Course Syllabus

Class location: Classroom Unit 2 (map)

Instructor Information

Prof. Michael Mateas
Office: E2 373
Office Hours: Tuesday (2:00-3:30), Wednesday (3:00-4:30)
Email: michaelm@soe.ucsc.edu

TAs

Kate Compton (kcompton@soe.ucsc.edu). Office Hours: Friday, 9:00-11:00, E2 393
Nick Junius (njunius@ucsc.edu). Office Hours: Monday, 2:00-4:00, E2 393
Adam Summerville (asummerv@ucsc.edu). Office Hours: Thursday, 12:00-2:00, E2 393 -- No Office Hours on 5/10
Tiffany Thang (tthang@ucsc.edu). Office Hours: Tuesday, 3:30-5:30, E2, 309

MSI Tutors and Small Group Tutoring

In addition to the Professor and TA office hours, there are also tutoring opportunities available through Learning Support Services.

The learning assistant is Zachary Plante (zplante@ucsc.edu). His regularly scheduled open tutoring sessions are at the following times and locations: 

  • Monday 10:40-11:40 @ Merrill Classroom 3
  • Monday 2:40-3:40 @ Oaks Learning Center
  • Tuesday 3:50-4:50 @ ARCenter 202
  • Wednesday 2:40-3:40 @ Porter Classroom 250
  • Thursday 2:00-3:00 @ ARCenter 202
  • Thursday 3:20-4:20 @ ARCenter 116

Small group tutoring in group sizes of no more than 6 is also available. The small group tutor is now Naum Markenz (nmarkenz@ucsc.edu). To sign up for small group tutoring, visit the LSS Office, ARC 221 (map) or call (831) 459-4333. The small group tutoring times are: 

  • Monday 2:45-3:45pm
  • Tuesday 7:15-8:15pm
  • Friday 5:30-6:30pm

To attend a small group tutoring session you need to sign up first, as there is limited room.

Text Books

Required textbook: Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with Java: Wall & Mirrors (3rd edition), Janet J. Prichard and Frank M. Carrano

Optional textbooks, which may help with lab assignments:
C for Java Programmers: A Primer, Charlie McDowell. Lulu.com 2007. This is available for 99 cents on lulu.
Your Unix (2nd edition), Sumitabha Das. McGraw-Hill 2006 (ISBN 978007250422).
Java By Dissection, Ira Pohl and Charlie McDowell. Lulu.com 2006.

Lab Sections

Lab Location: Ming Ong Computer Lab 103 (map)

  1. Monday, 6:00-7:30pm, Tiffany Thang
  2. Tuesday, 11:00-12:30pm, Adam Summerville
  3. Tuesday, 12:30-2:00pm, Adam Summerville
  4. Wednesday, 3:00-4:30, Nick Junius
  5. Thursday, 11:00-12:30, Kate Compton
  6. Thursday, 12:30-2:00, Kate Compton
  7. Friday, 2:00-3:30, Nick Junius
  8. Friday, 3:30-5:00, Tiffany Thang

You are guaranteed a seat on your assigned lab day, but are welcome to attend additional lab sections on a first come, first serve basis. 

Grading

  • 5 Assignments: 45% (9 points per assignment)
  • 5 labs: 25% (5 points per assignment)
  • Midterm: 10%
  • Final: 20%

Here is the late policy for turning in labs and assignments. The general policy is that late work is not accepted, but there is a short grace period (read the late policy for more detail).   

Safe Space

It is important that we all work together to help foster an environment in which students feel safe asking questions, posing their opinions, and sharing their work for critique. If at any time you feel this environment is being threatened—by anybody, including the professor—speak up and make your concerns heard. If you do not feel comfortable speaking about it in person, you may send private feedback via email or canvas to the course instructor or any of the TAs. If you feel uncomfortable broaching this topic with the professor in any way or for any reason, you should feel free to voice your concerns to the Dean’s office.

DRC Statement

UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating an academic environment that supports its diverse student body. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations to achieve equal access in this course, please submit your Accommodation Authorization Letter from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to me privately during my office hours or by appointment, preferably within the first two weeks of the quarter. At this time, I would also like us to discuss ways we can ensure your full participation in the course. I encourage all students who may benefit from learning more about DRC services to contact DRC by phone at 831-459-2089, or by email at drc@ucsc.edu.

If there are any ways we can make the course more accessible, please let us know.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due