GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE

COMMON COURSE OUTLINE

REVISION DATE:

COURSE ABBREVIATION CSCI 2900

CREDIT HOURS 3

COURSE TITLE Selected Topics

PREREQUISITES Sophomore standing and CSCI 1301, with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor and department head.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION Selected Topics in Computer Science allows courses on specific topics of timely interest to the computer science profession to be selected by the department and offered on a demand basis. Students interested in this course should contact the computer science department for detailed information on upcoming offerings.

EXPECTED EDUCATIONAL RESULTS

As a result of completing this course, the student will be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate skills in the field of computing as determined by the subject matter of each specific offering of the course. These skills will be explicitly described in the specific Common Course Outline and Teaching Guide required for each offering of the course.

GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES

I This course addresses the general education outcome relating to communications as follows:

1. Students develop their reading comprehension skills by reading the text and handout materials.

2. Students develop their listening skills through lecture and small group problem solving. Lecture material is presented that is not included in the text or handout material and is included as part of the tests or assignments.

3. Students develop their reading and writing skills through the use of problems and activities, including but not limited to development of computer programs and documentation, developed specifically to enhance their understanding of computer science principles and programming language skills. Students provide written or oral solutions to these problems in either individual or group format. They must also answer short-answer type questions on course exams.

II This course addresses the general education outcome relating to problem-solving and critical thinking skills through assignments that take the student through the problem-solving process from understanding the problem all the way to finalizing a correct computer-based solution to the problem.

III This course addresses the general education outcomes relating to mathematical concept usage and scientific inquiry as follows:

1. Students apply mathematical concepts in the development of problem solutions by creating mathematically-based solutions to the assigned problems and communicating the results of those solutions to the program user.

2. Students apply the scientific method in the set-up and solution of the problems presented to illustrate computer science principles.

IV. This course addresses the general education outcome relating to organization and analysis of information using a computer by using up-to-date computer technologies in the solution of problems designed to illustrate the concepts and principles of computer science.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

It is assumed that students entering this course meet the expected educational outcomes of CSCI 1301, including competency in algorithmic design/development and procedural/object-oriented programming skills.

COURSE CONTENT

I Specific course content will be determined for each selected topic and detailed in a specific Common Course Outline and Teaching Guide for that particular topic. This specific Common Course Outline and Teaching Guide must be approved by the CSCI Course Committee before a topic can be offered in CSCI 2500.

ASSESSMENT OF EXPECTED EDUCATIONAL RESULTS

A. COURSE GRADE

Exams, assignments, and a final exam prepared by individual instructors will be used to determine the course grade. The course grade must weigh examinations for at least 50% of the grade and assignments for not more than 50% of the grade. Project-oriented assignments must be assigned. Testing must consist of at least one one-hour examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The final examination must be weighted at not less than 25% nor more than 35%.

B. DEPARTMENTAL ASSESSMENT

CSCI 2500 will be assessed every five years. The assessment instrument will be determined by the CSCI course committee, and will consist of a common project and a set of free response questions that will be included as a portion of the final examination for all students taking the course.

C. USE OF ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

The CSCI Committee, or a special assessment committee appointed by the Executive Committee of the Mathematics Academic Group, will analyze the results of the assessment and determine implications for curriculum changes. The committee will prepare a report for the Academic Group summarizing its finding.