READING ASSIGNMENTS:
    Each student is responsible for all material taught or assigned by the instructor.
    The student is expected to complete all assigned reading, prior to class meetings.
    COMPUTER & INTERNET ACCESS:
    Between classes, the student should have computer access to the internet, to obtain assignments, submit homeworks and projects, etc.   (NOTE:   If you have ANY difficulty at all in obtaining internet access between classes please see the instructor after class to remedy this difficulty.)
    Who invented the World Wide Web?

    Who invented the internet?

    This course is required for all three Information Technology tracks. An understanding of information technology concepts is essential for productive use of computers, networks, and related equipment, in organizations of all sizes and types. It is increasingly important to professionals, as well.

    This course seeks to give students a thorough, general introduction to this area with particular emphasis on organizational and business uses of computers. Included are introductions to hardware, systems software, applications software, telecommunications, networking and the internet, databases, security, and ethical issues.






COURSE POLICIES:

NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS:

If I ever say anthing that you do NOT understand,
it is YOUR responsibility
-- your solemn obligation --
to stop me, and make me explain it.

  • I don't want to waste MY time saying things that "go over your head".
  • I don't want YOU to waste time, "watching things go overhead".
If you don't understand something, speak out -- even if you think you'e the only one! (There's probably some yoyo sitting in the back who is too stupid to ask!)
PLEASE NOTE:

I never get annoyed or "ticked off"
when a student asks me to
make something more clear.

(Unless, maybe, it's a half-hour LATER,
and everything since then was wasted!  ;^> )



APPROXIMATE OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
(Subject to change, as announced in class.)


	1.	The big picture.
		Binary values and Numbering systems (part 1).

	2.	Binary values and Numbering systems (part 2).
		Data representation.
			(e.g. for integers, rationals and irrationals numbers, etc. as well as  
			images, sound, structures, etc.  Also:  compression, encription, error-detection, etc.)

	3.	The hardware layer.

	4.	Computing components.

	5.	Low-level programming languages and pseudocode.

	6.	Problem solving and Algorithms.

	7.	Abstract data types and subprograms.

	8.	Object-Oriented Design and high-level programming languages.

	9.	Operating systems.

	10.	File systems and directories.

	11.	Information systems.

	12.	Networks, the Internet, and the World Wide Web.