CS192 Information

Instructors:
Elaine Regelson
Office: ComSc Room 278
Office Hours:
Friday 10:00 - 10:50 [ComSc 120]
Email: regelson@cs.colostate.edu
Lecture:
Mon & Wed 10:00 - 10:50 ComSc 215
Extra lab time:
Fri 10:00 - 10:50 ComSc 120

Course Description

This course seeks to welcome you to CSU, to introduce you to the many resources available to you here, to ease your transition into college, and to help you decide whether computer science is the right major for you and if not what is. We also want to help you to as quickly as possible form a community with people with whom you work well and have fun working. We will introduce you to courses and research areas in the computer science program at CSU, explore some important issues relevant to computing, and introduce to you a variety of careers that you could pursue. This is not a programming class. A number of programming languages will be introduced. Additionally, the major project will allow you the opportunity, should you choose this path, to learn a programming language (e.g. Python, C++, perl, etc.).

Specific objectives and activities include:

  • Determine if computer science is the right major for you, and if not what is.
    1. Learn about computer science (or other specific discipline-relevant) classes and research at CSU
    2. Produce a tentative plan of study to get your degree.
    3. Learn about some of the major employers of computer science students in the Fort Collins and Colorado area. Non-CS majors will be offered an opportunity to explore major employers in their fields as well.
    4. Students who are not confident about their choice of major are encouraged to work with our Career Center advisor as part of their major project to learn more about themselves, alternative majors, and which major is right for them.
  • Develop the knowledge and skills to be successful at CSU
    1. Improve skills related to time management, written and oral communication, teamwork, and following instructions (evaluation and execution)
    2. Become familiar with campus resources (i.e. Career Center, Tutoring services, Counseling Center, etc.)
  • Form a community with people with whom you work well and enjoy working.
    1. Get to know fellow students
    2. Do many kinds of in-class projects with other students.
    3. Learn about clubs that might be of interest to you.

Expectations:

The typical expectation for a college course at CSU is that students will work at least 2-3 hours outside of class per class credit hour. Therefore, a 2 credit class will require you to work more than 6 hours per week! This course requires significant homework!

A key objective of this course is that, by the end of the semester, every student has chosen a major that is right for them. Students who come to class, do the assigned work (including getting extra help as needed), and participate can get an A whether or not Computer Science is the right major for them. Note that this also means that getting an A in this class is not an indication that Computer Science is a good major for any particular student. Talk to the instructors, learn, and find the right place for you to be.