CSE 215 - Syllabus - Summer 2020

Foundations of Computer Science course

http://www.cs.stonybrook.edu/~cse215


Course Description

Introduction to the logical and mathematical foundations of computer science. Topics include functions, relations, and sets; recursion and functional programming; elementary logic; and mathematical induction and other proof techniques. (https://www.cs.stonybrook.edu/students/Undergraduate-Studies/courses/CSE215)

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: AMS 151 or MAT 125 or MAT 131

Course Outcomes

The following are the official course goals agreed upon by the faculty for this course:
  • An ability to define and use discrete structures such as functions, relations, and sets.
  • An ability to compute with recursion as a basic paradigm.
  • An ability to use logic and basic proof techniques, such as mathematical induction.

Major Topics Covered in Course

  • Introduction: sets, functions, logic
  • Functions
  • Recursive Functions
  • Programming in Standard ML
  • Inductive Definitions of Sets
  • Examples of Induction Proofs
  • Binary Relations
  • Equivalence Relations
  • Cardinality of Sets
  • Countability and Uncountability
  • Propositional Logic
  • Formal Reasoning
  • Predicate Logic and Quantifiers

Staff

Instructor: Dr. Paul Fodor
214 New Computer Science Department, Stony Brook University
Email: paul.fodor@stonybrook.edu

Class Time and Place

  • Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00AM - 12:25PM, Online.
  • Recitation: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30PM - 1:25PM, Online.

Textbook

Optional: Discrete Mathematics: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning.  Author: Susanna S. Epp. Publisher: Brooks Cole; 1st edition (February 7, 2011). ISBN-10: 0495826170. ISBN-13: 978-0495826170.


Grading Schema

Grades will be based on homework and exams according to the following formula:
  • Homeworks -- 25%
  • Midterm exams (2) -- 50% (25% each)
  • Final exam -- 25%

Do not miss the exams. Make-up exams will be given only in extenuating circumstances (e.g., doctor's note stating that you were ill and unfit to take the exam). Students who miss an exam for a valid reason may need to take a make-up exam; specific arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Exam dates:

  • Midterm exam 1: Tu. 7/21,on Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitoring.
  • Midterm exam 2: Th. 7/30,on Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitoring.
  • Final exam: Th. 8/13,on Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitoring.

The Pass/No Credit (P/NC) option is not available for this course.

This policy applies to all CSE/ISE undergraduate courses used to satisfy the graduation requirements for the major.

Grade Cutoffs

A [95-100], A- [90-95), B+ [87-90), B [83-87), B- [80-83), C+ [77-80), C [73-77), C- [70-73), D+ [65-70), D [60-65), F [0-60)

SPECIAL RULE: If all your grades, including homework assignments, quizzes, recitation and your three exam grades are above the respective class averages, you're guaranteed to receive a grade of C or higher for this class.

The grades will be posted on Blackboard: http://blackboard.stonybrook.edu for privacy reasons.

The final grade you receive in this class will reflect, as far as possible, the extent to which you have mastered the concepts and their applications. How much someone needs a grade, or how close they are to the next higher grade, will have no effect on grade. As the instructor, I want everyone to do well in this course, and will make every reasonable effort to help you understand the material taught. However, the grades provided at the end of the semester are final, except for rare situations involving grading errors. They will not be altered for any reason, so please do not ask me to do so.

Re-grading

For re-grading of an assignment or exam, please meet with the person (instructor or teaching assistant) responsible for the grading. Please arrange a re-evaluation within one week of receiving the graded work. All such requests that are later than one week from the date the graded work is returned to the class will not be entertained. To promote consistency of grading, questions and concerns about grading should be addressed first to the TA and then, if that does not resolve the issue, to the instructor. You are welcome to contact the TA by email or come to his office hour. If you would like to speak with the TA in person, and have a schedule conflict with his office hour, you are welcome to make an appointment to meet the TA at another time.

Homework

There will be homework assignments given regularly. The homework assignments are to be completed individually in the alotted time. No Late Submissions Are Allowed. No makeup homework will be given. The homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard: http://blackboard.stonybrook.edu.

Tentative Class Schedule

Week Date Lecture Topics/Notes Readings
1 Tu. 7/7 Administrative (course information and introduction to speaking mathematically),
The Logic of Compound Statements
Read Epp chs. 1 and 2, and Introduction to LaTeX
Th. 7/9 The Logic of Compound Statements: Logical arguments ,
The Logic of Quantified Statements ,
Supplemental: Application of Logic - Digital Cirduits
Read Epp ch. 3
2 Tu. 7/14 Elementary Number Theory and Methods of Proof Read Epp ch. 4
Th. 7/16 Sequences and Mathematical Induction Read Epp ch. 5
3 Tu. 7/21 MIDTERM EXAM 1 see Blackboard
Th. 7/23 Set Theory Read Epp ch. 6
4 Tu. 7/28 Functions Read Epp ch. 7
Th. 7/30 MIDTERM EXAM 2 see Blackboard
5 Tu. 8/4 Relations Read Epp ch. 8
Th. 8/6 Recursion n/a
6 Tu. 8/11 Functional Programming (ML) Standard ML
Th. 8/13 FINAL EXAM see Blackboard

Communications

Piazza

The Piazza discussion board should be used for all communication with the teaching staff for questions about the course assignments and material. Piazza is a forum for additional learning and assistance. The following are not appropriate uses of Piazza:

  • cyber-bullying
  • posting memes
  • complaining about a grade
  • airing concerns/comments/criticisms about the course
  • posting more than a few lines of source code from an attempt at a homework problem
  • posting the solution to a homework problem or a link to a website containing the solution
  • in general, anything unrelated to the course material and student learning

Therefore, you are expected to use the Piazza forum for all non-personal, course-related communication. Questions about what a homework problem is asking, technical problems that need troubleshooting, or other questions that might be of interest to other students must be posted to Piazza and not emailed to the instructor or a TA. Piazza is a luxury, and if used inappropriately it will be closed/removed for you. We will not tolerate cyber-bullying. Anonymous posting is turned off, so we can see who you are. Improper conduct will be reported to the Dean of Students Office.

Email Etiquette

If you have a private matter to discuss, when emailing your instructor about the course, use the following guidelines to ensure a timely response:

  • use your official @stonybrook.edu email account (we cannot respond to an other email due to FERPA regulations)
  • use a descriptive subject line that includes "CSE307" and a brief note on the topic
  • begin with a proper greeting, such as "Hi Prof. Fodor"
  • briefly explain your question or concern or request including the course (we are teaching several courses)
  • end with a proper closing that includes your full name, Net ID and SBU ID number

Disability Support Services (DSS) Statement:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities

Academic Integrity Statement:

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html

Critical Incident Management Statement:

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures.

Page maintained by Paul Fodor