Computer Science

Faculty

Research/special programs/community outreach/facilities/etc:

Neural network programs used in artificial intelligence are available to students that have taken Advanced Placement Computer Science. Students can learn about computational linguistics by, for example, simulating portions of the play Hamlet. Opportunites are available to students to create animations that can be used to reverse engineer and rearrange a class of problems. Outreach programs such as tutoring or supporting the homeless are sponsored giving students opportunities to serve the community.

Graduation Requirements

Introduction to Computational Science must be completed at ASMS. This course is generally completed during the first year of enrollment at ASMS.

Concentration/Distinction Requirements:

For a Concentration, a student must complete Advanced Placement Computer Science I, Advanced Placement Computer Science II, and Advanced Placement Computer Science III. The prerequisites for the Advanced Placement sequence are Java I, Java II, and Java III.

For a Distinction, a student must complete the requirements for a Concentration and take three Directed Reading courses in Computer Science.

All grades in Computer Science courses must be B or higher.

Course Descriptions

S101     Introduction to Computational Science     .5 CU
Students learn to make decisions and construct models using tools such as Excel, HTML, and JavaScript. Also, communication skills are emphasized by writing and verbalizing and with PowerPoint productions. Students work and interact in both teams and as individual team members to resolve real world problems. Prerequisites: none.

CS111     VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)     .5 CU
Students will learn how to create collections of objects in three dimensions and view the collections from different angles and distances. Interpolators will be introduced that facilitate animations concerning position, rotation, visibility, and by sets of coordinates. Advanced topics include the creation of specialized VRML nodes using prototypes and the use of JavaScript in controlling various aspects of VRML worlds. Each student will do a project using VRML. Prerequisites: none.

CS114     Introduction to Programming with Alice     .5 CU
Programming concepts are introduced in a drag-and-drop environment called Alice that is currently updated and maintained at Carnegie Mellon University. Some of the concepts covered are classes, objects, expressions, parameters, methods, conditionals, iteration, concurrency, and events. Students learn to make movies that are animations of objects based on an existing library that can be extended in different ways by each student. Manipulation of objects in 3D space is both an objective in creating certain animations and a tool that lends insight into how computer software is engineered. Prerequisites: none.

CS216     C#     .5 CU
Students learn the integrated development environment for C# that includes drag and drop creation of forms. IntelliSense is used to introduce students to event driven programming. Each student will do a project using C#. Prerequisites: none.

CS311, 312, 313     Java 1/3 - 2/3 -3/3     .5 CU/quarter
Java is a three-quarter sequence that includes compilation of programs and applets, variables, types, operators, assignments, algorithms, syntax, software development, style, Boolean expressions, conditional statements, methods, constructors, fields, iterative statements, arrays and classes. Prerequisites: none.

CS321, 322, 323     AP Computer Science 1/3 - 2/3 -3/3     .5 CU/quarter
Topics include programming methodology, software engineering, blocks, data types, control structures, methods, recursion, text files, arrays, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, data abstraction, searching algorithms, sorting algorithms and the AP case study. This course targets juniors or seniors with a 'B' or above average. Students are expected to take the AP Computer Science Exam in the spring. Prerequisites: Prerequisites: CS311, CS312, and CS313.