COMMON COURSE OUTLINE:

A. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Course Discipline/Number: COMP 2243
Course Title: Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving
Credits: 4 credits
Hours/Week: 4 hours per week

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Introduction to COMP 1150 Computer Science. Math 1115 or appropriate score on RCTC placement test. COMP 2243 Structured COBOL Programming (can be taken concurrently). College-level reading skills: Appropriate score on RCTC placement test or completion of appropriate developmental course with grade of C or better.

Course Description: A course for computer science majors to introduce the major concepts of problem solving, algorithm design, and programming. Algorithm development, analysis, and refinement. Top-down program development. Data types and control structures. (4 C/4 hrs classroom per wk)

B. DATE LAST REVISED: 4/7/1997

C. RECOMMENDED ENTRY SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:
Basic computer literacy, successful completion of Introduction to COMP 1150 Computer Science. Math 1115 or appropriate score on RCTC placement test. COMP 2243 Structured COBOL Programming (can be taken concurrently). College-level reading skills: Appropriate score on RCTC placement test or completion of appropriate developmental course with grade of C or better.

D. OUTLINE OF MAJOR CONTENT AREAS:
Problem solving approaches
Program development process
Input and Output Arithmetic
Expressions Logical and relational expressions
Selection control structures
Looping control structures
Subprograms
Simple data types

E. LEARNING OUTCOMES (GENERAL):
Students will be able to:
1. design algorithms using stepwise refinement
2. document algorithms using flowcharts or pseudocode
3. write and document programs using simple data types, arrays, and records input and output from keyboard/screen and files sequential, selection, and looping control structures subprograms
4. compile, link, and run programs
5. test and debug programs

F. LEARNING OUTCOMES (MNTC)
Critical Thinking for Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. Students will be able to:
1. gather factual information and apply it to a given problem in a manner that is relevant, clear, comprehensive, and conscious of possible bias in the information selected
2. imagine and seek out a variety of possible goals, assumptions, interpretations, or perspectives which can give alternative meanings or solutions to given situations or problems
3. analyze the logical connections among the facts, goals, and implicit assumptions relevant to a problem or claim; generate and evaluate implications that follow from them
4. recognize and articulate the value assumptions which underlie and affect decisions, interpretations, analyses, and evaluations made by ourselves and others.

G. METHODS FOR EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING:
Tests
Programming assignments
Comprehensive final test (written)

H. SPECIAL INFORMATION: none