COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

BS-COMPUTER SCIENCE (COURSE DESCRIPTION FORM)

CSC103 – PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS

Number of Credit Hours: 3 credits  4 credits

Number of Lecture Hours per Week:  1 hour 2 hours  3 hours

Number of Lab Hours per Week:  none  2 hours  3 hours

Number of Tutorial Hours per Week:  none  1 hour  2 hours

Catalog Description:
This course emphasis the basic concepts used in programming. The topics are: Overview of Computer
Programming; Principles of Structured, Modular and Functional Programming; Overview of
Structured Programming Languages; Algorithms and Problem Solving; Program Development:
Analyzing Problem, Designing Algorithm/Solution, Testing Designed Solution, Translating
Algorithms into Programs; Basic Syntax and Semantics of a Higher-Level Language; Variables and
Primitive Data Types; Expressions and Assignments; Simple I/O including File I/O; Conditional and
Iterative Control Structures; Functions and Parameter Passing; Arrays; Strings and String Processing;
The Concept of Recursion; The Concept of Type System: Compound Types Built from other Types
(e.g. Array, Functions), Association of Types, Type Safety, Static Typing; Program Comprehension;
Program Correctness: Types of Errors (Syntax, Logic, Run-Time), The Concept of a Specification,
Code Reviews, Testing Fundamentals and Test-Case Generation, Unit Testing; Simple Refactoring;
Modern Programming Environments: Code Search, Programming using Library Components and
their APIs; Debugging Strategies; Documentation and Program Style.

Prerequisites:
None

Text Book:
1. Introduction to JAVA Programming, Liang, Y.D., 9th Edition (2012), Prentice Hall.

Reference Book:
1. Java: An Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming, Savitch, W., 6th Edition (2012),
Addison-Wesley.

1
Assessment Plan for the Course:
Evaluation methods Theory Weight (%)[T] Lab Weight(%)[L]
Quizzes (4) 15 -
Assignments (4) 10 25
Sessional exam(I and II) 10 and 15 10 and 15
Terminal Exam 50 50
Total 100 100
Total =T+L T=(T/100)*75 L=(L/100)*25

Major Topics Covered in the Course:

No of teaching
Unit Topic
hours
Overview of Computer Programming, Principles of Structured,
1. Modular and Functional Programming, Overview of Structured 3
Programming Languages.
Program Development: Analyzing Problem, Designing
2. Algorithm/Solution, Testing Designed Solution, Translating 3
Algorithms into Programs.
Basic Syntax and Semantics of a Higher-Level Language
3. 3
Variables and Primitive Data Types, Expressions and Assignments.
4. Conditional and Iterative Control Structures. 4.5
5. Functions and Parameter Passing. 6
6. Arrays. 6
7. Strings and String Processing, The Concept of Recursion. 3
Concept of Type System: Compound Types Built from other Types
8. (e.g. Array, Functions), Association of Types, Type Safety, and Static 1.5
Typing.
9. Simple I/O including File I/O. 4.5
Program Comprehension, Program Correctness: Types of Errors
(Syntax, Logic, Run-Time), The Concept of a Specification, Code
10. 4.5
Reviews, Testing Fundamentals and Test-Case Generation, Unit
Testing; Simple Refactoring, Documentation and Program Style.
Modern Programming Environments: Code Search, Programming
11. 3
using Library Components and their APIs; Debugging Strategies.

Total Contact Hours 42

2
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
C1 Explain different programming language paradigms and phases in the program development.
Explain the concepts of programming constructs, such as type system, using a high level
C2
language.
C3 Apply programming concepts based on simple scenarios with and without Files.
Apply various software development methods, such as program comprehension, code search,
C4
refactoring, in programming.

Relationship between Course Learning Outcomes and Program Learning Outcomes:

Course Program
Unit of the
Learning Possible artifacts Level Learning
syllabus
Outcomes Outcomes
Quizzes, Assignments,
C1 1-2 L a-1
Sessional Exams
Quizzes, Assignments,
C2 3-9 Sessional Exams, Terminal L i-1
Exam
Quizzes, Assignments,
C3 3–9 Sessional Exams, Terminal M c-1
Exam, LAB
Quizzes, Assignments,
C4 10-11 M c-2
Terminal Exam, LAB

Prepared & Reviewed by: CAC