Discrete Structures (810:080), Fall 2004

Time and Place: 11:00-12:15 Tuesday and Thursday in Wright 8

Web-site: www.cs.uni.edu/~fienup/cs080f04/

Instructor: Mark Fienup (fienup@cs.uni.edu)

Office: Wright Hall 321

Phone: 273-5918 (Home 266-5379)

Office Hours: M 9-10, 2-3; T 9:30-10:30; W 9-11, 2-3; Th 9:30-10:30; F 9-11

Prerequisite: None

Goals: The goal of this course is to prepare you mathematically for "Discrete" topics needed by much of the Computer Science major and minor.

Text: "Mathematical Structures for Computer Science" by Gersting, fifh edition, W. H. Freeman and Company, ISBN 0-7167-4358-2.

Assignments: Assignments will be mostly "pencil-and-paper" exercises, however we might have some computer based exercises.

Pedagogic Approach: In class, I'll tend to break up the lecture with active and group learning exercises to aid learning. While this is not formally graded, part (9%) of your grade will be based on your participation of these in-class activities. Students benefit by (1) increased depth of understanding, (2) increased comfort and confidence, (3) increased motivation, and (4) being better prepared to work in groups on the job. This might sound great, but it will require you (and me) to work differently to prepare for class. Before the class, you must read the assigned reading and think about it; otherwise you won't be able to effectively participate in your group during class.

Grading policy: There will be three tests (including the final). I'll announce tests at least one week in advance to allow you time to prepare. Tentative weighting of course components is:

In-class Work: 9 %

Assignments: 22 %

In-class Test 1: 22 % (September 30)

In-class Test 2: 22 % (November 9)

Final: 25 % (10 - 11:50 AM Thursday, December 16)

Grades will be assigned based on straight percentages off the top student score. If the top student score is 92%, then the grading scale will be, i.e., 100-82 A, 81.9-72 B, 71.9-62 C, 61.9-52 D, and below 52 F. Plus and minus grades will be assigned for students near cutoff points.

Special Notice: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides protection from discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students with a disability, who require assistance, will need to contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for coordination of academic accommodations. The ODS is located at 213 Student Services Center. Their phone number is 319/273-2676.